“Toucan Tuesdays” returning to Riverbanks Zoo and Garden

Guests who brings two cans of non-perishable food items along with them will receive buy-one get-one admission tickets.

COLUMBIA, SC (WOLO) —  “Toucan Tuesdays” — an annual collaboration between Riverbanks Zoo and Garden and Harvest Hope Food Bank, kicks off on June 11th.

Guests who brings two cans (see what they did there?) of non-perishable food items along with them, will receive buy-one get-one admission tickets.

“When we are looking for food donations, what we’re looking for are those really great shelf stable items that you want to feed your family. You know your pastas, your beans, your cans of veggies, your cans of chicken and tuna. We want to collect items that help families’ dollars go farther where they only have to go purchase one or two more items to create multiple meals for their family. So if you’re looking in your pantry or you’re at the grocery store and your family has a favorite soup or pasta, go ahead and grab one for us,” says Harvest Hope’s CEO Erinn Rowe.

Since the partnership began in 2010, Harvest Hope reports that over 48,000 lbs. of food have been collected.

“It makes me believe that the world really is a good place because people do care. And even that one small act of bringing a canned good to the zoo, it’ is us coming together to create a community that is thriving, and I’m very grateful for that,” Rowe says.

Matt Perron, Public Relations Manager with Riverbanks Zoo and Garden, says this year the zoo hopes to take in an additional 5,000 lbs. of non-perishable food — reaching a milestone of 50,000 pounds since Toucan Tuesdays first started.

“It’d be nice to do it next Tuesday, but I think within a few weeks, we’ll hit that. Over the past since 2010, there were two years we had to not do it because of Covid. But still, in that time span we’re right on the cusp of 50,000, and it just happens to coincide with our 50th year,” Perron says.

To go along with the buy-one get-one ticket, guests who make a donation will also receive a buy-one get-one regular sized Icee.

“It’s the people of the Midlands and the people of SC that makes Riverbanks what it is. We couldn’t be here without their support of everyone who comes and visits. All ticket prices go towards helping the zoo, and at the same time Richland and Lexington counties support us financially, and we want to give back,”Perron says.

Toucan Tuesdays will take place every Tuesday starting June 11th through August 13.