photo by Henry Taylor / Post and Courier
story by Kenna Coe
Post & Courier
April 29, 2026
Click here for the full story.
NORTH CHARLESTON — Community gardens offering fresh produce and food pantries run by churches and nonprofits provide critical support for residents with limited food access, but local advocates say a concerted effort to address food insecurity is not happening in the region.
In Charleston County, more than 50,000 residents struggle with access to fresh, affordable food, according to Feeding America. North Charleston’s south end neighborhoods haven’t had a full service grocery store in two decades, making trips to the grocery store timely and costly for residents without transportation. Stricter work requirements for the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or food stamps, have made grocery bills more expensive for those who no longer qualify for the benefit.
“We are always encouraged by the work of community leaders and other food access nonprofits, but our individual efforts are not enough. Our work needs to expand and build on something regional, comprehensive and collaborative,” said Cassandra Loftlin, the board chair of Fresh Future Farm, an urban farm that serves the low-income Chicora Cherokee neighborhood in North Charleston.