HOPE in Lancaster, Inc. (HOPE) recently announced the arrival of the next FoodShare SC hub in Lancaster County. The new initiative offers a prepaid box of first-rate, fresh produce once or twice a month, year-round. Anyone can purchase a box for themselves or others at $15 per box. Boxes contain 12-15 farm-fresh produce items that retail stores s in s for $22-24.
The FoodShare program is endorsed and in cooperation with Eat Smart Move More of Lancaster County; the Upper Midlands Rural Health Network; and the Lancaster County Health & Wellness Commission to create access to fresh and healthy food for residents of Lancaster County while alleviating food insecurity. Recent Live Healthy SC survey results showed that many county residents desired to eat healthier but lack access due to food deserts and food insecurity.
“FoodShare’s vision is to ensure access to fresh produce for all in our communities. Fresh, healthy food should not be limited to where you live, your racial and ethnic background, age, income, or whether or not your family has reliable transportation,” said Irini Guda McCarthy, president of the Health & Wellness Commission.
HOPE is honored to join this collaboration, bringing FoodShare to Lancaster County residents and offering the program as part of the agency’s focus to serve more of their neighbors. In July 2020, HOPE hired Tim Hale to oversee and manage the FoodShare Lancaster program.
“These boxes provide healthy, affordable alternatives to Lancaster County residents who reside in a food desert. I am excited about the fact that you can make $10,000 a year or $100,000 a year and still get the same box of first-rate, farm-fresh produce to feed yourself and your family,” said Hale.
HOPE will begin taking orders on October 27th with the first distribution of boxes scheduled for Tuesday, November 17, 2020. For more information about FoodShare Lancaster, contact Tim Hale by calling 803-289-9558.