Food Drives

Food supply is critical to fill the shelves of our pantry. We depend on our community to help feed the need. This section of our website is full of information about our food drive programs. Use the links below to jump to your desired section. 

Wish List
Neighborhood Food Drives
Grocery Bag Sundays
FAQs

Wish List

Each month, ECCO relies on donations from community members, civic organizations, businesses, churches, and neighborhoods. This year, ECCO has seen a large increase in the number of families we’re serving each month. With that increase in demand, we desperately need to see an increased supply. That’s where you come in!

Below you’ll find a list of our most needed items. Please add ECCO to your grocery list and drop off a few items at our location on Six Mile Road in Mount Pleasant. We’re open to accept donations Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. If you have any questions, please feel free to give us a call at 843-849-9220 or email fooddrives@eccocharleston.org.

Would you rather donate from the comfort of your own home? Visit the ECCO Wish List on Amazon, which we keep updated with our list of most needed items. Add to your cart, and the items will be sent directly to our location in Mount Pleasant. Thanks for your support!

Donation drop-off hours

  • Monday-Friday
    10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
  • 1st Saturday of each month
    9 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Neighborhood Food Drives

Every month, hundreds of local families in need are fed through ECCO’s Wellness Pantry. Throughout this pandemic, the number of families ECCO is serving has grown exponentially. Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, over 1,800 households were provided with food, hygiene items, and household cleaning supplies.

With demand continuing to be high, the need for a larger food supply is critical to fill the shelves of our pantry. Neighborhoods throughout the Lowcountry have begun hosting food drives to fill that need. Below is a quick list of our most needed items:

  • Canned fruits & vegetables
  • Cereal, breakfast bars, and oatmeal
  • Dry pasta, canned pasta, and pasta sauce
  • Pancake/waffle mix and grits (1 lb)
  • Beef stew and boxed instant potatoes
  • Canned soup, bagged rice (1 lb) 
  • Peanut butter and jelly
  • Macaroni and cheese
  • Canned meat

To sign up, simply email fooddrives@eccocharleston.org and let us know! We’ll provide everything that is needed including email communication, social media posts, flyers, and signage to spread the word in your neighborhood.

We’ll ask that you provide your neighborhood name, available dates, drop-off location, and your contact information. Below is a quick FAQ section to help answer any questions you might have.

FAQs

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When can I drop off donations?

Anyone can drop off donations at ECCO, Monday-Friday 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.

What items do you not accept?

Please note that we do not accept the following items:

  • Baby items or furniture such as cribs, car seats, breast pumps or bottles, baby formula or food
  • Bathing suits, pajamas, used bras, socks or underpants
  • Televisions, computers, printers
  • Medical equipment and medications
Are you taking other items?
We will assign your neighborhood 2 items that are our most needed, but we will accept other non-perishable, unopened food items along with cleaning supplies (laundry detergent, dish soap) and personal hygiene items (soap, shampoo, toothpaste). We will also gladly accept paper grocery bags.
Can we order online and ship items directly to you?
Yes. Anyone wishing to donate can shop their favorite retailer online (Walmart, Target, Amazon, etc) and have the items shipped directly to us at ECCO, 1145 Six Mile Road, Mount Pleasant, SC 29466
Are you taking monetary donations also?
ECCO gladly accepts monetary donations to go toward our Wellness Pantry. All monetary donations are tax-deductible and greatly appreciated.
Can I or my child earn volunteer hours for this food drive?

Absolutely, please document hours with a description and we will gladly validate them for their school or organization. Contact Frances Huffstetler at fhuffstetler@eccocharleston.org. (*Please note any court-ordered community service hours are not eligible.)

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Grocery Bag Sundays

The Grocery Bag Sunday program is a cooperative effort between ECCO and local churches. Each participating church is provided with empty grocery bags with an attached “wish list” of items that are critically low on the ECCO food bank shelves.

Members of these churches take an empty bag and return the following Sunday with their donations. These bags are then collected by ECCO and put directly into the food bank. These donations are critical to helping to maintain a steady flow of food. ECCO would like to thank the churches in our area who participate in this program.

Want to get your church involved? Contact us at fooddrives@eccocharleston.org or by phone at (843) 416-7112.

Here’s a list of our current Grocery Bag Sunday partners:

  • All Saints Lutheran
  • Christ Church
  • Christ Our King
  • East Cooper Baptist Church
  • First Baptist of Mount Pleasant
  • Holy Ascension Church
  • Holy Cross
  • Isle of Palms Methodist Church
  • Lighthouse Church
  • Mount Pleasant Presbyterian
  • Palmetto Presbyterian
  • St. Benedict Church
  • St. Clare of Assisi
  • St. John Lutheran Church
  • Saint Paul Lutheran Church
  • St. Peter’s Church
  • Stella Maris
  • Sunrise Presbyterian