Harvest Hope Food Bank

Harvest Hope Food Bank is a nonprofit organization and South Carolina's largest food bank. It was founded in 1981 by business leaders and the faith community in Columbia, with the mission of eliminating hunger and food insecurity across the state.

History and Mission

Harvest Hope began as a response to the growing need for food assistance in Columbia and has since expanded its operations to serve 20 counties across South Carolina. The organization aims to transform lives by providing meals to those in need and building a healthy and hunger-free future. Its mission is centered around the belief that access to nutritious food is a basic human right.

Programs and Services

Harvest Hope offers several critical programs to address hunger and food insecurity:

• Food Rescue and Distribution: The organization collects safe, edible food that would otherwise go to waste and distributes it to food pantries, shelters, and soup kitchens. This includes working with retail partners to rescue surplus food supplies.

• Backpack Programs: Harvest Hope supports children by providing nutritious meals and snacks through backpack programs during the school year. This ensures children at risk of hunger have food over weekends and holidays.

• Mobile Food Pantries: These bring food directly to rural communities, where access to grocery stores is limited. Mobile pantries provide a vital link to nutritious food for families in these areas.

• Emergency Food Assistance Programs: Harvest Hope participates in the USDA's Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP), distributing commodities to low-income households.

Operational Structure

Harvest Hope operates both as a food bank, distributing millions of pounds of food annually, and as a food pantry, providing groceries directly to individuals in need through its locations in Columbia and Greenville.

Impact and Community Engagement

In a typical fiscal year, Harvest Hope distributes tens of millions of pounds of food, serving hundreds of thousands of individuals across the state. The organization relies heavily on partnerships with over 400 nonprofit agencies to achieve its mission. Donations and volunteer work are critical to its operations, enabling it to address the evolving needs of South Carolina's communities.

Cultural and Social Impact

Beyond providing immediate relief, Harvest Hope plays a role in advocating for social justice and ensuring equitable access to food. It operates with core values of social justice, respect, integrity, collaboration, innovation, accountability, and excellence in serving the community.