Helping Hand of Myrtle Beach in Need of Support
Myrtle Beach, S.C. – As we soak up the sunny weather with temperatures reaching a comfy 69 degrees today and a warm 79 degrees expected this Sunday, we’re reminded of the warmth that our community can provide to those in need. Right now, Helping Hand of Myrtle Beach is reaching out for just that—a helping hand!
This local non-profit organization has been doing incredible work feeding families who are struggling, and unfortunately, they find themselves running low on food supplies at the moment. Their mission is all about helping folks right here in our neighborhood, and even some families who have come down from Western North Carolina after facing hard times.
The Impact of Recent Events
After the recent devastation caused by Hurricane Helene, Helping Hand generously lent support to families in need, sending extra supplies like green beans, diapers, and toothbrushes to affected areas. While they still have some items in stock, the usual influx of donations has slowed to a trickle. Just last week, they didn’t receive any walk-in donations—something they heavily rely on. By the start of this week, pantry shelves and even meat refrigerators were nearly bare.
According to pantry coordinator, the situation has become increasingly pressing. “Since Helene, we’ve seen a significant rise in local need,” they said. In June, Helping Hands was helping 486 households, but now that number has soared to nearly 800 households in September! This includes veterans, single moms, folks who are homeless, and workers from the service industry who have struggled through a tough year. It’s a broad spectrum of people, all seeking a little extra support.
Community Comes Together
On Wednesday, hopes were lifted when Helping Hands made a call for help through social media. The response from the local community was heartwarming! Local businesses and churches stepped up; for example, Crazy Mason generously donated a whopping 600 pounds of food! And the next day, even more food came pouring in—over 1,044 pounds!
But don’t let those big numbers fool you. Despite these amazing contributions, the pantry still desperately needs more support. Helping Hands is working hard to provide more than 35,000 pounds of food each month. And with the increasing number of families relying on their services, even fully stocked shelves can run out in just a week!
Current Needs
Helping Hands has put out a call for specific items they urgently need. They are looking for canned meats like chicken, tuna, or spam, as well as staple items like cereal, oatmeal, and grits. But their biggest need is fresh meat. Unfortunately, due to the perishable nature of meat, they cannot accept those donations directly, and that means they have to purchase it themselves. As a result, monetary donations are also incredibly helpful right now.
So, if you’ve been looking for a way to give back to the community or to lend a helping hand, now is your chance! Whether it’s a few cans from your pantry or a small monetary donation, your contribution can make a huge difference in the lives of those in need.
Let’s rally together, Myrtle Beach! If you want to learn more about how you can help, just reach out to Helping Hand directly. Together, we can ensure that our neighbors don’t go hungry. 💙
Author: STAFF HERE MYRTLE BEACH
The HERE Myrtle Beach Staff Writers are a collaborative team of journalists, editors, and local contributors passionate about delivering accurate, timely information to the Myrtle Beach community. As part of the HEREcity.com Network, which powers over 100 U.S. city sites including HEREcolumbia.com, our staff draws on collective experience in South Carolina journalism to cover everything from business sales and real estate developments to dining deals and community initiatives. Our Expertise and Background Local Roots in Myrtle Beach Our team includes lifelong Myrtle Beach residents and SC natives with deep knowledge of the area’s history, economy, and culture. We’ve covered key events like the recent developments along the Grand Strand, Myrtle Beach’s tourism and hospitality industry, and growth in local education sectors (e.g., Coastal Carolina University programs). Collective Experience With over 50 combined years in journalism, our staff has backgrounds in print, digital media, and community reporting. We prioritize fact-based stories, drawing from sources like the Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce, city government records, and on-the-ground interviews. Commitment to Quality Every article is a group effort, involving research, editing, and verification to ensure reliability. We adhere to journalistic standards, citing credible sources and updating content as new details emerge.
