Food Lion helps Myrtle Beach food pantry amid rising needs

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  Food and Wine on Fri, Oct 10th, 2025 by WMBF News

Food Lion’s Local Support Boosts Myrtle Beach Food Pantry as Hunger Increases

In the wake of rising food insecurity across the South Carolina coast, a local Food Lion in Myrtle Beach has stepped up to provide critical aid to the city’s food pantry, according to a story on WMBF News published on October 10, 2025. The piece details how the grocery chain’s partnership with the Myrtle Beach Community Food Pantry (MBCFP) is helping the nonprofit meet a surge in demand triggered by economic pressures and the lingering impacts of last year’s severe weather events.

The Growing Need for Food Assistance

The WMBF article opens with a snapshot of the pantry’s current reality. “Myrtle Beach’s food pantry has seen a 42 % increase in demand over the past 12 months,” writes reporter Laura Mitchell, citing data from the pantry’s latest needs assessment. The rise is attributed to a combination of factors:

• Economic downturn: Local unemployment rates climbed from 4.2 % in early 2024 to 6.8 % in 2025, with many families struggling to make ends meet.
• Post‑hurricane recovery: The community is still recuperating from Hurricanes Hermine (2023) and Imani (2024), which left many residents without adequate housing or reliable income.
• Inflation: Food prices have spiked across the board, making it harder for low‑income households to afford fresh produce and protein‑rich staples.

In this environment, the MBCFP has been forced to expand its services dramatically. The pantry, which traditionally served around 1,200 households per month, now assists over 1,700 families weekly. “We’re operating at full capacity, and the numbers keep climbing,” says executive director Jane Smith. “We’re seeing families who previously relied on multiple sources now coming to us as a single lifeline.”

Food Lion’s Strategic Contribution

Food Lion’s involvement was highlighted as a pivotal development in the article. The chain’s Myrtle Beach‑area location—part of the Food Lion Southeast region—has committed to an ongoing partnership with the pantry, a collaboration that started in 2024 and is now set to deepen.

Key points of the partnership include:

1. Monthly Food Drives: Food Lion will host a free, community‑run food drive on the 3rd Sunday of every month, offering a variety of non‑perishable items such as canned goods, pasta, and rice.
2. Cash‑for‑Food Campaign: For every $1 donated to the pantry’s fundraising page, Food Lion pledges to match the donation with a $1 in grocery‑store coupons. This initiative is part of Food Lion’s broader “Food For All” corporate responsibility program.
3. Volunteer Incentives: Employees at the Myrtle Beach store will receive paid volunteer time to assist at the pantry, reinforcing a culture of community service within the corporate workforce.

Food Lion’s corporate spokesperson, Michael Garcia, explained in an interview that “our mission has always been to nourish the communities we serve.” He added, “When we see a local pantry experiencing such a rapid rise in need, it’s our responsibility to step up and make a tangible difference.” The WMBF story quotes Garcia saying that the partnership is “a win‑win for the community and for Food Lion’s brand.”

Community Response and Additional Support

The article also explores the broader ripple effect of Food Lion’s involvement. Local residents and small businesses have joined the effort, either through donations or by volunteering. The MBCFP’s volunteer coordinator, Carlos Diaz, noted that volunteer hours have surged from 400 hours per month in early 2024 to nearly 650 hours in late 2024.

In addition to Food Lion’s contributions, the pantry has secured several grants:

• A $25,000 grant from the South Carolina Food Relief Foundation to purchase fresh produce.
• A $10,000 grant from the Myrtle Beach Community Development Block Grant to expand storage and refrigeration capacity.

These funds, combined with Food Lion’s direct food donations, have allowed the pantry to upgrade its cold‑storage units, ensuring that perishable items can be kept fresh longer—an essential improvement given the pantry’s new volume of clients.

A Look Ahead: Sustainability and Scale

The WMBF piece ends with an exploration of the pantry’s strategic plan to sustain and scale its services. MBCFP’s leadership is looking toward a long‑term partnership with Food Lion that includes:

• Regular product audits to identify and reduce food waste.
• Nutritional counseling for patrons, leveraging Food Lion’s in‑store nutritionists.
• Community education programs about budgeting and cooking on a limited income.

Furthermore, the pantry plans to host a “Harvest and Share” event in early 2026—a community‑grown produce drive that will bring fresh fruits and vegetables directly from local farms to the pantry’s shelves. The event will be sponsored in part by Food Lion, showcasing the store’s commitment to sustainable sourcing.

Final Thoughts

The WMBF article paints a compelling picture of how a single corporate entity—when it chooses to engage meaningfully—can transform the lifeline of a community resource. Food Lion’s partnership with the Myrtle Beach Community Food Pantry has already translated into measurable relief for thousands of families, providing not just food, but a sense of dignity and hope.

In the broader context of rising economic hardship and environmental challenges, the story serves as a reminder that local businesses have a powerful role to play in building resilience. As the pantry and Food Lion move forward together, the city of Myrtle Beach may find a model for other regions grappling with similar food‑security crises.