July 2017
For Immediate Release
Second Helpings, with funding provided by the Beaufort County Service Organization and Long Cove and other donors implemented Phase One of their Healthy Food Pilot Program by partnering with Dempsey Farms and Pinckney Farms in Beaufort during the month of June. With these funds and others over 700 families will receive 20 pound boxes each full of fresh produce picked days before delivery by Dempsey and Pickney farms.
“Despite the tremendous amount of food donated by our food donors, made up of local grocery stores and restaurants, there is still a need for more fresh produce,” said Margie Tomczak, chairperson of Second Helpings Health Food Initiative. “The Second Helping board has initiated a Healthy Food Program to purchase fresh produce during the growing season. This produce will be delivered at no cost to the agencies we serve.”
Since last Fall, Second Helpings has received hundreds of pounds of free fresh produce from Dempsey Farms in addition to the produce received from grocery store donations. This produce has been distributed to over 60 agencies in Beaufort, Hampton and Jasper counties.
“This month, both Dave Dempsey of Dempsey Farms and Urbie West of Pinckney Farms personally boxed up over 700 20-pound boxes with produce from their fields,” explained Tomczak. “These boxes will be packed every week for four weeks. The first week boxes included tomatoes, onions, peppers, sweet potatoes, squash and other produce and it will change weekly depending on the yield.”
Recipient agencies were encouraged to distribute one box per family and also to break down the boxes to offer produce to all of the people in need of fresh produce.
“Donations and grants make this program possible and this is only the beginning,” said Jan Malinowski, president of Palmetto State Bank and president of Second Helpings. “Healthy eating helps a child to learn, a parent can control diseases resulting from eating too much processed food and it leads to a more productive and healthy community. It’s a win-win for everyone. We look forward to growing this program.”
