World FInance volunteers organize shelves in the ECCO pantry
Donation will fund the purchase of a brand-new walk-in freezer and provide Thanksgiving holiday meals for hundreds of local families
Mount Pleasant, S.C. – On international World Food Day, one local organization is a step closer to reaching the goal of #zerohunger across the globe. East Cooper Community Outreach (ECCO), a nonprofit organization that provides emergency food, clothing, medical/dental care, financial aid and more to thousands of families living and working in the East Cooper community received a $25,000 donation to support its hunger relief efforts.
World Finance and ECCO volunteers teamed up on World Food Day
The organization will use the funds to help provide full Thanksgiving meals for over 500 local families, as well as purchase a brand-new walk-in freezer, a significant need that will allow the pantry to store large meat donations in its Wellness Pantry.
“East Cooper Community Outreach celebrated its 30th anniversary this month, and as we look ahead to the next 30 years, fighting hunger will continue to be a top area of focus for our organization. This donation will allow us to continue those important efforts,” said Don Squires, ECCO Director of Development and Marketing. “ECCO works to eliminate hunger every day, but it is especially fitting to reflect on that work and thank our dedicated volunteers and generous partners on World Food Day.”
The donation was provided by World Finance, a small-loan consumer finance company based in Greenville, S.C. and with branches in the Charleston area. World Finance annually provides support to hunger relief organizations on World Food Day. To date, the company has donated more than $140,000 as part of its World Food Day efforts. World Food Day is an annual Oct. 16 event by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nation that aims to reach #zerohunger across the globe.
“World Finance greatly respects the mission and efforts of East Cooper Community Outreach and is proud to help the organization fight hunger in our home state,” said Chad Prashad, World Finance president and CEO.
The 8 ft. by 8 ft. walk-in freezer will be installed later this month, and work is already underway to prepare for ECCO’s Thanksgiving donations. World Finance volunteers were on-site today to help with those preparations and to assist the organization’s clients with pantry shopping.
About East Cooper Community Outreach
Founded as an emergency relief effort in 1989 after the devastation from Hurricane Hugo, East Cooper Community Outreach (ECCO) has since grown into a permanent resource for the community in need. Each year, thousands of families receive emergency assistance for food, clothing, household furnishings, financial aid, and have access to dental care, medical care, prescription assistance, counseling, and educational opportunities like financial literacy classes, computer skills training, job readiness workshops. The majority of clients live east of the Cooper River in Charleston/lower-Berkeley County or are currently employed in the East Cooper region. Eligibility varies by program and some services are available to all Tri-County residents and beyond. For more information, visit www.ECCOCharleston.org
About World Finance
Founded in 1962, World Acceptance Corporation (NASDAQ: WRLD), is one of the largest small-loan consumer finance companies in the nation, serving over one million customers each year. Headquartered in Greenville, South Carolina, and operating more than 1,200 community-based World Finance branches across 16 states, the company strives to understand its customers’ broader financial pictures and help them achieve their financial goals. Services include personal installment loan solutions and personal tax preparation and filing. For more information, visit www.loansbyworld.com.
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