Second Helpings has reached a major milestone! Recently, the nonprofit food rescue organization rescued and distributed its 50 millionth pound of food since our start in 1991. That translates into enough food for 40 million meals over the 31 years.
To celebrate this significant achievement, Second Helpings will be recognized at town council meetings in Bluffton, Hilton Head, and Beaufort. In addition, the Souper Bowl of Caring on Feb. 10 at Coligny Plaza (HHI) will celebrate 50 million pounds of food rescued and distributed free for those in need, along with a fundraising event in Beaufort.
While our nonprofit has grown over the years, the foundations of our beginning remain the same. These include:
- We are powered by volunteers – more than 400 of them. These volunteers rescue and distribute food, work with agency partners, plan and represent our organization at community events, and perform many administrative functions.
- We provide every pound of food free of charge to agency partners – more than 50 local food pantries, soup kitchens, and family programs.
- We are careful stewards of the food and funding we receive from our generous community. Today, it costs Second Helpings only 18 cents to rescue enough food for one meal.
Hunger has a local address. In Beaufort, Jasper, and Hampton counties, 20,600 people lack consistent access to food to sustain a healthy life. This number includes the working poor, the homeless, the unemployed, the disabled, children, and the elderly.
Executive Director Marcus Tanner praised the volunteers and food donors for achieving the 50 millionth pound of food rescued. “It is because of our volunteers who are so generous with their time, and the area grocery store staff who put aside food to be rescued, that Second Helpings was able to reach this tremendous number. We also are so grateful to our supporters and the incredible food pantry, soup kitchen, and family program staff members who are committed to helping feed the hungry. We could not do it without this support.”
Second Helpings was started by Guenther and Louise Hecht in 1991 on Hilton Head Island. They witnessed food being thrown out at area grocery stores and started rescuing it. The first one million pounds was reached five and one half years into the history of Second Helpings. The last millionth pound (number 50!) was reached in just over four months thanks to generous food donors (primarily grocery stores).
In 2022, Second Helpings refrigerated trucks were driven 86,441 miles by our volunteers to rescue and distribute food. These volunteers ran 1,451 routes during the year; operating six days a week, including most holidays!
