Community leaders step up as Horry County Schools suspend meal programs
HORRY COUNTY, S.C. (WPDE) — Horry County Schools suspended their grab-and-go meal sites after multiple employees tested positive for coronavirus. Now, several community leaders are finding ways to make sure those bellies are full.
Nate Ellis is the executive director of Ekklesia Church and said the church received about seven or eight Facebook messages overnight from families in need, "mainly due to the fact that Horry County Schools was going to suspend their mission of providing meals,” he said.
The church takes food donations to Meals On Wheels, who cooks the food, and then brings it back to the church. Ellis said the church then freezes, packages, and distributes them.
“Sometimes we’ll take canned beans and canned peas, whatever we have and just put them in the box with those prepared meals. Just to give them a little extra to carry throughout the next week or so.”
Help 4 Kids was already driving and delivering food to neighborhoods, and now that’s amplified.
“We’re just having to ramp that up and add a lot more stops,” said events coordinator Bridget Brancoto. “So many people are laid off and don’t have a job. A lot of the families we help don’t have transportation, nor do they come back into town because they’re not working.”
Among restaurants, Dead Dog Saloon is giving kids free meals, and so is Café Gelato through their drive-thru.
On Monday, kids can get a free meal at R.W. Woods after Best Homes and Property donated $500.
While Horry County School district’s program is shut down, though, one this is for sure: Horry County residents will continue their efforts.
“We’re not really in the business of screening people,” said Ellis, “we just hear their stories, we’re able to pray with them and as long as we have, we’re going to give.”
For those who are looking for help, you can message either Ekklesia Church or Help 4 Kids on Facebook, or by calling their numbers.
Ekklesia Church said you can also drop food off at their church, or make a monetary donation. You can message their Facebook page or call 843-443-7774.
If you would like to help out, Help 4 Kids said you can drop off non-perishable food outside their office, located at 2523 Forestbrook Road, in Myrtle Beach. You can also message them on Facebook, or email them at info@help4kidssc.org to arrange someone to come pick up the food. The organization also accepts monetary donations, and there is a link to donate on their website. You can also reach Help 4 Kids at 843-651-4310.
