SC food bank launching ‘convenient and dignified’ pickup program near Myrtle Beach. How it works

An innovative new system to help people facing food insecurity is coming to the Grand Strand, thanks to a grant from food service distributor US Foods. The company partnered with Feeding America to expand the Direct to Neighbor locker project to the Lowcountry Food Bank and six other food banks around the county.

The program is designed to make food access easier and more efficient. It lets users place customized food orders online, similar to order-ahead grocery programs. The order is prepared by the participating food bank and then picked up from lockers that are frozen, refrigerated or not temperature controlled.

“The Direct to Neighbor locker project really is one of the most innovative food access projects in the country right now, and that’s because it takes a really unique approach to providing more convenient and dignified hunger relief support to community members that are experiencing food insecurity,” said Jenece Upton, senior manager of community Affairs at US Foods.

In the Myrtle Beach area, the Lowcountry Food Bank will supply lockers at North Strand Helping Hand in Longs. According to a representative for Feeding America, the lockers should be available for use in December.

“Whereas at a traditional food bank distribution or pickup, people might have to go to the food bank, have long wait times, potentially, to pick up their food, have transportation or mobility issues in getting to the food bank, the direct to neighbor locker project is designed to leverage an online ordering platform,” Upton said.

Since 2007, US Foods has donated more than $170 million of food and supplies to Feeding America’s network of food banks, but the $750,000 Direct to Neighbor project grant is the company’s largest monetary donation to date.