During COVID-19, the United Way of the Lakelands recognized the need for a focused alliance to combat food insecurities within the community. This Alliance formed a food-focused group of individuals and key community stakeholders to create the Lakelands Food and Hunger Alliance. Since its original formation, this group has met quarterly with food community stakeholders to identify assets and barriers to improving food security. In February of 2023, the Lakelands Food and Hunger Alliance fell under the Greenwood Counts Community Consortium(GC3) as their Food Insecurity Work Group. They currently meet monthly and have 64 partners, 34 organizations, and 3 coalitions in representation.
Some of the main focuses of this Alliance are to:
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identify changes in local food resources
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maintain updated information for local food system maps
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improve access to food resources for underserved and low-income areas
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identify and promote collaboration among existing local and regional organizations
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learn from existing initiatives and identify best practices and potential models
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develop and prioritize actions at the state and local levels, including needed policy recommendations and program initiatives
Organization Representation: Clemson University, Clemson Extension, Carolina Health Centers, Community Initiatives, Lakelands Latinos Unidos, Eat Smart Move More SC, Faith Home, Greater Greenwood United Ministries, Greenwood Food Bank, Greenwood Uptown Market, Lakelands YMCA, Megs House, Helping Hands, Morris Chapel Church, Molina Health Care, Piedmont Agency on Aging, SC DHEC, Self-Regional Hospital, South Main Church, The Salvation Army, United Christian Ministries of Abbeville, Upper Savannah Council of Governments, Farmers Market, SC Rural Health, CHC Early Childhood Services, Wholespire, Food Policy Council, Lander University, Piedmont Technical College, Metts Organix, MUSC, Iglesia Cristiana Misionera, and the Community at-large.