James Island Outreach expands wellness pantry, increasing capacity to serve more families
Mon, July 20, 2026 at 5:25 PM
UpdatedMon, July 20, 2026 at 10:10 PM
6VIEW ALL PHOTOS
Officials Cutting Ribbon for the Wellness Pantry Expansion (WCIV)
JAMES ISLAND, S.C. (WCIV) —James Island Outreach is expanding its mission to fight food insecurity one square foot at a time
The nonprofit celebrated the grand opening of its newly renovated wellness pantry Monday, unveiling a larger, redesigned space that leaders say will improve the shopping experience while allowing them to serve more families across James Island
The pantry had been closed for several weeks during the renovation and is scheduled to reopen to shoppers Tuesday
Before the expansion, officials said the pantry operated out of a much smaller space where food and supplies were crowded together, making it more difficult for volunteers to organize donations and for shoppers to find what they needed
Pantry Captain Marion Kammauf said the redesigned layout makes the pantry more efficient for both volunteers and the people it serves
“It doesn’t take as long for them to shop because foods are separated. They can see clearly what they’re shopping for,” Kammauf said. “It allows us to stock it more quickly. It gives all the volunteers room to do what needs to be done.”
READ MORE |Lowcountry Food Bank: Summer is among busiest seasons as donations dip after school ends
The renovation also significantly increases the pantry’s capacity. Marketing Director Katy Firth said the organization can now assist up to eight shoppers at a time, compared to four before the expansion
“This is our expanded food pantry, so we are able now to get eight shoppers through when before we were only able to get four,” Firth said. “We were able to add more product so people can find their way through.”
Behind the scenes, the nonprofit has also doubled its storage space. What was once a stock room with two shelves and two tables now features four shelves and four tables, allowing James Island Outreach to accept and store more donations
“Our stock room is doubled, which means that we can serve more people and we can help more James Islanders,” Firth said
For Kammauf, the expansion is especially meaningful after years of volunteering with the organization
READ MORE | News 4’s June Community Partner focuses on James Island Outreach
“When I started, I didn’t have any idea what this was about,” she said. “I have met so many wonderful people. Every person comes with such a good heart, a willingness to give, wanting to be part of something bigger and better for this community.”
Firth said the upgraded pantry is about more than increasing capacity. She hopes the welcoming atmosphere helps remove the stigma some people feel when seeking food assistance
“There is a little bit of a stigma,” Firth said, adding that anyone can find themselves needing help. “That’s why we’re here.”
James Island Outreach officials say the renovated pantry will allow the organization to serve more families while creating a more comfortable, inviting shopping experience for neighbors in need
