Food & Drink

Here’s how you can do good on National Food Bank Day Friday

Friday, Sept. 1, is National Food Bank Day. Consider contributing your time, money or canned goods to Harvest Hope Food Bank in Columbia.
Friday, Sept. 1, is National Food Bank Day. Consider contributing your time, money or canned goods to Harvest Hope Food Bank in Columbia. THE STATE/FILE

The first Friday in September – this year, Friday, Sept. 1 – is National Food Bank Day.

Food banks across the country help nearly 42 million men, women and children who struggle to put food on the table. In 20 counties throughout the Midlands, Harvest Hope Food Bank distributed more than 28 million pounds of food in 2016 and fed about 38,000 people a week.

The S.C. Emergency Management Division has designated Harvest Hope the state’s primary disaster hunger relief emergency feeding organization – meaning that Harvest Hope mobilizes in the event of an emergency, providing food to those who may be impacted by manmade or natural disasters.

Consider giving to Harvest Hope by donating food or making a monetary contribution. The food bank dedicates 98 cents out of every dollar donated to feeding the hungry in South Carolina.

Learn more about donating, volunteering, or finding help at www.harvesthope.org.

OTHER EVENTS

Farm to Fork at Riverbanks Zoo & Garden: Enjoy dining al fresco with views of African elephants and western lowland gorillas. The farm-fresh feast, served family-style, will feature ingredients from Riverbanks’ vegetable garden.

6-9 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 31, in the Ndoki Forest habitat at Riverbanks, 500 Wildlife Parkway. $80 for zoo members, $100 for non-members. www.riverbanks.org

Connecting Health Innovations (CHI) presents Imagine: This yearlong lifestyle intervention program is focused on reducing chronic inflammation through dietary changes, increased physical activity, and stress management. Register for culinary sessions, physical activity exercises, stress reduction practice, and one-on-one support from counselors to learn how to reduce chronic inflammation.

5:30 -7:30 p.m., Tuesdays, starting Sept. 5 at University of South Carolina in the Discovery I building, 915 Greene St. , www.imaginehealthy.org

Get up-close and personal with some cute farm animals: Consider volunteering at the Midlands Farm Tour on Saturday, Sept. 9. Choose between volunteer shifts of 10:20 a.m.-2:45 p.m. or 2:30-6:30 p.m. You get to pick your farm, pick a shift, pet a goat and have some fun. www.midlandsfarmtour.com

This story was originally published August 30, 2017 at 5:54 PM with the headline "Here’s how you can do good on National Food Bank Day Friday."

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