COLUMBIA, S.C. — ColaEats, a community initiative created to support the Richland One, Richland Two, and Lexington-Richland 5 school districts during summer break, announced Friday that it is giving $120 gift cards to 1,500 families in need this summer.
“When we talk about food insecurity, we're talking about a really major issue, we can't discount it and say, 'It's okay, they'll catch up later on.' If we are really serious about our children, who are our future, and we are really serious about the future of our community, and our society, then we must take care of our children," said James McLawhorn with Columbia Urban League.
This announcement comes after Gov. Henry McMaster declined a Summer EBT program in South Carolina in January. The federal program would have sent roughly $65 million to those who qualify for government assistance to buy food.
Now that summer is fast approaching, families in Richland County are bracing for impact, and school districts are preparing to let students back into the community full-time without guaranteeing nutritious meals.
"Weekends, holidays, the summer, the after-school time, if you total all of it in a pie chart, do you know that 18% of their year, they are with us? The other 82% they're in the community. When we talk about the future of our state, it's the community that has to come together," explained Lexington-Richland 5 Superintendent Dr. Akil Ross.
Community programs for feeding students, like the Backpack Buddies program at Brookland Baptist Northeast, see the gap outside the classrooms firsthand. Reverend Chris Leevy Johnson said it’s important that the community steps up.
“I understand that our Governor did not accept the federal money to help children eat during the summer, and so it's up to the church. It is up to the church. I remember Jesus said, 'Where can we find bread that these may eat?'," Reverend Johnson said.
Organizers said 500 ColaEats cards will be distributed to each of the three school districts and then to all qualifying families on Wednesday, May 22.
Any student who attended a National School Lunch Program-participating school at the end of 2023-24 and those approved to receive free or reduced-price school meals under the NSLP or School Breakfast Program will be eligible.
This includes school children approved for free or reduced-price meals during the last month of the 2023-24 school year. Because the covered summer period is an extension of the school year, this includes children who graduate at the end of the school year. Schoolchildren who attended a school that participated in the Community Eligibility Provision in the school year 2023-24 also qualify.
The ColaEats Cards can only be used at Food Lion. Items that can be purchased using the ColaEats gift cards include:
- Fresh, frozen, canned, or dried fruits and vegetables
- Meat, poultry, fish, dairy products, and eggs
- Cereal, bread, pasta, and rice
- Any ingredients used for cooking
- Baby Formula
- Diabetic foods
- Snack foods and non-alcoholic beverages
- Seeds and plants for growing food at home
- Alcohol and tobacco are not allowable purchases with the gift card\
How to donate to ColaEats
The Urban League is looking for donations from the community. People can contribute in one of the following ways:
In person: Go to any First Citizens Bank location and use the account name ColaEats
Mail: People can mail a check to the Urban League at PO Box 50125, Columbia, SC 29250.
Other food assistance programs in Richland County: