Kingstree IGA Fights Food Insecurity All Year Long

In the heart of Kingstree, South Carolina, a remarkable initiative is transforming grocery shopping into an act of compassion.

At Kingstree IGA, a 2023 IGA USA Retailer of the Year and Culture Leadership Award winning grocery store with a heartwarming motto of "we create smiles," the community spirit shines as bright as the Southern sun. With one in ten residents facing the harsh reality of hunger in the state, Kingstree IGA has embarked on a mission to make a difference, one bag of groceries at a time.

For three years running, this store has been uniting its shoppers in a simple yet powerful gesture, proving that even small acts of kindness can make a monumental impact. The Bags for Hunger program allows shoppers at Kingstree IGA to buy groceries that the store then donates to Harvest Hope Food Bank (HHFB).

“Our mission is to support and help communities thrive through food. Bags for Hunger is one of the ways we’re able to accomplish this,” said Chris Van Parys, president of W. Lee Flowers, the company that owns the store. “We want to play an integral part in its health and vibrancy.”

Donating is a simple process both for shoppers and the store. Guests buy a donation food bag and then HHFB comes and picks up these donations. 

So what type of food typically goes in these bags? HHFB provides Kingstree with a nutritionally beneficial ask list. The bags have IGA Mac n’ Cheese Kit, IGA Long Grain Rice, IGA Sweet Corn, IGA Green Beans, IGA Lima Beans, and Starkist Light Tuna.

HHFB received 22,000 bags in 2022 and Van Parys said they owe it all to HHFB and the Kingstree shoppers for their generosity and cooperation. The goal this year is to double the number of bags donated.

“It’s important to us that we stay rooted in the communities in which we live and operate,” Van Parys said.

Helping Kingstree IGA meet that 44,000 bag goal this year? Shoppers have plenty of time to participate, as the food drive is year-round.

“Food insecurity doesn’t take a holiday so neither do we,” Van Parys said. “We want to do our part to support our communities’ needs.”