DPH, GC3 and United Way Partner to Increase Food Resources in Greenwood County

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
July 31, 2024

COLUMBIA, S.C. — The South Carolina Department of Public Health (DPH) has partnered with Greenwood Counts Community Consortium (GC3) Food and Hunger Alliance and the United Way of the Lakelands to develop a food resource card to help address food insecurity in Greenwood County.  

The card features a QR code that directs users to the Greenwood Food Resource Map on the United Way of the Lakelands' Lakelands Counts website.  

“These cards were created to address food insecurity in Greenwood County by providing a resource for individuals to find food pantries, farmers markets and community gardens all on one site,” said Ashlee Redfern, DPH Certified Community Health Worker. "Access to food is a fundamental need that improves overall health and well-being in a community. Inadequate nutrition and food insecurity is tied to poor outcomes for both physical and mental health. Our Food and Hunger Alliance is attempting to improve knowledge of available food resources with these cards to help those who are at a higher risk for food insecurity.” 

Since October, 564 food resource cards have been distributed during community events and at libraries, health departments and other community-focused sites throughout Greenwood County by DPH’s Community Health Workers and other GC3 Food & Hunger Alliance members, prompting nearly 400 visits to the resource map.  

The food resource map is regularly updated and maintained, allowing visitors to stay up to date on any new or changing food resources in the area.  

GC3 is a collective organized by United Way of the Lakelands, with the group forming its Food and Hunger Alliance to address food insecurity in the community. 

“To better understand food needs, we hosted listening sessions and distributed surveys to our community where we learned that awareness and accuracy of resources was a barrier for many,” said Justo Chalaire, Director of Community Impact and Evaluation for the United Way of the Lakelands. “With that in mind, GC3 started compiling accurate food resource information which informed a digital Food Resource Map created by the United Way of the Lakelands. It has been a tremendous team effort with DPH and other GC3 members distributing food resource cards in their areas of influence and consistently sending United Way updated information.” 

Outreach requests can be sent to DPH’s Upstate Outreach team at UpstateOutreach@dph.sc.gov. To keep up with GC3 efforts in the Greenwood community, visit the Greenwood Counts Community Consortium Facebook page.  

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