Greer Charity: $2,000 Gift for Holiday Meals

Martha Bennett held a check for $2,000 in her hands on a recent morning in Greer, South Carolina.

The Greer Soup Kitchen operates year-round, providing hot meals to more than 100 people every day. Many of the guests are unhoused. The facility does not receive state funding. It relies on local families, churches, and businesses to serve up to 150 people per day. Bennett has led the organization for nearly 18 years. She noted that daily donations have recently decreased. This makes the new cash gift critical for upcoming holiday events.

The kitchen prepares for Thanksgiving and Christmas by relying on these contributions. Bennett stated that she has never turned a guest away during her tenure. She said, “I’ve been here almost 18 years and we’ve never had to turn anybody away.” She added that the organization depends on community support to keep the doors open. The donation comes from United Community and the FOX Carolina Surprise Squad. They presented the funds to Bennett during a scheduled interview.

Bennett was surprised by the arrival of the team. She described the gift as wonderful news. She calculated that the $2,000 would feed 2,000 people. “Thank you guys so much. This is wonderful news. This helps a lot. This will feed 2,000 people. Really,” Bennett said. Michelle Seaver from United Community described the experience as personal. She said the team was inspired by the work Bennett does. “Everything we heard about Martha and this soup kitchen was just so inspiring, and we just love the idea that we can be a part of it,” Seaver said.

Bennett emphasized that the kitchen provides safety and companionship, not just food. She aims to offer guests a safe hour in their day. “What we do here really matters. If we can just love on them for an hour. If they’re safe for an hour, that’s our goal,” Bennett said. The organization will use the funds to prepare holiday meals for the coming weeks.

The kitchen continues its daily operations in Greer. It remains open 365 days a year. The staff serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner to the local community. The $2,000 addition to the budget helps offset the cost of ingredients for holiday feasts. Bennett expressed gratitude for the support from United Community. She said, “We are to be God’s hands and feet. That’s what we do and that’s what we stand on.”

The donation arrived as the kitchen prepared for peak seasonal demand. Bennett said the need for food assistance is high. The $2,000 check helps secure ingredients for the Thanksgiving and Christmas meals. The organization will continue to serve its daily average of 100 to 150 guests. The funds are now part of the kitchen’s operating budget.