Organizations Continue to Need Donations Ahead of Holidays

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Columbia, S.C. (WOLO) — As the holiday season quickly approaches, Harvest Hope Food Bank is preparing to provide meals for thousands of families in need. “The holiday season is really busy here at Harvest Hope, especially in November and December, it’s definitely our busiest times of year,” said Marketing Manager Ash Little. However this year, officials anticipate it will be even busier. Since the floods hit last month, food is flying off the shelves, making it difficult to keep up with the demand. “The good news is our food drives are up 25% compared to last year, but the bad news is our demand is up almost 200%,” explained Little. Little said on a daily basis, the food bank is continuing to provide roughly 35,000 meals for flood victims and he is anticipates that influx will extend well beyond the holiday season, creating a continuous need for donations. “We have to keep food on our shelves, it’s important for everybody to have food drives in their community, it’s also important for monetary donations,” said Little. Little said some of the needs include baby supplies such as diapers or wipes, canned meat, 100% fruit juice and sports drinks. Other organizations like the Salvation Army are also seeing an extra need. Spokesperson Andrew McIntyre said they have more than 1,500 families signed up for this year‘s angel tree, which is a program aimed at providing kids in need with a gift for the holidays. He said several of the families registered were also affected by the floods. “We understand what most of us went through indirectly and directly through the flood this year as well as just other financial circumstances most people may have been dealing with prior to flood that they are still dealing with,” said McIntyre. “So there are a lot of children as well as families that are in need this Christmas season.” To get involved and help a child in need this holiday season, visit doingthemostgood.org. You can also visit Columbiana Centre Shopping Mall or Columbia Place Mall to participate in the angel tree program.