MUSC Health-Pee Dee Division hosts summer Kids Eat Free program

As summer winds down and kids return to school, MUSC Health-Pee Dee Division reflected on its first year hosting the Kids Eat Free at MUSC program. This program, which was started in 2015 by Charleston Division’s Office of Health Promotion, just celebrated 10 years and has been a vital component of MUSC’s effort to combat food insecurity in the state. For the month of July, Florence, Marion and Black River medical centers participated in what many are calling a successful program.

“It was a tremendous success. It was a great program for the kids. It was a happy environment,” said Lena Mullins, a Marion resident who said she brought her grandchildren to the program for two weeks straight.

Pamplico resident and father of two Antonio Gordon said he brought his kids to the program three to four times a week. He labeled the program as very successful. “The time I was there, I saw they fed a lot of kids. You never know what type of situation they have to deal with at home, and that helps them. A full-course meal was what I enjoyed seeing the most.”

Kids Eat Free at MUSC is a South Carolina Department of Education "Summer Break Cafe" program, offering free nutritious meals to kids and teenagers up to 18. Funded by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), this initiative is designed to prevent nutritional gaps that can arise during the summer months when kids might not have access to nutritious meals. 

 

Over the past decade, Kids Eat Free at MUSC has served 42,000 meals. According to Feeding America’s Map the Meal Gap, the “child food insecurity rate” in 2023 was 32.6%, 28.6% and 21.2%, respectfully, for Maron, Williamsburg and Florence counties, making this program an important addition to these areas. For the Pee Dee Division’s first year with the program, 5,310 meals were served in just one month.

Many moving parts made the Kids Eat Free program possible. Partnerships with Morrison Healthcare Food Service, the South Carolina Department of Education, the USDA and the commitment from MUSC leaders made this program’s first year in the MUSC Health-Pee Dee Division come to fruition.

“There’s a lot of passion in our teams and just being a part of something bigger. This is obviously a program that’s been within the MUSC family for 10 years. But having that opportunity to bring it to the Pee Dee was really important to us as we work with food insecurity,” said MUSC division director of Food and Nutrition Services Keith Hall. “I am just honored to be a part of the team because we were able to do more than expected, and it has an impact on the community. So, I’m thrilled to be a part of it.”

For residents of the area like Lena Mullins, she hopes to see the program flourish for years to come. "I think this is a wonderful program for the kids, and I hope they do return,” said Mullins.

For those interested in volunteering or learning more about Kids Eat Free at MUSC, contact Laura Nance at the Office of Health Promotion.