Coastal Community Foundation (CCF) has activated The Care Fund, which supports emergency grantmaking to organizations within the Foundation’s nine-county footprint. The Care Fund will provide flexible, rapid-response funding to aid communities impacted by the current government shutdown and elimination of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. The Care Fund was last activated during the government shutdown of 2019.
As of November 1, more than 122,000 people within CCF’s service area lost access to SNAP, drastically increasing the number of families at risk for hunger and hardship. In addition to the loss of SNAP benefits, federal workers are still furloughed and not receiving a paycheck.
“It’s the beginning of the month, which means the mortgage or rent is due. For federal workers without income and SNAP recipients without resources, there are limited avenues to put food on the table,” said Darrin Goss, Sr., President and CEO of Coastal Community Foundation. “We are hearing from nonprofit partners like the Lowcountry Food Bank that they were already experiencing the highest food insecurity rates in over a decade. The government shutdown has exponentially increased the need because for every meal that a food bank provides, SNAP provides nine. CCF activated The Care Fund to support organizations doing their best to fill the gap.”
To meet the current demand, the Lowcountry Food Bank must add at least $125,000 in food assistance each week. Coastal Community Foundation has a goal to raise $500,000 in The Care Fund to ensure the Lowcountry Food Bank and its partners have access to enough resources to feed families through the month of November. Community members can donate to The Care Fund here. By contributing to The Care Fund, 100% of donations will go directly to feeding our neighbors. CCF does not collect any fees for this fund, and the Lowcountry Food Bank will not charge partner pantries a cost-share fee if the grant comes from CCF. If the gift is intended to benefit the Lowcountry Food Bank only or a specific county in CCF’s service area, please include that note in the Special Instructions section.
“Coastal Community Foundation has played an instrumental role as a valued partner and one of the founders of Lowcountry Food Bank. Today, their leadership through the creation of The Care Fund continues that legacy of compassion and community investment at a time when our work feels more urgent than ever,” said Nick Osborne, President and CEO of Lowcountry Food Bank. “As more of the hard-working neighbors we serve face food insecurity—many for the first time—and as federal feeding programs and SNAP benefits decline, this partnership helps us expand access to nutritious food and develop innovative solutions that meet our neighbors where they are, with dignity and care. Together, we are ensuring that no one in the Lowcountry has to face hunger alone.”
Applications are open now for organizations to apply for grants from The Care Fund. CCF is currently prioritizing support for organizations delivering emergency food, housing, and utility assistance. Applications are accepted from organizations that are recognized by the IRS as a nonprofit, being either a government agency, a recognized house of worship, or an organization with a 501(c)(3) designation. Eligible organizations must operate within CCF’s nine-county service area: Beaufort, Berkeley, Charleston, Colleton, Dorchester, Georgetown, Hampton, Horry, and Jasper counties. The applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis to remain flexible and responsive to the rapidly evolving environment.
Coastal Community Foundation has 50 years of experience responding to crises throughout coastal South Carolina, including every major hurricane since Hurricane Hugo in 1989, as well as the COVID-19 pandemic. During challenging times, the Foundation is uniquely positioned to connect donors, nonprofits, and community leaders to quickly and effectively deploy funding where it is needed most.
