Spartanburg, SC – In response to the recent crisis with the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) pause, local nonprofit organizations, philanthropic partners, and the Spartanburg County Foundation acted quickly to support families and strengthen the safety net for those most in need.
- 38,000 Spartanburg residents or 17,000 households have been impacted.*
- The monthly SNAP cost for Spartanburg County residents is just over $6.9 million.*
The Spartanburg County Foundation activated its Disaster Relief Fund to accept donations and nonprofit applications, enabling organizations to feed families across Spartanburg County. In the first half of November, the Foundation and its donors distributed over $90,000 to:
- A Place to Call Home
- Benjamin E. Mays Family Resource Center
- Children’s Cancer Partners of the Carolinas
- Greater Spartanburg Ministries Inc.
- Hand in Hand
- Hospice and Palliative Care Foundation
- Housing360 – Spartanburg Housing
- Mt. Moriah Baptist Church Food Pantry
- Temple Education Ministries- HOPE Soup Kitchen
- Sustaining Way
The funds distributed support nonprofit organizations feeding children, families, senior citizens and meeting basic needs across our community.
On Wednesday, November 5th, instead of hosting its traditional “Thankful For You” breakfast to honor local nonprofits, the Spartanburg County Foundation pivoted to a listening session. Nonprofits shared urgent needs related to feeding families across the community, and response strategies were planned.
The tradition of randomly selecting nonprofits to receive “Just Because” grants at the event pivoted, providing $18,000 to nine organizations. The funds support the critical work of feeding vulnerable populations across Spartanburg County, as well as meeting anticipated needs resulting from the crisis.
The following organizations received the “Just Because” grants:
Collaborating with multiple community partners, including the Chapman Cultural Center, Mary Black Foundation, Spartanburg Regional Foundation, the United Way of the Piedmont, the City of Spartanburg, the Foundation moved quickly to secure and distribute twenty-four (24) pallets of Second Harvest food boxes to sixteen (16) Spartanburg-based food pantries meeting immediate needs.
“The Joint Funders serving Spartanburg County residents are committed to doing all we can. We are grateful for the way our local nonprofits, donors, and community volunteers have responded to this crisis. But we also acknowledge that philanthropy alone cannot provide the long-term solution to these issues,” said Troy Hanna, Spartanburg County Foundation President and CEO.
All nonprofit organizations were encouraged to review and update their information on SC 211, the current statewide system that allows individuals to find help for specific needs within their zip code or local geographic area.
“Although SNAP benefits have been temporarily restored, this immediate response was necessary for our local community. We also understand that comprehensive planning and advocacy are essential to ensure we are collectively working toward long-term solutions and preparedness for emergency needs. While the Spartanburg County Foundation is no longer accepting Disaster Relief grant applications for emergency food response, we are committed to working alongside nonprofit and philanthropic partners to form a long-range plan for emergency preparedness,” explained Ashley Whitt, Vice President of Grants and Community Impact.
Donors wishing to help prepare our community to respond quickly to future emergencies may do so through the Disaster Relief Fund.
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The Spartanburg County Foundation is committed to improving the lives of all Spartanburg County residents by promoting philanthropy, encouraging community engagement, and responding to community needs. Established in 1943, the Spartanburg County Foundation is the oldest community foundation in South Carolina.
