Charleston Basket Brigade to feed thousands of local families
Thanksgiving is a festive time when families all over the country gather to celebrate their blessings over a scrumptious meal. But there are thousands among us here in the Lowcountry who won’t be able to put food on the table for the holiday this year. The Charleston Basket Brigade (CBB), a local non-profit, is working diligently to change that. And they need your help.
The CBB hopes to raise $105,000 to feed 3,500 Charleston area families in need - that’s 21,000 people - this Thanksgiving. It only takes a $30 donation to feed a family of six and every penny raised by the organization is utilized to purchase food. Each family on their list will receive a box with all of the ingredients to cook an entire Thanksgiving meal, including a 10 to 12-pound turkey, cranberry sauce, stuffing, mashed potatoes, corn, green beans, sweet potatoes with marshmallows, fresh rolls, and a pumpkin pie. Inside each box will be a note that reads “This comes to you from someone who cares about you. All we ask is that you take care of yourself well enough to be able to do this for someone else one day.”
Hundreds of Charleston area residents, businesses, schools, churches, and organizations raise money each year to make the Charleston Basket Brigade a success. Then on the Tuesday before Thanksgiving, volunteers gather at the Charleston Area Convention Center Exhibit Hall C to assemble the meals and then hand deliver them to recipients. This year’s event will take place on November 22, beginning at 7 a.m.
“It takes months and months of preparation for this effort,” said Michelle Scarafile, a CBB co-founder who started the project with her friend Pam Hartley in 2008. “We have an amazing, dedicated team of volunteers that locate meal recipients, so we assure everyone that they are truly helping those in need. Then we map out delivery routes that take delivery volunteers from the Convention Center to several families’ homes. The one-on-one experiences people have with the receiving families is what makes the Basket Brigade so warm and heartfelt.”
“The Basket Brigade is such a special event,” added Emily Trogdon, CBB volunteer. “I’ve been volunteering for the past several years and it is jaw dropping to see the great need people here in Charleston have. There are a lot of impoverished areas here. But it’s amazing to see people that want to help. The meals not only provide families with the necessity of nourishment, but it brings them holiday joy and assures them that people out there genuinely care. And that is the real magic.”
With the Thanksgiving holiday fast approaching, donations are critically needed, added Trogdon.
“It only takes $30 to feed a family and there are so many ways you can donate. Instead of buying the office doughnuts and coffee one morning, feed a family. Don’t eat lunch out twice in one week. That $30 might be expendable, but it could make someone’s Thanksgiving unforgettable!”
A variety of businesses have stepped up to help raise money, Trogdon said, but one “mouthwatering” fundraiser is sure to be a big hit. Swig & Swine is donating 11 dinners to raffle off. Tickets are $10 each and can be purchased from any Carolina One agent or office.
“You could be one of 11 people to win a dinner for 10 to 12 people that includes two meats, two sides, 10 mini pies, and lemonade and tea,” added Trogdon. “It’s a win-win!”
Support from local businesses and other organizations is key. Piggly Wiggly, a local CBB grocery store partner, manages the massive food order and delivers the truck loads of food to the Convention Center; Carolina One Real Estate, with over 800 Lowcountry agents, is dedicated to raising funds for the initiative; Communities in Schools, an award-winning non-profit that serves 10,000 students in Charleston and Berkeley Counties, helps identify the majority of the families in need; and Momentum Marketing, a local marketing agency, provides event coordination, community outreach, public relations, and social media. Lowcountry Grocers LLC is also a food partner.
“Our mission is grassroots and heartfelt,” added Hartley, CBB co-founder. “All of our partners, local businesses, and individuals, young and old, donate their time and money to help serve their neighbors in need…We invite everyone to feed a family and come volunteer to share in this experience!”
The CBB is the largest Thanksgiving effort in the Charleston tri-county area. In the past eight years, the project has raised a total of $535,170 and fed more than 107,000 people in need. To donate, volunteer, or learn more, please visit www.CharlestonBasketBrigade.org.