Shepherds Table a SC Eleemos Corp

About the Organization

Organization category

Public Charity

Country / State

United States / South Carolina

Mission

Shepherd's Table works to ensure that every individual and family in Horry County has consistent access to nutritious food. We accomplish this by providing healthy meals, fresh and shelf-stable groceries, and innovative food distribution programs that reduce hunger, improve food access, and strengthen community health through collaboration, sustainability, and responsible stewardship.

Programs or services

Shepherd's Table provides a comprehensive range of food assistance programs designed to reduce food insecurity across Horry County. Services include a community kitchen serving free meals, a client-choice food pantry, mobile food distributions, fresh produce distributions, the Shepherd's Table Children's Food Access Initiative, OrderAhead food lockers, emergency food assistance, and referrals to community resources. Together, these programs increase access to nutritious food while reducing barriers related to transportation, income, and household circumstances.

Detailed programs

Shepherd's Table Community Kitchen & Pantry is a comprehensive hunger relief organization serving Horry County, South Carolina through multiple food access programs designed to reduce barriers to nutritious food.

Our Community Kitchen provides free hot lunches and dinners five days a week to anyone experiencing food insecurity, homelessness, or financial hardship. Meals are served without eligibility requirements, ensuring immediate access to nutritious food.

Our Client-Choice Food Pantry allows households to select foods that best meet their dietary needs and family preferences while providing shelf-stable foods, fresh produce, dairy, meat, bakery items, and other nutritious groceries.

Through Fresh Xpress, monthly large-scale produce distributions increase access to fresh fruits and vegetables for hundreds of families, helping address nutritional disparities in underserved communities.

Our OrderAhead Locker Program enables clients to order groceries in advance and retrieve them from refrigerated and frozen lockers outside traditional operating hours, improving access for working families, individuals with disabilities, and those facing transportation or scheduling barriers.

To reach underserved rural communities, Shepherd's Table operates Mobile Food Distributions that deliver nutritious food directly to communities with limited access to grocery stores, transportation, or food assistance services.

The Shepherd's Table Children's Food Access Initiative addresses childhood hunger through school-based food distributions, summer food assistance, and family-centered nutrition support. The initiative ensures children have consistent access to healthy food when school meals are unavailable and helps families maintain adequate household food supplies.

Additional programs include targeted emergency food assistance, nutrition-focused special distributions, holiday meal support, and collaborative community outreach events that connect households with healthcare, housing, employment, and other supportive services.

Shepherd's Table distributes more than 800,000 pounds of food annually and serves thousands of households throughout Horry County by combining traditional pantry services with innovative, flexible approaches that reduce barriers to food access and respond to emerging community needs.

Target Audience

Shepherd's Table serves individuals and families experiencing food insecurity throughout Horry County. The organization primarily serves low-income households, including children, seniors, veterans, individuals with disabilities, working families, people experiencing homelessness, and individuals facing temporary financial hardship. Programs are designed to reduce barriers to food access for anyone in need.

Geographic Focus

United States, South Carolina (USA), Horry County (SC), Conway (SC)

Current projects

Shepherd's Table is expanding community-based food access across Horry County through several active initiatives that increase the availability of nutritious food for individuals and families experiencing food insecurity.

Current projects include:

Expanding mobile food distributions to rural and underserved communities where transportation and grocery access are limited.
Growing the Shepherd's Table Children's Food Access Initiative, which provides food through schools, summer distributions, and family-centered programs to reduce childhood hunger.
Increasing access to fresh, healthy foods through Fresh Xpress produce distributions and enhanced partnerships with regional food recovery and agricultural organizations.
Expanding the OrderAhead Locker Program, allowing families to access refrigerated and frozen groceries outside traditional pantry hours.
Strengthening organizational capacity through improvements in food storage, transportation, and distribution infrastructure to safely handle increasing food volumes.
Developing additional community partnerships with healthcare providers, schools, businesses, faith communities, and social service agencies to address food insecurity through coordinated community response.
Increasing nutrition-focused programming by offering healthier pantry options, fresh produce, and balanced prepared meals that support long-term health outcomes.
Enhancing outreach to older adults, working families, veterans, individuals with disabilities, and households in rural communities that experience significant barriers to food access.

