Nick Osborne, CEO of the Low Country Food Bank, and other dignitaries cut the ribbon to open the doors of the Lowcountry Food Bank Distribution Center in Hampton County. Osborne said, “We are just incredibly happy to have this facility. This is a 20,000 square foot facility that is three times the size of our previous facility. This facility has been purpose built for our ability to serve our neighbors in Hampton, Colleton, Jasper, and Beaufort Counties. The new building has more than adequate refrigeration and freezer space, which allows us to be able to store fresh produce in a more economical and efficient way to get goods to our neighbors and our partner agencies. We have a conference facility here that we can share with our partners for them to be able to come and meet.” The facility also includes a teaching kitchen, office space, and instructional information on food safety.
Last year, the Lowcountry Food Bank, which serves 10 coastal counties, distributed nearly 46 million pounds of food, equivalent to 33 million meals, through 240 partner agencies. They focused on child and senior hunger, providing nutritious food, including 70% whole foods. Retail partners like Food Lion, Publix, and Walmart contribute 40% of their food. Volunteers contribute 40,000 hours annually. Information on programs and volunteering is available on their website.
Osborne adds, “We work through schools, we work through libraries. Our programs focus specifically on child hunger, senior hunger, and we’re trying to provide food that’s nutritious, that meets the needs of our communities. We do it in a way that’s dignified, that gives a choice of food that we distributed. We are giving the best nutritious food, to our neighbors and those that need it, so that they know where their next meal is going to come from.”
