United Way of the Lowcountry Launches Thanksgiving Campaign as Government Shutdown and SNAP Pause Impact Local Families

With the ongoing federal government shutdown and paused SNAP (food assistance) benefits, thousands of Lowcountry families are facing food insecurity just as the holidays approach. United Way of the Lowcountry (UWLC) has launched a community campaign to help make sure families in Beaufort and Jasper counties have the opportunity to enjoy a Thanksgiving meal. 
 
For just $40, donors can provide a full Thanksgiving dinner for a family of four. Click HERE to make a donation online.
 
“The shutdown is creating a ripple effect across our community,” said United Way President and CEO Dale Douthat. “Thousands of local families depend on SNAP benefits to feed their children. When those benefits stop, even temporarily, it is devastating for ALICE households who are already walking a financial tightrope.”
 
ALICE, which stands for Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed, represents working families who earn above the federal poverty level but still cannot afford the basics. In the Lowcountry, 39 percent of households in Beaufort County and 46 percent in Jasper County are ALICE. These are the people who keep our communities running: childcare workers, healthcare aides, retail clerks, and veterans who often struggle to make ends meet.
 
“This campaign is about more than a meal,” Douthat said. “It is about self-sufficiency. By meeting an immediate need, we give families the breathing room to stay on their feet, pay rent, keep the lights on, and focus on what comes next.”
 
United Way also encourages residents to support their local food banks, which are working hard to meet the growing demand for assistance. A list of Lowcountry food pantries and other community resources can be found online at SC211.org.
 
The Thanksgiving Meal Campaign is part of United Way’s broader mission to help neighbors achieve self-sufficiency through programs that address education, economic mobility, and basic needs. Last year, 40,000+ lives were touched by United Way internal programs offering opportunities for self-sufficiency in Beaufort and Jasper counties.