These projects reflect Shepherd's Table's commitment to creating flexible, sustainable solutions that improve food access while responding to the changing needs of Horry County residents.

Organization goals

Shepherd's Table's goal is to ensure that every individual and family experiencing food insecurity in Horry County has reliable access to nutritious food regardless of income, age, location, or transportation barriers.

To achieve this mission, the organization is committed to:

Expanding access to healthy, nutritious food through innovative and flexible distribution models.
Reducing childhood hunger by strengthening school-based and family-centered food assistance programs.
Increasing access to fresh produce and other nutritious foods through community partnerships and food recovery initiatives.
Reaching underserved rural communities through expanded mobile food distributions.
Strengthening organizational capacity through improved facilities, transportation, technology, and volunteer engagement.
Building collaborative partnerships with schools, healthcare providers, businesses, faith communities, and nonprofit organizations to address food insecurity more effectively.
Improving operational efficiency to maximize the amount of food distributed while maintaining high standards of food safety and stewardship.
Developing sustainable funding sources that support long-term program growth and community impact.

Shepherd's Table is committed to creating a community where everyone has consistent access to nutritious food and where hunger is addressed through practical, collaborative, and sustainable solutions.

Leadership

Director, Dane Hanna

Strategic priorities

Shepherd's Table's strategic priorities are to expand equitable access to nutritious food, strengthen mobile and child-focused food assistance programs, increase the availability of fresh and healthy foods, enhance infrastructure to improve food storage and distribution, and build partnerships that increase community impact. The organization remains committed to reducing barriers to food access while ensuring services are responsive, efficient, and sustainable for the growing number of households experiencing food insecurity throughout Horry County.

Organizational capacity

Shepherd’s Table has the organizational capacity, infrastructure, partnerships, and community support to operate high-volume food access programs throughout Horry County. The organization is led by a volunteer Board of Directors and an experienced leadership team responsible for administration, kitchen operations, pantry operations, partnerships, financial management, and program delivery.

Operational capacity includes a commercial kitchen, client-choice pantry, refrigerated OrderAhead lockers, food transportation and storage infrastructure, and mobile distribution capabilities. These resources support multiple food-access models and enabled Shepherd’s Table to serve 12,650 individuals and distribute more than 827,000 pounds of food in 2025.

More than 440 active volunteers provide thousands of hours of service annually, supporting meal preparation, pantry operations, food distribution, administrative activities, and special events. Shepherd’s Table further expands its capacity through partnerships with the Lowcountry Food Bank, United Way of Horry County, Horry County Schools, Coastal Carolina University, local businesses, faith communities, and other nonprofit organizations.

Link2Feed data tracking, established financial oversight, diversified revenue, and ongoing program evaluation provide the administrative systems necessary to manage growth, measure results, and respond to changing community needs.

Funding Needs

Grant categories you're seeking

Aging and Seniors, Children, Community Services, Homeless, Nutrition and Food, Operating Support, Quality of Life

Funding needs

Shepherd's Table seeks funding to expand and strengthen programs that increase equitable access to nutritious food for individuals and families experiencing food insecurity throughout Horry County, South Carolina.

Current funding priorities include:

Food purchases, especially fresh produce, dairy, protein, and other nutritious foods.
Children's hunger initiatives, including school-based and summer food programs.
Mobile food distribution and transportation costs, including vehicle maintenance, fuel, and equipment.
Refrigeration, freezer capacity, food storage, and distribution infrastructure.
Capital improvements that increase operational efficiency and food safety.
Staffing and volunteer support necessary to expand food access programs.
Nutrition education and healthy meal initiatives.
Technology that improves client access, inventory management, and program efficiency.
Emergency food assistance for households experiencing financial hardship.
General operating support that strengthens organizational capacity and allows Shepherd's Table to respond quickly to changing community needs.

