Greer food pantry gets $2,000 check to cover holiday meals
Donations have dropped in the Upstate, forcing the kitchen to rely on local donors to serve up to 150 people daily.
By Grace Anderson ·
The Greer Soup Kitchen in Greenville County, South Carolina, accepted a $2,000 check from the FOX Carolina Surprise Squad and United Community on October 30, 2026. The cash arrives as the organization prepares for the holiday season, a period when food insecurity in the region typically peaks. Executive Director Martha Bennett stated that the organization faces its highest demand levels in its history.
The kitchen operates 365 days a year and serves more than 100 individuals daily. Many of these patrons are unhoused. Bennett noted that the facility is not funded by the state or federal government. Instead, it depends entirely on contributions from families, churches, and local businesses to serve up to 150 people per day. She reported that donations from the Greer and Upstate areas have decreased recently, creating a financial strain on daily operations.
Bennett said the goal for the upcoming months is to provide Thanksgiving and Christmas meals to every person who enters the facility. She has led the kitchen for nearly 18 years and has never turned a patron away. She attributed the organization's ability to keep serving despite low funds to consistent, albeit unpredictable, community support.
The Surprise Squad presented the check during what Bennett believed was a standard news interview. Upon seeing the amount, she estimated the funds would feed approximately 2,000 people. Michelle Seaver of United Community said the group chose the Greer Soup Kitchen after hearing about the organization's long-term impact on the community. She described the decision to donate as a personal commitment to supporting local neighbors during the holidays.
Bennett emphasized that the kitchen provides more than just food. She said the organization aims to offer a safe environment for patrons for one hour each day. She described the work as a community service that allows local residents to support those in need directly.
The $2,000 donation is part of a larger effort to stabilize the kitchen's budget before the winter months. Bennett confirmed that the funds will be used specifically for holiday meal ingredients. The kitchen remains open to the public daily, and Bennett continues to seek additional donations to maintain full service capacity through Christmas.
