The Southern Smoke Foundation (SSF), a nonprofit organization providing emergency relief funds and access to mental health services to food and beverage workers nationwide, has announced its acquisition of Pay It Forward, a Charleston-based nonprofit. To date, SSF has distributed $74,286 to South Carolina-based residents and plans to increase its impact with the acquisition of Pay It Forward.
Pay It Forward was founded in March 2020 during a critical time for the industry. The organization provided over 11,575 bags of groceries at no cost to restaurant workers over the course of eight weeks. Since then, it has provided financial assistance to over 200 F+B industry peers in times of personal need. In recognition of service to the Charleston community, former Mayor John Tecklenburg named March 1st Pay it Forward Day. In October 2023, Pay It Forward Executive Director Carrie Larson reached out to SSF to explore opportunities for collaboration.
"We noticed the synergy between our mission and Southern Smoke's," said Larson. "Now, by joining forces, we have the opportunity to expand our microgrant program nationally and more richly support the Charleston F+B community.”
The acquisition will enable SSF to expand its reach to meet the urgent needs of F+B workers nationwide and the introduction of a full-time case worker on the ground in Charleston to provide localized support. Pay It Forward alum Taylor Graham will transition to a case manager position with SSF effective immediately. In partnership with the University of South Carolina, SSF will also offer access to free mental health counseling to F+B workers starting this summer.
Michael Shemtov, the Founder of Honest to Goodness Hospitality and Co-Founder and Board Chair of Pay It Forward Charleston, had this to say: “I am delighted that Pay it Forward’s work will live on as part of the Southern Smoke Foundation, which shares our mission and values, and that what we started here will now extend beyond Charleston to the rest of our state and in fact all of the United States.”
SSF staff and board members, including Founder/Chef Chris Shepherd and Executive Director Lindsey Brown, will be in Charleston for this year’s Wine + Food Festival. Chris will be doing a cooking demo with SSF chef Paola Velez at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, March 9.
For more information about Southern Smoke Foundation and its services for the F+B community, visit southernsmoke.org.
