PROVIDED Ryan Stewart, food drive co-coordinator, and Paul Suchy, ECCO warehouse manager, collect food at Publix. More than 300 bags were donated to ECCO from the Daniel Island community.

On Sept. 20, the Daniel Island community held a successful food drive for East Cooper Community Outreach (ECCO). More than 300 bags were collected with a combined weight of 2,578 pounds. The food will be distributed through ECCO to East Cooper residents who live in situational and generational poverty.

The community came together and served in various capacities to make the effort successful. Rose Stewart and her son Ryan coordinated the drive. They involved many Daniel Island residents, businesses, churches, and schools. Publix and Harris Teeter donated 900 bags, residents and Bishop England students distributed them, and Publix, The Daniel Island News, Providence Baptist Church, and the Daniel Island library served as collection points.

Ryan Stewart, Don Rose, and 8-year-olds Amelia Cobb and Anna Grace Chang stapled the list of needed food items on more than 400 bags. 

Rose Stewart tells the story. "Anna Grace and Amelia and I distributed the bags in Codners Ferry- I pulled the red wagon down the street with the bags and the two girls on their razor scooters, each took a side of the street and ran their little legs off putting the bags on the porches and then coming back to the wagon for more bags. They carried about four bags at a time. The girls were incredibly fast and hard working and very eager to help- it was great! I was impressed that despite the fact it was incredibly hot, and the sweat was pouring off them, they never complained. Between the five of us we got all 400 bags stapled and distributed in about 3.5 hours!"

Stewart continued,"Ben Detar, Will Kramer and Davis Reed, Bishop England students, distributed another 500 bags in Barfield and Center Park and did a great job. The students delivered the bags on Sunday afternoon before the drive. As they put them on the porches, residents came out and began talking with the boys about what they were doing. The food drive created community. It would not have gotten off the ground if Sue Detar and Ben Detar and friends had not done such a great job!"

Jack Little, ECCO executive director, says the food drive came at a crucial time. "With the current economic situation, we are seeing people come in for food who have never been to ECCO before. Our demand is 60 percent more than what it was this time last year. We appreciate the fine people of Daniel Island and their compassion to help our neighbors in need."

The next food drive will be held in the spring. It will target Daniel Island Park, Pierce Park and Smythe Park.

ECCO is a non-profit organization dedicated to helping lift people from situational and generational poverty. Services include providing basic needs: emergency food and clothing, financial assistance for rent and utilities: health programs: medical and dental clinics and a prescription assistance program; and adult educational programs: GED, Getting Ahead classes, and WorkKeys. All services are provided at no cost to the recipient. For more information about how you can become involved, call Greg Nevers at 849-9220 or www.eccocharleston.org.