Food Insecurity
Food security is a basic human right. No child, no family, and no community should struggle to access healthy, affordable food. Ensuring food security strengthens public health, supports local farmers, and builds stronger, more resilient communities.
What I'll Fight For
- Reliable access to healthy, affordable food for every family in South Carolina
- Incentives and support for grocery stores, co-ops, and community markets in underserved areas
- Strong partnerships between small farmers, schools, hospitals, and food banks
- Expanded SNAP access, transportation solutions, and programs that reduce hunger for children and seniors
- A statewide strategy that treats food security as a public health, economic, and community issue
Why this Matters in South Carolina
Many communities across South Carolina, especially rural areas and low-income neighborhoods, are food deserts with no full service grocery stores. Families often travel long distances for basic groceries, rely on convenience stores with limited options, or go without. Rising food costs, transportation barriers, and corporate consolidation have made access even harder. These challenges directly affect children’s health, school performance, and long-term economic stability.
Key Policies and Priorities
Expanding Grocery Access in Underserved Areas
Many communities lack full service grocery stores due to low profit margins and corporate consolidation. I support incentives, grants, and public and private partnerships that help grocery stores, co-ops, and community markets open and stay open in underserved areas. Access to healthy food should not depend on a family’s ZIP code.
Strengthening Local Food Systems
Local farmers are essential to solving food insecurity. I support farm-to-school programs, food hubs, community supported agriculture, and partnerships between small farmers and local institutions. These programs keep dollars in rural communities and provide families with fresh, healthy food.
Supporting Families Through SNAP & Nutrition Programs
SNAP, WIC, and school meal programs are lifelines for many families. I support expanding eligibility, reducing barriers, and ensuring universal school meals so every child has reliable access to food. Hunger should never stand between a child and their education.
Transportation Solutions for Food Access
In many rural areas, the nearest grocery store may be 20 to 40 miles away. I support transportation solutions, including shuttle programs, mobile markets, and partnerships with local transit, that help families access healthy food without sacrificing work hours or income.
Community-Based Approaches to Ending Hunger
Food insecurity is best addressed through community driven solutions. I support food banks, community gardens, church based programs, and local nonprofits that meet families where they are. These partnerships strengthen neighborhoods and ensure no one falls through the cracks.
Every family deserves reliable access to healthy food, and building a food secure South Carolina strengthens our communities from the ground up.