Lowcountry Food Bank (LCFB) today announced it received a $300,000 donation from Publix Super Markets Charities. The funds were used to purchase a 26' refrigerated box truck that increases the amount of nutritious food that LCFB can distribute in the 10 coastal counties of South Carolina it serves. The funds were also used to purchase racking for LCFB's new Southern Regional Food Center in Early Branch, SC. Racking in a food bank is essentially a system of shelves and structures designed to store food and related items safely and efficiently. Proper racking ensures food is stored off the floor and away from walls. Lowcountry Food Bank serves 200,000 neighbors annually who face food insecurity.
Unfortunately, the food insecurity rate is at its highest level in more than 20 years at more than 13% of the population in the 10 coastal counties of South Carolina the LCFB serves. This is equivalent to more than 204,000 of our neighbors, of whom more than 48,000 are children. LCFB works strategically to ensure that every neighbor who may be experiencing food insecurity has fair access to healthy food. Publix Charities donation will help increase capacity and help meet this elevated need.
"We are so proud to work with Publix as a long-standing partner that always steps up and makes an enormous difference in the lives of the neighbors we serve," said Nick Osborne, Lowcountry Food Bank President and CEO. "Publix understands that more and more families have turned to us to help put healthy food on the table while we continue to navigate economic inflationary issues and higher food and transportation costs. We’re grateful to Publix Super Markets Charities for their years of support in helping alleviate hunger in our communities."
“At Publix, we believe providing food for our neighbors in need is our greatest opportunity to give back and doing so is at the heart of our philanthropic efforts,” said Publix CEO Kevin Murphy. “We’re also grateful to Publix Super Markets Charities for its continued commitment to helping people experiencing
food insecurity. Publix and Publix Charities’ continued work with food banks across the Southeast provide vital resources and nourishment to better the lives of individuals in our communities.”
The $300,000 donation from Publix Super Markets Charities to Lowcountry Food Bank is one of several donations to help provide food and other essential support to people who face hunger. In all, Publix Super Markets Charities has donated $11 million to Feeding America partner food banks and other nonprofit partners in 2024.