Lowcountry Food Bank (LCFB) announced today that one of its partner food pantries, Shepherd's Table in Conway, now has 27 food lockers to fill with free, healthy food for neighbors to access outside of regular food pantry operating hours.
Lowcountry Food Bank secured funding for the food lockers from the South Carolina Department of Commerce through the Community Development Block Grant Care Act (CDBG-CV) funding allocation.
The lockers serve Conway and surrounding communities. Neighbors can place an online food order at orderahead.org, see food availability, and choose items they want to take home. By entering their zip code, neighbors can order food and schedule a pick-up time that is convenient for them. The lockers also serve as an emergency food access point for after-hours assistance.
Shepherd's Table held a ribbon-cutting ceremony this month to mark the availability of the new lockers. "I got so emotional when the lockers opened - it's phenomenal," said Brandon Oates, Director of Shepherd's Table. "I am overwhelmed with joy. Not everyone can get to us during the hours we're open," he said. "These lockers are breaking barriers to food access and they fill a huge gap, especially for the working population who experiences food insecurity. The cost of living is high, and we don't want people to take off of work and jeopardize their jobs to get food. This is a solution that meets neighbors' needs."
The food locker system uses Order Ahead software that is available through Feeding America-member food banks like Lowcountry Food Bank. Order Ahead is a fast, private, and easy way to order free food online.
Both frozen and refrigerated lockers accommodate fresh produce and shelf-stable food. The lockers are equipped with lighting and cameras to ensure safe pickup during evening or early morning hours. The lockers support discreet food pick-ups, are ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) compliant, and adhere to Department of Energy efficiency ratings. Food locker software ensures that Lowcountry Food Bank can track locker usage and learn which foods neighbors are ordering most.
"These lockers make it easier for folks to access healthy foods at times that are the most convenient for them," said Kari Hanna, Lowcountry Food Bank's Myrtle Beach Regional Facility Agency Relations Manager. "Now, neighbors who work full-time, but still experience food insecurity and can't get to a food pantry, can access food at the Shepherd's Table lockers."
Available food pickup times can be found on the Order Ahead website at orderahead.org. Additional pickup days will be added in the near future. Neighbors who experience food insecurity and wish to check food availability through the new lockers should visit orderahead.org.