James Island Outreach seeks community help with food and paper bag donations

One community outreach organization is turning to its neighbors for help.

The James Island Outreach needs more paper bags and food donations as they work through their summer programs.

Pam Smith volunteers with the James Island Outreach one day a week, she says it's the gratitude that keeps bringing her back.

"People come through here for the groceries that they do get," Smith said. "It's just heartwarming."

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Volunteers serve the community every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday.

"We come in and there's usually always something here that's been donated," Smith said. "We check 'em, and we put it all on the shelves and we just make sure the shelves are stocked and we put away produce, and from Food Lion and the ones that donate to us, and we put that stuff away and it's busy work."

It's all hands on deck to keep their shelves full.

"We get 90% of our food as donations from either local congregations, individuals, a couple of grocery stores, and the low country food bank to keep our shelves full," said Jeff Gordon, James Island Outreach's executive director.

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And paper bags stocked.

"We go through about 3,500 bags a month to distribute the food we do to the neighbors around James Island and the surrounding area," Gordon said. "Sometimes, in the summertime, our supplies run short. We have to request help from the community."

Clients who come by week after week aren't the only ones leaving fulfilled.

"It's just great what they do for the community, how they serve, the appreciation that the clients that come through, how much they appreciate what's being done for them," Smith said.

The James Island Outreach is holding a financial resources workshop on Thursday, July 18 at Baxter Patrick James Island Library, 6 p.m.