Food insecurity remains a prevalent public health issue in the U.S. According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), food insecurity is a lack of consistent access to enough food for an active, healthy life. South Carolina is ranked 7th worst nationally concerning food insecurity by the Food Research and Action Center. Among the state, Greenwood, SC, is ranked the 16th worse county out of 46 counties in South Carolina.

 

In recognition of the desperate need for change in Greenwood, SC, United Way of the Lakelands formed a Food Policy Council in September 2021. The Alliance unites stakeholders from diverse food-related sectors to examine and strengthen local food systems to advance the production and consumption of healthy food. This has led to raising public awareness, reviewing public policy, improving coordination between local programs and coalitions, and creating new programs. Simultaneously, many other initiatives were developing, such as Lakelands Food and Hunger Alliance, Lakelands Community Gardens, and Greenwood Counts Community Consortium, allowing this collaborative work to flourish.