BY LILY WALLACE, CHS SOPHOMORE AND KELLY CLARK, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Clover, SC - Since 2021, food costs have been rising dramatically. The US Department of Agriculture predicts that this trend will continue through 2024, estimating an increase between 1.3% and 4.6%. Thankfully, families in Clover who are facing food insecurity have a solution at the Clover Area Assistance Center. The Clover Area Assistance Center (CAAC) has its roots in two community organizations that date from the early 1980's. The need for a service like CAAC became apparent when the local textile mills started closing. According to the CAAC website, "Two organizations formed to help those in need: The Good Neighbor Pantry (started by what was then the River Hills Lions Club) and the Clover Caring Center. In December 1999, the organizations merged to become Clover Area Assistance Center, a nonprofit charitable organization." CAAC's overarching goal is reflected in its motto, "To serve our neighbors in need." And with inflation, that need is growing. Food costs are not the only things rising. Housing costs are also increasing at a rapid rate, and our area's population is growing dramatically. In 2023, the center assisted 3,294 families with food and financial support. That is a 55 percent increase from 2022. They distributed hundreds of thousands of pounds of food, which was all donated to the center. Additionally, they provided $122,537.11 dollars of financial assistance in 2022. CAAC provides services to support multiple areas of need, not just food insecurity and financial assistance. Cameron Hurst, the Director of CAAC, shared that services include a full-choice pantry, financial assistance, education, dental care for uninsured adults, vision and hearing care, and support with accessing other agencies. As the community grows and needs increase, CAAC is working to keep up with the demand. In 2023, CAAC staff and volunteers encouraged more families to use the pantry, expanded outreach within the community and got more freezer space along with a new cooler to be able to accept more food donations. Currently, they are working on an expansion that will allow them to support even more families. The expansion will be a new building that is 3,000 sq. ft. and will allow CAAC to teach classes on-site, as well as allow for other agencies to have a location to support families. There are multiple ways you can help support the work of CAAC. If you visit their website, https://cloverareaassistance.org/, you can donate or you can volunteer. Currently, CAAC has partnered with the River Hills/Lake Wylie Lions Club to host "A Tisket, A Tasket, A Spring Break Supper Basket Challenge." Community members and organizations can donate $30 to sponsor an Easter/Spring Break meal in a basket for those in need.
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