North Myrtle Beach Times Serving our Community and the Grand Strand for over 50 years
By Ruben Lowman
For one local organization and its members, knowing that hunger doesn’t take a night off compelled them into action.
That vital need for local residents is why the North Myrtle Beach/Little River Kiwanis Club recently decided to open a 24/7 food pantry at Little River United Methodist Church.
The “mini food pantry” the club put in is located just outside the church, which sits on the corner of Highway 17 and Mineola Avenue right across from the historic waterfront of Little River. It is easily accessible and open all day, everyday, for everyone to come and use, whether they need just one meal or a few meals, said NMB/LR Kiwanis Club President Kerri Allen.
“This is a club project that will help individuals and families that are maybe going through a hard time and need a little help to get through,” Allen said.
As food prices have soared in recent years due to the effect of the pandemic, many people in the community have had to find a way to cope with the increasing costs of putting food on the table.
Charitable organizations like the Kiwanis Club try and do all they can to fill that gap so that no one ever has to go hungry, Allen said. This led the club’s members to come up with the idea for the mini pantry, as it is able to provide a different element to the community than the traditional food distributions.
“It was an idea our past president, George Mamo, came up with,” Allen explained. “He read about the mini food pantry and thought it might be something we could do as a club.”
After Allen found the plans online, it was time for members to get to work. She said everyone in the club brought non-perishable foods and highlighted several who were key in building and designing the mini pantry.
“Ronell Thompson and Jim Turnbull constructed the pantries,” Allen said. “Tracey Penland painted the pantry and Susan Jones found a home for it at Little River United Methodist Church.”
The church already has a large food pantry and offers hot meals on Fridays from 5 to 6 p.m., and this helped the club choose them as the ideal location for the mini pantry. Allen said she hopes the club can bring more like it to other parts of the area for those in need.
“This is the first North Myrtle Beach/Little River Kiwanis Mini Food Pantry, but we hope to add several around our communities,” Allen said. “We are proud to partner with the Little River United Methodist Church on this project.”
As a volunteer organization, the Kiwanis Club depends on donations, and this new project is no different. Allen said any donations are welcome and much appreciated by the local community.
“Whether you have a need for food or a need to give, the Kiwanis mini pantry helps feed individuals and families and nourishes our neighborhood,” she said.
Allen is in her first year as president of the group. She said she joined the club to give back to a community that has given her so much. She owns a small business with her husband and is so grateful for the wonderful support they have received over the past four years.
“I have never lived in an area that is so supportive and wants to see everyone succeed. This is truly a special place,” Allen said. “What better way to show my appreciation than by supporting a club that supports the children in our community.”
She said her term as president of the club has been an amazing experience so far, as the members are caring, active, giving and supportive.
“They make my position easy,” Allen said. “It’s a joy working with them to help the children in our community. Our club is a newer club but it already feels like family, and we are already making a difference.”
The group also just helped with the Sunglasses Half Marathon this past weekend and held a spaghetti fundraiser at Rapones Italian Restaurant on Monday, where half of the proceeds will go to helping local children in the community. In addition, the Kiwanis Club of NMB/LR has several other projects coming up in the area, as well.
Low Country Food Bank holds food distributions in the area each month where Kiwanis Club members volunteer to help administer the food to those in need. The distributions are on Saturdays from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and are typically held at either NMB Middle School or Loris Middle School. The most recent was held on April 2 and upcoming will be held on May 7 at LMS.
Once a month, the group gives back by cooking and feeding the kids at Sea Haven for Youth in Little River, and they have also made dolls for the NMB Police Department to use for children going through traumatic situations. Allen said they have also started a local scholarship for a graduating senior at NMB High School.
For more information about the club or how to volunteer visit https://www.kiwanisnmblr.org/ or come to their regular meetings held from 12 noon-1 p.m. on the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of each month at Boulineau’s in Cherry Grove.
Kiwanis is a global organization of volunteers dedicated to improving the world one child and one community at a time. Allen said that passion to help those in need is what it’s all about for her and the club’s members.
“Giving is not a one-sided thing,” she said. “The more we give the more we receive. That feeling you get when you help someone is pure joy.”