Funding also supports partnerships with schools, healthcare organizations, community agencies, and local businesses that help reduce barriers to food access and improve the health and well-being of Horry County residents.

Impact & Recognition

Outcomes and impact

Shepherd’s Table produces measurable outcomes by increasing reliable food access for households experiencing economic hardship throughout Horry County. In 2025, the organization served 12,650 unduplicated individuals across its programs, recorded 30,616 service visits, distributed 827,406 pounds of food, and provided emergency food sufficient for at least 3–5 days to 6,028 households.

Shepherd’s Table’s impact extends beyond the volume of food distributed. Approximately 70% of participating households live in USDA-identified food desert areas, and programs are specifically designed to reduce barriers related to transportation, geography, fixed incomes, and nontraditional work schedules. Mobile distributions bring food directly into underserved communities, while refrigerated OrderAhead lockers provide flexible access outside traditional pantry hours.

Outcomes are measured through Link2Feed, including individuals and households served, pounds and types of food distributed, visit frequency, OrderAhead utilization, and days of food provided. Shepherd’s Table also uses United Way of Horry County’s shared hunger-relief performance measures and community feedback to evaluate effectiveness and guide program improvements.

Success stories

Shepherd's Table measures success not only by the number of meals served or households assisted, but by the stability it helps create for local families. Parents report that access to nutritious food allows them to redirect limited income toward housing, utilities, and other essential expenses. Seniors and individuals with disabilities have described the relief of knowing they can consistently access healthy food, while families participating in children's food programs have shared that their children are better nourished during weekends and school breaks. These stories, combined with increasing program participation and strong community partnerships, demonstrate Shepherd's Table's ongoing impact on reducing food insecurity across Horry County.

Organization achievements

Shepherd’s Table has earned Candid’s Platinum Seal of Transparency and a Four-Star Rating from Charity Navigator, reflecting the organization’s commitment to transparency, accountability, and responsible nonprofit management.

Programmatically, Shepherd’s Table has grown from a small community meal program founded in 2008 into a comprehensive food-access organization serving Horry County. In 2025, the organization served 12,650 individuals, recorded 30,616 service visits, and distributed more than 827,000 pounds of food.

Recent achievements include expanding the client-choice pantry, implementing refrigerated OrderAhead lockers, developing mobile food distributions in underserved communities, expanding fresh-food access, and strengthening food rescue partnerships. Shepherd’s Table also uses Link2Feed to track participation, distribution volume, and program utilization, supporting data-informed program development and evaluation.

Major funders

Shepherd's Table's goal is to ensure that every individual and family experiencing food insecurity in Horry County has reliable access to nutritious food regardless of income, age, location, or transportation barriers.

To achieve this mission, the organization is committed to:

Expanding access to healthy, nutritious food through innovative and flexible distribution models.
Reducing childhood hunger by strengthening school-based and family-centered food assistance programs.
Increasing access to fresh produce and other nutritious foods through community partnerships and food recovery initiatives.
Reaching underserved rural communities through expanded mobile food distributions.
Strengthening organizational capacity through improved facilities, transportation, technology, and volunteer engagement.
Building collaborative partnerships with schools, healthcare providers, businesses, faith communities, and nonprofit organizations to address food insecurity more effectively.
Improving operational efficiency to maximize the amount of food distributed while maintaining high standards of food safety and stewardship.
Developing sustainable funding sources that support long-term program growth and community impact.

Shepherd's Table is committed to creating a community where everyone has consistent access to nutritious food and where hunger is addressed through practical, collaborative, and sustainable solutions.

