SC State Guard steps in at local food banks as government shutdown continues, SNAP benefits end

COLUMBIA, SC (WOLO) — As the government shutdown continues and SNAP benefits have come to an end, local food banks are seeing ever-increasing volume.

At Harvest Hope on Shop Road and other food banks, South Carolina’s State Guard members are helping direct traffic and distribute food to families in need.

“They’re doing a great job helping just mitigate the traffic flow and issues in our parking lot, because we have 200 to 250 families coming in here a day right now with the increase,” says CEO of Harvest Hope, Erinn Rowe.

As the government shutdown continues with no end in sight, guard members like Lt. Col. Keith Blandford say they’re happy to step in and help.

“Our whole role as the guard is to be a service to our community. So it’s important for them to know that we’re here. We’re available to them. We want to be an option to them anytime they need us,” says Blandford.

But its an option that Rowe believes should have never had to happen in the first place.

“This is not sustainable. We cannot replace a $100 million industry every single month from a philanthropic standpoint, so we’re calling everyone together, everybody has shown up, public, private, faith based communities have shown up, because SC really does care about each other, but we need our national leaders to step up and end this crisis,” says Rowe.

Companies have also stepped in to help, donating truck loads of food that cost $45,000 each.

“We’ve had two come in to the warehouse yesterday that we’re dispersing, but I can’t keep up with the demand,” says Rowe, who believes the lines will only get longer in the days ahead.

“The 556,000 people on SNAP — food banks are not equipped to step into that role,” she says.

The food bank is normally closed on Veterans Day but will be open this year due to the heavy need in the community.

“I tell ya it’s a true honor to be here supporting our community — this is what the state guard is all about,” Chief of Staff for the SC State Guard, Col. Renee MacDonald.

Rowe says Harvest Hope is looking for volunteers, and financial and food donations.

“We’re really looking for those shelf stable items we can push right back out in the community, your pastas, canned veggies, we need volunteers to work all that product getting donated. We do need funding dollars, I’m buying food as fast as it’s coming in, to make sure we don’t run out, ” says Rowe.

“As long as we are needed, we’ll be here,” says MacDonald, who adds the State Guard will be volunteering at Harvest Hope for at least another week to 10 days.