Stock The Market For Summer

Help us stock The Market shelves during the month of May.

More than 850 families relied on The Market at Bluffton Self Help to put food on the table last year. Beaufort County is now the most expensive place to live in South Carolina. The average household grocery bill has gone up $395 a month compared to last year. Paychecks are not stretching as far, and for many Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) emergency allotments are no longer filling the gap, leaving them with impossible choices. As the cost of living continues to rise so does the need. Neighbors are turning to The Market for help, 10% more than last year.

The rising prices of groceries have not only affected our neighbors but our supporters and our local businesses as well. Bluffton Self Help is also not immune to the rising costs of eggs, milk, and meat to provide our neighbors with the food and nourishment they need. Worse yet, summer is right around the corner- a challenging time for The Market, the donations slow down, and with school out, the need soars.

The shelves are bare, our warehouse inventory is low and Lowcountry households will rely on The Market to shop for more than 8,000 bags filled with groceries, diapers, and hygiene items this summer. And we are relying on you, our community, to help fill the need.

Like last year, due to staffing issues locally, it is uncertain if the National Association of Letter Carrier’s “Stamp Out Hunger” food drive is happening once again. In the past, this event would typically stock The Market shelves with groceries that Bluffton Self Help and our neighbors depend on to get through the difficult summer months.

On May 13th Bluffton Self Help will host “Stock The Market Saturday” in place of the postal food drive, to accept food donations from 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Our community has continued to step up to help fill the need and we are hoping you will be able to help once more. Please help ensure all neighbors have food on the table this summer.