Partnerships & Collaborations

Shepherd's Table collaborates with a broad network of community partners to maximize its impact and extend food access throughout Horry County. Key partners include Lowcountry Food Bank, local schools, churches, healthcare providers, businesses, civic organizations, government agencies, and nonprofit organizations. These partnerships support food sourcing, volunteer engagement, resource sharing, outreach, and referrals, allowing Shepherd's Table to provide comprehensive services while responding effectively to changing community needs.

Sustainability, dissemination & replicability

Shepherd’s Table emphasizes sustainability through diversified funding, strong community partnerships, volunteer engagement, and efficient use of existing resources. Programs are supported through grants, individual and corporate giving, faith-based partners, annual fundraising initiatives, food rescue partnerships, and a network of more than 440 volunteers.

Program results are tracked through Link2Feed and shared with funders, community partners, the Lowcountry Food Bank, United Way of Horry County, and other stakeholders to inform planning and strengthen coordinated responses to food insecurity.

Many of Shepherd’s Table’s approaches are designed to be practical and replicable. Client-choice pantry service, refrigerated OrderAhead lockers, mobile distributions in underserved communities, food rescue partnerships, and data-informed program expansion can be adapted by other community-based food assistance organizations. Shepherd’s Table also collaborates with nonprofit, academic, school, faith-based, and community partners to share resources, identify effective practices, and expand successful approaches to food access.

Internal checks & balances to prevent fraud

Shepherd’s Table maintains multiple levels of financial oversight to prevent fraud and misuse of funds. Day-to-day financial management is overseen by the Director, while the Finance Committee regularly reviews financial statements and reports to the full Board of Directors. Banking activity is monitored and reconciled monthly, and expenditures are tracked through the organization’s accounting system.

In addition, Shepherd’s Table uses an independent bookkeeping professional who maintains the general ledger and performs monthly bank reconciliations. This separation between day-to-day financial operations, independent bookkeeping, Finance Committee oversight, and Board review provides multiple checks on organizational funds and helps identify discrepancies or unauthorized transactions.

Get Involved

How can volunteers get involved?

Volunteers are essential to Shepherd’s Table’s work and can participate in a variety of roles based on their interests and availability. Opportunities include preparing and serving meals in the Community Kitchen, stocking and organizing the client-choice pantry, assisting neighbors as they shop, sorting and distributing fresh food, supporting special distributions and events, and helping with other day-to-day operations.

Individuals, families, community groups, businesses, churches, students, and civic organizations are welcome to volunteer. No special experience is required, and opportunities are available for both regular and occasional service.
https://www.shepherdstableconway.org/volunteer

How can donors support your mission?

Donors support Shepherd’s Table by providing the financial and material resources needed to maintain reliable food access throughout Horry County. Contributions help purchase nutritious food, support daily Community Kitchen meals, stock the client-choice pantry, operate mobile distributions and refrigerated OrderAhead lockers, and meet transportation, refrigeration, equipment, staffing, and other operational needs.

Donors can make one-time or recurring financial gifts, provide food and essential items, sponsor programs or special initiatives, organize community food drives, or provide corporate and foundation support. Businesses, churches, civic organizations, and individuals also strengthen the mission through fundraising events and community partnerships.

Because Shepherd’s Table operates multiple food-access programs and serves more than 12,000 individuals annually, unrestricted contributions are especially valuable, allowing resources to be directed where community need is greatest.

https://form-renderer-app.donorperfect.io/give/shepherdstableconway-donate

Do you accept partnerships?

The Shepherd’s Table welcomes partnerships with businesses, nonprofit organizations, schools, faith-based organizations, civic groups, healthcare and social service providers, and other community partners. Partnerships may include food donations and rescue, financial support, volunteer engagement, food drives, mobile distributions, resource referrals, community outreach, and collaborative initiatives addressing food insecurity.

We actively seek partnerships that expand food access, reduce duplication of services, strengthen community resources, and connect households with additional support. Current collaborations include food providers, schools, universities, nonprofits, and community organizations throughout Horry County

Are you seeking board members?

No. Shepherd’s Table is not currently seeking additional members for its Board of Directors.

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