Volunteer With The Charleston Basket Brigade

The Charleston Basket Brigade (CBB), a Charleston area nonprofit, is on a mission to serve local families in need at Thanksgiving. This year, the organization has set a 2015 goal to raise $105,000 to feed 3,500 Charleston Tri-County families (approximately 21,000 people) this year for Thanksgiving.

With the biggest goal to date, the brigade is encouraging the Charleston community to get involved more than ever. It only costs $30 to feed a family of six and 100% of donations are utilized to purchase food.

The 8^th Annual Charleston Basket Brigade effort will take place on Tuesday, November 24, 2015 at the Charleston Area Convention Center Exhibit Hall C beginning promptly at 7:00 am. Here, community members are invited to help assemble and deliver meals to all 3,500 families need across the Charleston Tri-County area.

It only takes $30 to feed a family of six and every penny raised is utilized to purchase food. Each family receives a box of food to cook an entire Thanksgiving meal including a 10-12 lb. turkey, gravy, cranberry sauce, stuffing, mashed potatoes, corn, green beans, sweet potatoes with marshmallows, fresh rolls, butter and a pumpkin pie. Inside the box is an anonymous letter that reads, “This comes to you from someone who cares about you.  All we ask is that you take care of yourself well enough to be able to do this for someone else one day.”

The CBB was founded in 2008 by close friends Pam Hartley and Michelle Scarafile. What started as a small effort feeding 75 families has grown to serve 3,500 families in its eighth year.

Hartley said, “We are blown away by the community’s support each and every year. Local business, organizations, churches, schools, and people as young as preschoolers to the elderly, all come together to feed our neighbors that are in need. The Charleston Basket Brigade is on a mission to not only provide these families with food, but with a joyous holiday experience that they would otherwise not have.”

“There are several volunteer opportunities for the community to get involved in. From assembling boxes and unloading food off of the trucks on November 23^rd, to assembling and delivering meals on November 24^th, everyone is invited to help make the effort a success,” added Scarafile.

A full list of volunteer opportunities are available at www.CharlestonBasketBrigade.org.