What is a Food Desert?
Food deserts are areas in our county where residents have a hard time accessing healthy options or grocery stores. Parts of North Myrtle Beach, Conway, Surfside Beach, and Socastee are considered food deserts according to the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control’s SC Food Desert Map.
How are we helping?
United Way of Horry County frequently partners with Lowcountry Food Bank to offer free food distributions in these food desert areas such as Socastee, Loris, and Aynor. Since April 2020, UWHC has been involved in the operations of 22 local food distributions. These food distributions provide dry goods, such as pasta, as well as fresh produce for families. Each dry good and produce box are intended to feed a family of 4 for at least one week. It is important that Horry County residents are getting their basic needs met in a healthy way.
WBTW’s Coverage
Jentry, our Marketing and Communications Coordinator, spoke with WBTW News 13 reporter, Elisia Alonso about food deserts in Horry County and what UWHC is doing to combat them.
