Some of the Lowcountry’s top chefs gathered Sunday evening to prepare a large feast in support of efforts to combat food insecurity across the region.
The event was held at Trident Technical College’s Thornley Campus in North Charleston and brought together community members for an evening of food and awareness.
Raising Awareness About Food Insecurity
Brenda Shaw, chief development officer for the Lowcountry Food Bank, said events like this play a crucial role beyond fundraising.
“Events like this really do help raise awareness,” Shaw said. “Not everyone may know that we have so many children who are considered food insecure in the area. People can come here tonight, learn, and obviously have a great time. There’s a lot of great food.”
Local Chefs Step Up
More than 35 chefs participated in Sunday’s feast, showcasing a variety of dishes and flavors from across the Lowcountry.
Participating restaurants included:
- ACME Lowcountry Kitchen
- Fleet Landing Restaurant & Bar
- Salthouse Catering
“We have very loyal chefs that come back year after year. We have two or three chefs that have done all 27 years,” Shaw said. “We invite new chefs to come on, especially as new restaurants open in the community, but we do have a very dedicated group of assisting chefs.”
Growing Need in the Lowcountry
Experts say food insecurity in the Lowcountry is projected to grow by nearly 20,000 people in 2026 — a 55% increase over the past three years.
According to Shaw, more than 43,000 children in the region are considered food insecure.
To help address that need, the Lowcountry Food Bank partners with schools to provide “Backpack Buddies” for students on weekends. The organization distributes approximately 2,800 backpacks filled with food each week to ensure children have access to meals outside of school.
As families continue balancing rising costs of living and grocery bills, leaders say community-driven events like Sunday’s feast remain vital in supporting neighbors in need.
