Our Pee Dee Branch is Getting a New Home!
After over two years of pandemic response and assessing the modern needs of the Pee Dee region, Harvest Hope Food Bank will move it's Pee Dee Branch to a larger, more centralized location to better serve it's partners and community.
Upfit construction on the 75,000 square foot facility, located at 2701 Alex Lee Boulevard began earlier this year. The facility, known to many as the "Monster Building," sits on 17 acres of land parallel to I-95 in Florence County.
Moving to the new location offers a multitude of infrastructure and operation improvements for the organization. Inside the facility, team members and volunteers will have office and meeting spaces to foster collaboration and innovation, as well as 35,000 square feet of warehouse space to give more capacity to source, store and distribute food. Additional space in the building will be available for use by external partners and organizations in the community.
Harvest Hope, which works with more than 150 agency partners in the region to distribute food to nine counties in the Pee Dee, recognizes the need to grow and expand food assistance programs to address the changing needs of the communities. An average of 10% of residents in the Pee Dee struggle to provide adequate food for themselves and their families.
The move is made possible by a generous lead gift from the Drs. Bruce & Lee Foundation. The Foundation has been a longstanding partner of the food bank, and is equally invested in building healthier, hunger-free communities in the area.
The Need
The current facility has many limitations affecting the effectiveness of daily operations: intake and storage capacity, output (number of distributions and pounds of food), speed and access during emergencies, and space for education offerings and community meetings to foster collaboration.
Comparison
Current Facility
- Total Sq. Footage: +/- 30,000 sq. ft.
- Dry Rack Space: 140 pallets
- Cooler Space: External Rentals
- Freezer Space: External Rentals
New Facility
- Total Sq. Footage: 75,000 sq. ft.
- Warehouse Sq. Footage: 35,000 sq. ft.
- Dry Rack Space: 500 pallets
- Cooler Space: 40 ft. x 40 ft. x 20 ft.
- Freezer Space: 40 ft. x 40 ft. x 20 ft.
The Impact
- Expanding the reach of food assistance
- Increasing intake, storage, and food safety
- Shortening response time during emergencies and disasters
- Promoting nutrition and healthy food offerings
- Facilitating engagement in education and advocacy
Watch the Video to See More!
Want to Learn More and Get Involved?
Reach out through the form below and we'll be in touch. We want the entire community to be involved in making a difference in the Pee Dee.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is Harvest Hope Food Bank?
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Harvest Hope Food Bank is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization with the mission to transform lives in the communities we serve by feeding the hungry, addressing food insecurity, and building a healthy and hopeful hunger-free tomorrow. We are the largest food bank in our state.
- Where will the new facility be?
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The new facility will be located at 2701 Alex Lee Boulevard in Florence, SC. It is known to many as the "Monster Building" and sits parallel to I-95.
- Why is there a need for a new facility?
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The current facility has many limitations affecting the effectiveness of daily operations: intake and storage capacity, output (number of distributions and pounds of food), speed and access during emergencies, and space for education offerings and community meetings to foster collaboration. After two years of pandemic response and assessing the modern needs of the Pee Dee region, Harvest Hope needed to move this branch to a larger, more centralized location.
- When will the new facility be open?
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Harvest Hope anticipates being fully moved into the new facility by Spring 2023.
The food bank will continue to operate from the Pee Dee State Farmers Market until the move thanks to a 20+ year partnership with the SC Department of Agriculture.
- Can people receive food from the Pee Dee branch?
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Currently, the Pee Dee branch does not have an Emergency Food Pantry. Harvest Hope partners with more than 330 partner agencies and we encourage those that are in need of food and resources to use our search tool to find one that is closest to you.
- How will the new facility be different from the current one?
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The new facility will have 45,000 more square footage than the current facility (including 35,000 sq. ft. of dedicated warehouse space), will be able to hold 360 more pallets of dry rack space, and will have dedicated cooler and freezer space that the organization currently uses external rentals for. The new facility will provide more room for food assistance, intake, storage, food safety, community collaboration, and education and engagement within the areas that we serve.
- How can I help Harvest Hope with the new facility?
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If you want to get involved with helping to support and sponsor the new facility, please fill out the form at the bottom of this page and Harvest Hope will reach out to you for next steps.
Volunteers are also always appreciated and welcome! You can sign-up on our website under 'Get Involved.'
- Where can I get more information about the new facility?
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If you'd like more in-depth information about Harvest Hope and our new facility in the Pee Dee, please fill out the form at the bottom of this page and we'll be in touch.