Area grocery shoppers recently joined Shandon Baptist Church and Northside Baptist Church volunteers in the fight against hunger.

The fifth Food From the Heart drive generated 115, 491 pounds of food for Harvest Hope. The event was held at 47 grocery stores in Richland and Lexington counties where shoppers were encouraged to take a red Food from The Heart grocery bag and purchase items from a suggested list.

The event was staffed by more than 650 volunteers from the two churches, who collected the items, sorted them and delivered them to the food bank. The food will be distributed to local food pantries and soup kitchens.

“The food gathered by the hard-working Shandon and Northside Baptist volunteers this year will provide more than 150,000 meals for struggling families and households in our South Carolina communities,” said Skot Garrick of Harvest Hope Food Bank.

Harvest Hope has continued to see an increase in requests for food assistance throughout its 20-county service area. The food bank distributed more than 2 million pounds of food last year. The agency reports that South Carolina ranks 11th in the nation for families suffering from food hardship, while 21.5 percent of residents are uncertain whether they will have enough to eat from day to day.

To learn about organizing a food drive for the food bank, call (803) 254-4432.

Open lines of communication

The Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation recently presented four portable radios to the Pelion Police Department.

The radios, valued at $20,000, will provide faster response and better communication with dispatchers and other members of the department.

Firehouse Subs created the Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation in 2005 to provide life-saving equipment and educational opportunities to first-responders and public safety agencies. The company has given $5.7 million to law enforcement agencies in 36 states and Puerto Rico, including more than $612,800 in South Carolina through the non-profit.

An Easter recipe of care

St. Peter’s Catholic Church is seeking volunteers and donations for the annual Easter Banquet. The March 31 event is for the homeless, the elderly and any others who might not have a place to enjoy an Easter meal.

Needed items include dyed eggs, 50 large Easter baskets filled with candy, and homemade Easter desserts, including cupcakes. Monetary donations also are needed.

To donate or volunteer, call (803) 796-9802.