As food insecurity continues to rise across South Carolina, so does the need for a strong community response. New data from Feeding America’s Map the Meal Gap report shows that more families, children, and seniors are struggling to consistently access enough food. At the same time, Harvest Hope and its network of partners are responding at unprecedented levels, delivering more meals and serving more neighbors than ever before. 

Across Harvest Hope’s 20-county service area, 334,070 people now experience food insecurity, a 15.5% increase from the previous year. Nearly 1 in 6 neighbors, including more than 100,200 children, face uncertainty about where their next meal will come from. These communities account for approximately 39% of all food-insecure individuals and 42% of all food-insecure children across South Carolina, underscoring the critical role our network plays in addressing hunger across the state. 

Responding to Growing Need

During Fiscal Year 2026, Harvest Hope Food Bank and our network distributed more than 92.2 million meals across the communities we serve. Through our emergency food pantries, agency partners, and specialized feeding programs, we served 1,172,305 individuals and 630,059 families, ensuring neighbors had access to nutritious food when they needed it most. 

Our commitment to children and seniors remained at the heart of this work. Throughout the year, we distributed 116,355 child-feeding kits through Backpack and Summer Feeding programs, helping children access nutritious food when school meals were unavailable. We also provided 52,675 senior food boxes, supporting older adults experiencing food insecurity across our communities. 

The Power of Partnerships

None of this would have been possible without the generosity and dedication of our community. Harvest Hope’s network includes 314 agency partners, 108 retail partners, and hundreds of volunteers, businesses, schools, churches, and civic organizations that organized 329 food drives throughout the year. Together, we expanded access to food for families across South Carolina. Our retail partners alone helped rescue more than 100.9 million pounds of food, providing critical resources for neighbors facing hunger and strengthening our ability to meet the growing need. 

Looking Ahead

The data tells a clear story: hunger is increasing, and more families are turning to food assistance than ever before. It also demonstrates the power of a community working together to address hunger. Every meal distributed, every volunteer hour, every food drive, and every donation reflect a shared commitment to ensuring no neighbor faces hunger alone.

As we look ahead, Harvest Hope remains committed to working alongside our donors, volunteers, agency partners, retail partners, and community supporters to transform lives by feeding the hungry, addressing food insecurity, and building a healthy and hopeful hunger-free tomorrow.

Stay Connected

The impact highlighted in this report is made possible by a community committed to helping neighbors facing hunger across South Carolina. Follow Harvest Hope throughout the year to stay informed, read stories of impact, and learn about opportunities to get involved.

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