HILTON HEAD/BLUFFTON, SC – Food pantries in our region are experiencing a surge in the number of individuals seeking assistance to meet their food needs.

Interestingly, several local organizations report that they are also witnessing an increase in contributions.

Recently, a significant donation event occurred when the Deep Well Project on Hilton Head Island received a truckload of food from the Palmetto Hall Plantation Women’s Club.

The generous donation totaled over 3,800 pounds, providing enough groceries to sustain 35 families for at least a week.

“People are aware that prices are currently high across the country,” remarked Judy Guillem, Chairwoman of the Palmetto Hall Women’s Association. “With layoffs and the challenge of keeping up with costs, our community has truly stepped up to address the need.”

Deep Well Executive Director Sandy Gillis said the charity is getting more calls from folks who want to give, even if it’s just a few dollars. With close to 20% more families already asking Deep Well for help, every dollar and donation counts.

“While we’re seeing people show up who have never needed help before, which is obviously concerning. We are also seeing this community rally around their neighbors,” Executive Director of Deep Well Project Sandy Gillis said. “We’re seeing food getting dropped off. This food drive, frankly, has been planned for three months. When we planned it three months ago, did we know we would be in the middle of a food crisis in our country? No. But it looks like the community is just responding so beautifully and that is really encouraging.”

So far this year, Deep Well has already seen their clients increase by 15-20%.

The last two weeks, Gillis said that number has climbed another 25-30%.

“We are seeing people come out of the woodwork to say, what can I do to help?” Gillis said. “And that is so energizing for the folks on the front line working. Sometimes we feel like we’re roaming in that boat all by ourselves. But when we’re suddenly seeing truckloads of food come in, it just suddenly reminds us, we’re all in this together.”

The Bluffton Community Kitchen has seen 25 additional families reach out for food for their tables than the month before.

“Food is our staple here. And we also do an outdoor pantry. We do diapers, we do hygiene items, we do sanitary items for women,” Program Director for Bluffton Community Kitchen Candyce Valmont said. “We have an after-school program that’s free for low-income families in partnership with Beaufort County School District, we do meal kits here where we premeasure items and give meal kits out to families with children, and we do cleaning supplies as well.”

Their pantry already cooks hot meals for dozens of people around the area two days a week. It also provides fresh produce, meat and more from Second Helpings, local restaurants and farms.

People start lining up hours before the kitchen is officially open, just to make sure they get a meal.

While the number of people and need is increasing, so are the non-profit’s attempts to find new ways to make sure everyone gets something good to eat.

“We’ve really been trying to reach out to local restaurants in the community to see if they can sponsor a Wednesday for us to cook the hot meals and bring them in,” Valmont said. “So, we’re trying to find ways to save money to be able to purchase emergency produce and fruits and vegetables when we have to.”

Valmont said the other issue; they are not getting as much food donated from local grocery stores through Second Helpings. Many grocery stores are stocking less and then have less to give back to agencies like to community kitchen.

“We’re not getting a lot off of the Second helpings trucks,” Valmont said. “They are servicing a lot of nonprofits here and not many stores are donating to Second Helpings. So, we’re getting a little less off the truck, which is great. They’re doing what they’re supposed to do, but to be able to still make sure we have enough healthy food options for our community members, we do have to do some purchasing now to make sure that there’s enough to go around because of the increase.”

If you would like to help Deep Well Project with a donation of food or money, you can click or tap here.

The Bluffton Community Kitchen serves hot meals twice a week and is open for more donations at various times. It also offers a variety of programs, including after-school care. To find out more or make a donation, click or tap here.