Starting with the essentials

Pay It Forward Charleston began as a collaboration between farmers, restaurants, and community members who united in an effort to feed food and beverage workers during the COVID-19 crisis.

With every $10 donated, a Charleston community member received a grocery bag filled with goods purchased at a discounted rate from local farms. The donations created income for farmers who were impacted by restaurant closures in the wake of COVID-19 and provided fresh produce to community members who were out of work.

In all, Pay It Forward raised $100,000 and delivered over 11,000 bags of groceries to the food and beverage community from March - September of 2020, working in collaboration with Feed the Need Charleston. Riding a wave of community support, the program was expanded to serve three area shelters before it was wrapped up that fall.

Growing beyond groceries

With the success of original provision assistance and an outpouring of community support, the founding team knew there was an opportunity to do more. Pay It Forward Charleston expanded efforts to include grant-giving and now offers individual support in addition to food-based relief. Ongoing programming addresses individual and community needs in a timely and hospitable manner, supporting the people that make Charleston’s great food community possible.

Partners with a Purpose

Check out the valuable partners who help make Pay It Forward Charleston a reality.

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  • All Good Industries
  • Charleston Restaurant Foundation
  • Counter Culture Coffee
  • Cru Catering
  • Cutting Boards for a Cause
  • Charleston Cotton Exchange
  • Charleston Wine and Food
  • High Wire Distilling
  • Home Team BBQ
  • Island Farm Foundation
  • Les Dames d’Escoffier
  • Limehouse Produce
  • Lowcountry Hospitality Association
  • Le Creuset
  • Nelson Printing
  • Rebel Taqueria
  • Storey Farms
  • Uptown Hospitality
Staff

Carrie Larson, Executive Director
Flo Languell, Administrator
Taylor Graham, Program Coordinator

Board Members

Michael Shemtov, Chair
Jai Jones
Steve Palmer
Tara Pate
Tarek 'T' Ravenel
Marie Stitt
Jay Weaver

Founding Members

Michael Shemtov, Tara Pate, Drisa Lamb, Flo Languell, Beth Walton, Josh Kleiger, Steve Boyer, Todd Anis

Special Thanks

Mickey and Ellen Bakst of Feed the Need, our original 501(c)(3) partner.

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