December 18, 2023—(Georgetown, SC)—Helping Hands of Georgetown, a longstanding pillar of community support, proudly announces the receipt of a $4,000 grant from International Paper Georgetown Mill. This contribution will help sustain the organization’s Food Pantry operations, a vital component of its enduring Compassionate Care Program.
For over three decades, Helping Hands’ Compassionate Care Programs have remained steadfast in their commitment to address the fundamental needs of struggling citizens. The Food Pantry, a cornerstone initiative, extends assistance to individuals and households in Georgetown County grappling with poverty or facing emergency crises, such as house fires or sudden income loss.
In the year 2022 alone, Helping Hands Food Pantry played a crucial role in distributing food valued at $174,088 to 4,736 individuals across 1,660 low-income households.
![Brendon Barber, executive director of Helping Hands of Georgetown with International Paper Georgetown Mill's Communications Manager Joshua Fleming.](https://www.helpinghandsofgeorgetown.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/IP_Josh_and_Brendon.jpg)
Expressing gratitude for this collaboration, Brendon Barber, Executive Director for Helping Hands of Georgetown, remarked, “We extend our heartfelt thanks to community partners like the Georgetown Mill, whose unwavering support has bolstered our food pantry and our organization, year after year. We also appreciate the mill’s commitment to community service, as demonstrated by the active engagement of its employees in volunteering with us on various occasions. Their generosity significantly contributes to the success of these endeavors.”
Bernie Chascin, mill manager of the Georgetown Mill, said, “International Paper and Helping Hands have a long history of partnering, and we are always excited when we can help a great organization doing great work.”
Helping Hands remains dedicated to its mission of providing compassionate care to those in need, and partnerships with organizations like International Paper play a pivotal role in realizing its mission.
International Paper’s vision is to be among the most successful, sustainable, and responsible companies in the world. They are one of the world’s leading producers of fiber-based packaging, pulp, and paper. The International Paper Foundation is the philanthropic arm of International Paper in the U.S. Most of the IP Foundation grants support projects or programs focused on its Signature Causes: Education, Hunger, Health and Wellness, and Disaster Relief.