CHAPIN, S.C. — This Thanksgiving week, many organizations around the Midlands are getting ready to give back to their communities. Chapin's We Care Center is gearing up for their annual food distribution and expects to feed more community members than ever before.
“Need doesn’t stop at Thanksgiving. It doesn’t stop at Christmas. that it’s year round so we want our donors to understand that we need help all the time because people are hungry everyday of the year,” Executive Director Alecia Klauk said.
Klauk says the event typically averages about 900 people but this year they are expecting to serve over 1,100. She says changes in the food stamps programs and changes on budgets due to inflation has led the organization to see more clients than in years past.
"Just this morning, while we've been in the building getting ready for tomorrow we've had people come to us here today, just looking for help," she said.
Officials say the organization has been planning for weeks, taking applications as far back as October 1st. They say this helps ensure everyone has a meal for thanksgiving.
‘We Care’ says they are completely donation funded from local food drives, churches, Chapin grocery stores and members of the community.
150 volunteers are ready to pack and hand out holiday meals Tuesday and can expect lots of Thanksgiving goodies.
“They’ll get their turkey and all the fixins that come with it, bread and all the sides. we have all that ready for them to go tomorrow,” Klauk said.
Meal pick up will begin Tuesday in Chapin from 9 am to noon for all individuals who submitted an application for the event.