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The Columbia Emergency Meals Pantry drive-thru elevated 14.three % from August by way of September.
COLUMBIA, S.C. — A number of months into the COVID-19 pandemic, meals banks are nonetheless feeling strained to serve households in want.
“Our common variety of volunteers dropped about 80 % due to a variety of them are within the susceptible inhabitants,” stated Taylor Davids, improvement and communications specialist for Harvest Hope Meals Financial institution.
The mission of the Harvest Hope Meals Financial institution is to get rid of starvation and meals insecurity in South Carolina. Nevertheless, the pandemic has made it troublesome for them to recruit volunteers to get the job accomplished.
Davids stated the meals financial institution served greater than 11,000 folks counting on them final month.
“If anybody has pushed down Store Highway from I-77 into city in the direction of the stadium, you see our strains on Monday and Wednesday mornings,” Davids stated. “Typically, the strains wrap round Beltline and down Beltline.”
One volunteer who has been working at Harvest Hope for a yr and a half says she has seen how the pandemic has impacted households.
“I might have by no means realized how many individuals are struggling if I wasn’t working right here,” stated Mary Gallagher.
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The Columbia Emergency Meals Pantry drive-thru elevated 14.three % from August by way of September. Davids stated these numbers would possibly spike in the course of the holidays.
Two USC college students volunteering on Tuesday have been initially there for sophistication initiatives however left with a brand new understanding.
“I feel it does change so much once you come to see what you are studying,” Dillon Wingo stated. “For my group vitamin course, we are able to learn all we would like, however when you see the quantity of meals that wants sorting and the road of individuals, that is the distinction.”
“I did not understand how many individuals use this meals financial institution,” Landen Eidson stated. “I’ve by no means actually seen the logistics. Now, I will drive-by to see how lengthy the strains are as a result of that is lots of people.”
RELATED: Meals drive goals to fight meals insecurity amongst school college students
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