Communitywide Food Distribution Happening On March 25th

In The Gap, in collaboration with Food Lion, Foothills Church and Radiant Church, will
provide a communitywide food distribution to food insecure residents of Oconee County, from 10 a.m. to noon, March 25 at Radiant Church, 11075 Watson Dr., Seneca, SC.

An area nonprofit organization, In The Gap supports the community by serving as a critical resource to help feed the community.

“One of our founding programs is our food pantry. This food pantry is twofold. We provide food assistance to families whose incomes fall between 151-186% of the federal poverty guidelines. Within that pantry, we also house our Healthy Alternatives pantry, which assists clients who struggle with food sensitivities and allergies. Our boxes are diabetic-friendly, gluten- and dairy-free as well as noninflammatory for those clients who struggle with arthritis and autoimmune conditions. We are so grateful for our partnership with Food Lion. Their generosity and love for the community is in large part what is allowing us to assist individuals for this distribution,” says JoAnn Johnson, Chief Executive Office for In The Gap.

Johnson continues, “the price of food has increased very quickly, making it difficult to impossible for many residents within our community to provide for their families. Choices are being made… choices between paying rent/mortgage, basic necessities, medication or food. Our goal with our organization is simple: we want to get people fed. We want to show them love, decrease their pain from eating foods that do not benefit their chronic conditions, increase quality of life and work toward assisting them so that they do not have to make those difficult choices.”

According to Feeding America, in Oconee County alone, nearly 12% of its residents experienced food insecurity in 2020. That statistic is higher than the state average of 9.6%. In the Gap receives support from Food Lion through its pioneering food rescue program, Food Lion Feeds, founded in 2014 by Food Lion to address food insecurity in the towns and cities it serves.

“In the face of hunger, many families are forced to make difficult choices, and we know our neighbors count on us to help nourish their families,” said Brian McKesson, Store Manager, Food Lion at 1085-D Old Clemson Hwy, Seneca, SC. “As part of our effort to address food insecurity, we are proud to partner with our local feeding agencies to fight hunger.”

In addition, Foothills Church and Radiant Church help provide South Carolinians with access to food by  partnering with In the Gap and Food Lion.

“It is a privilege to partner with our friends at Foothills Church in collaboration with In the Gap and Food Lion to help struggling families in our community get a leg up. We know times for most families are difficult. This opportunity allows the Body of Christ to come together to both minister to and feed families that otherwise would not be eligible to receive the assistance they desperately need. This event is yet more evidence that businesses and nonprofits can work together to build up our communities for
the better!” said Pastor Andrew Bullard, Radiant Church.

About In The Gap SC
In The Gap operates out of Oconee County South Carolina and offers a food pantry, child feeding program and pastoral care. The child feeding program reaches Oconee, Pickens, Anderson and Greenville counties. In The Gap works in partnership with many area nonprofits working toward stamping out food insecurity and improving quality of life. To learn more, visit inthegapsc.org.