Helping Hand of Myrtle Beach Seeks Community Support Amidst Rising Demand for Food Supplies

Helping Hands of Myrtle Beach Needs a Hand

Myrtle Beach, S.C. has always been a city where community spirit shines bright. But lately, the local non-profit, Helping Hand of Myrtle Beach, is asking for a little extra kindness from its neighbors. They’re currently running low on food supplies, and this isn’t your typical pantry shortage. This time, it’s a direct result of their unyielding commitment to help others, especially those displaced by the recent hurricane.

Why Helping Hand is Running Low

After the devastating effects of Hurricane Helene, Helping Hand shifted some of its resources to assist families in Western North Carolina who were hit hard by the storm. Items like green beans, diapers, and toothbrushes found new homes, but now they need support to replenish their own pantry. According to their pantry coordinator, the usual stream of walk-in donations has almost dried up. Last week, they didn’t get a single walk-in donation, which is quite unusual and alarming.

The Growing Need in Our Community

As of the start of September, Helping Hand found itself serving an increasing number of households in need—going from providing food for 486 households in June to a staggering 800 households now. Veterans, single mothers, and workers in the service industry have come through the doors, all affected by rising costs and previous hardships.

It’s heavy stuff, isn’t it? From the stories we’ve heard, it’s clear that every walk of life is represented at Helping Hand. The pantry is a lifeline for many struggling families and individuals. Seeing this community come together is crucial, especially when the demand is so high.

Community Responds

On a brighter note, when a recent call for help went out on social media, community members didn’t just scroll by. Local businesses and churches jumped into action! For instance, Crazy Mason donated an impressive 600 pounds of food in response to the call. And the generosity didn’t stop there; the next day, over 1,044 pounds poured in from other supporters!

The Ongoing Needs

Despite the warm community response, Helping Hand is still feeling the pinch. They are now providing over 35,000 pounds of food per month. Interestingly, even with their pantry stocked, it can all be gone within a week. The pressing need for canned meats like chicken, tuna, or spam, along with cereals, oatmeal, and grits is notable. But their biggest request is for fresh meat.

Here’s the challenge: because fresh meat is perishable, it can’t be donated directly. This means the non-profit has to purchase it, further straining their resources. Monetary donations are a huge help right now as they navigate this crunch.

How You Can Help

If you’re feeling touched by this story, and you want to help support our Myrtle Beach community, there are plenty of ways to get involved! You can donate food items, especially the ones mentioned above, or if you prefer, contribute through financial means to help purchase supplies. Every little bit helps, and no gesture is too small!

Conclusion

In a world where so many are facing hardships, it’s heartening to see the Myrtle Beach community step up to support one another. Helping Hand of Myrtle Beach really embodies that spirit, but they can’t do it alone. If you feel inspired, reach out, lend a hand, and let’s help our neighbors in need!