Fairfax, SC — As the federal government shutdown continues to hurt working families across the country, U.S. Senate candidate Brandon Brown and Fairfax Town Councilwoman Phyllis Smart led a team of local volunteers this morning to distribute food to more than 250 families in Fairfax, one of the poorest communities in South Carolina and among the hardest hit by the economic fallout of the shutdown.
Located in Allendale County, Fairfax is home to resilient, hard-working people who have long endured high poverty rates and limited access to essential services.
“This is what leadership looks like,” said Brown, who organized the event as part of his campaign’s ongoing “Neighbors Helping Neighbors” initiative. “When Washington fails to act, when political games in D.C. cause real suffering here at home, we don’t wait for someone else to fix it — we take care of each other. That’s what South Carolina values are all about.”
Councilwoman Phyllis Smart, who joined Brown in coordinating the event and local volunteers, emphasized the importance of community unity in difficult times.
“Fairfax knows struggle, but we also know strength,” Smart said. “Our people may not have much, but when one of us is in need, we all show up. Today we proved again that compassion is our greatest resource.”
Volunteers worked throughout the morning unloading trucks, sorting fresh produce, and handing out boxes of groceries to families lined up outside the Fairfax Community Center. Residents started lining up at 7 a.m. for the distribution which started at 10 a.m. Many spoke about the pride they felt in serving their neighbors during such a challenging moment.
“I’ve lived here my whole life,” said Mary Jenkins, a local volunteer. “We don’t always get noticed down here, but Brandon Brown and Ms. Smart reminded us that we matter — that we’re seen, and that help is still possible even when things feel uncertain.”
Brown said that this initiative is part of a broader effort to meet the immediate needs of working families while also advocating for long-term policy solutions to tackle poverty, food insecurity, and economic inequality in South Carolina.
“Fairfax shouldn’t be forgotten,” Brown added. “Every child deserves a meal, every worker deserves a paycheck, and every family deserves a government that works for them, and not against them. I’m running for Senate because this fight is personal. We can build a South Carolina where no one is left behind.”