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Getting people fed

Harvest Hope Food Bank teams up with UMCs across S.C. to alleviate hunger 

By Jessica Brodie

From a soup kitchen in Columbia to a backpack ministry in the Upstate, United Methodist churches across South Carolina have long stepped up to supply neighbors experiencing food insecurity with the food they need.

But what many people don’t understand is how much work goes on behind the scenes to make church food ministries successful.

Volunteers. Advocacy. Church support. Donations. And yes, the food itself.

While some churches collect food through the donations of their members, many rely on the help they get from Harvest Hope.

What is Harvest Hope?

Harvest Hope is South Carolina’s largest food bank that collects, stores and distributes food that assists families and children in 20 counties across South Carolina.

Harvest Hope began in 1981 as a collaboration between faith communities and local businesses, and today it provides emergency food to the community as well as supplies food pantries, shelters, soup kitchens and schools with nutritious food options.

“One in five kids in South Carolina and one in eight adults in South Carolina have food insecurities,” said Rhea Adkins, Harvest Hope’s faith-based giving manager. “Our goal is to get people fed.”

Harvest Hope rescues, packs, transports and delivers food to those who serve food-insecure people—churches like Wesley UMC, Hartsville, which has had an active soup kitchen since 1998.

‘We see the need’

Wesley, which is an agency partner of Harvest Hope, feeds roughly 120 people every weekday through the help of church volunteers and help from 20 other churches and businesses who supply volunteers regularly.  

Dr. Jeffery Tadlock, Wesley’s director of program ministries, said the soup kitchen receives  food from Harvest Hope, which is used in the preparation of meals and in distribution of goods to their clients. At least once a month, they also do giveaways to families, who receive a bag or box with various food items, most of which come from Harvest Hope. 

“We are very thankful for our partnership with Harvest Hope.,” Tadlock said. “As prices in the grocery stores continue to rise, we see the need getting greater. Folks are struggling to make ends meet, and sometimes the soup kitchen is the only meal they get. Our partnership with Harvest Hope has allowed our impact in helping people to be greater. We are able to reach more and serve more because of it.” 

Jesus: Feed my sheep

Adkins said that when people are in need, whether from lack of food or otherwise, they naturally turn to a place where they think they can get help. Churches are an obvious choice, which is why so many churches have food ministries.

As well, feeding people is one of the commands Jesus himself gave when he resurrected.

“Feed my sheep,” he told Peter in John 21:17 (NIV). Before his crucifixion, he consistently performed miracles involving food and healing the sick, providing basic needs for people. As he told his disciples in Matthew 25:40, “Whatever you do for the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me”—whether that meant providing food or drink, clothing or hospitality or visiting people in prison.

Harvest Hope, as a food distribution organization, is able to purchase or get donated nonperishable groceries at a fraction of retail prices. They then turn around and make that food available to hunger relief ministries like Wesley’s, or any of the other church or non-church agency partners they have across their 20 counties.

A group effort

Current UMC agency partners in addition to Wesley include St. Mark UMC, Taylors; James Monroe Mission House, Trinity UMC, Fountain Inn; Beulah UMC, Gaston; Ebenezer UMC, Wallace; Level Green UMC, Bennettsville; Mount Beulah UMC, McBee; St. Andrews UMC, Orangeburg; St. Luke UMC, Timmonsville; Virginia Wingard Memorial UMC, Columbia; and Washington Street UMC, Columbia.

Additionally, there are numerous UMC churches who support Harvest Hope’s efforts by volunteering, hosting food drives and providing financial support, whether with undesignated funds or through a backpack program. Some of these include Fair Lawn UMC, Columbia; Advent UMC, Simpsonville; Northeast UMC, Columbia; Travelers Rest UMC, Travelers Rest; Francis Burns UMC, Columbia; Sandy Grove UMC; and Hopewell UMC, Simpsonville.

Pete Aubin, director of discipleship and connections at Advent UMC, Simpsonville, said their church has partnered with Harvest Hope for at least 15 years. He said Harvest Hope is included in their annual budget, and volunteer groups go there at least once a month to help pack senior boxes, sort food and more. They also have “staff serve days,” where the whole staff goes to serve at Harvest Hope.

“Advent has always felt that missions are a vital part of who we are and what we do,” Aubin said. “Ten percent of our overall church budget is dedicated to local, regional, national and international missions. We currently have 30 mission partners and since 2020 have adjusted that budget to meet the growing needs in the food and housing insecurity areas.”

If your church is interested in learning more about Harvest Hope and how to help either as an agency partner or otherwise, visit https://www.harvesthope.org.

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