Charleston Basket Brigade

Close friends Pam Hartley and Michelle Scarafile began The Charleston Basket Brigade in 2008 with a commitment to bring the community together to provide Thanksgiving meals for families in need in Charleston, SC.

“When we found out that there were children going to bed hungry right here in Charleston, we knew we had to do something about it,” said Hartley.

The Basket Brigade concept was inspired by Anthony Robbins, whose foundation feeds more than two million each year. Overall, the CBB has raised $238,000 and fed over 47,000 people in the Lowcountry. Our 2013 goal is to raise $100,000 to feed over 3,000 families (approximately 20,000 residents) in need.

Our effort would not be possible without the support of the thousands of community members, businesses and organizations that make donations and volunteer, and the commitment from our partners Carolina One Real Estate, Communities in Schools, Bi-Lo and Momentum Marketing.

Volunteers raise money year-round to support the mission. It only takes $30 to feed a family of 6 and every penny donated goes towards purchasing food.

Then on the Tuesday before Thanksgiving, volunteers gather to assemble the thousands of meals and then hand deliver them to our benefiting families. Each family receives a box of ingredients with everything to cook a full Thanksgiving meal: a 10-12 lb. turkey, cranberry sauce, stuffing, gravy, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes with marshmallows, green beans, corn, fresh rolls, butter and a pumpkin pie. Each box also has a letter inside that reads, "This comes to your from someone who cares about you. All we ask is that you take care of yourself well enough to be able to do this some someone else one day."

Communities In Schools, a non-profit organization with 41 staff members in 30 schools throughout Charleston and Berkeley Counties, locates the families that will receive donations based on need and maps out directions for delivery.

After partnering with Piggly Wiggly for 4 years, the CBB partnered with Bi-Lo in 2013 after the acquisition of Piggly Wiggly stores. Bi-Lo provides discounts on food, boxes, and coordinates delivery of the food to the staging areas for meal assembly and delivery. Since 2011, the Charleston Area Convention Center (with the help of the Mayor's office) has donated a 25,000 square foot space to serve as a central stating area for meal assembly and delivery. Carolina One staffers organize fundraising efforts all year and organize volunteers. Momentum Marketing (Hartley's company) provides public relations, fundraising, marketing and event coordination assistance.

The response from families that receive a basket from the Charleston Basket Brigade are overwhelmingly appreciative and oftentimes tear-filled. One parent said emphatically, “Oh thank you, thank you so much, prayers really do get answered.”