Prominent Leaders Link Up to Feed Richland County Families Impacted by the Federal Shutdown
- CUBNSC
- 1 day ago
- 5 min read
By Javar Juarez | Editor-in-Chief, Columbia Urban Broadcast Network | Senior Director, Broad River Business Alliance
Columbia, S.C. — In Richland County, tens of thousands of residents—more than 50,000 by the latest estimates—depend on the SNAP food-benefit program just to put meals on the table. Yet when the federal government halts essential support, it’s not just the unemployed who suffer. According to the Food Research & Action Center, 82% of South Carolina households receiving SNAP already have someone working. That means the overwhelming majority of those now at risk are working families — parents juggling jobs, child care, and bills, but still unable to earn enough to survive without assistance.
This isn’t just a local problem; it’s a reflection of a deeply broken economy. South Carolina’s low-wage workers are being crushed under the weight of rising costs, stagnant pay, and what economists describe as one of the most extreme transfers of wealth in American history — as the richest one percent accumulate unprecedented gains. The working poor are effectively subsidizing a system that rewards speculation and punishes service. And now, with federal programs frozen, the consequences are immediate and cruel.
For more than five years, I’ve had the privilege of serving as Senior Director of the Broad River Business Alliance (BRBA) — an organization with roots in this community that stretch back over 25 years. During the pandemic, we understood our assignment: help small businesses stay open and keep our neighbors employed. We focused on second-chance hires and individuals with complicated backgrounds — the very people most likely to be locked out of the corporate and industrial complex or trapped in the revolving door of an unjust judicial system that thrives on taxpayer-funded prison labor.
We learned then that economic recovery was not just about business — it was about dignity. And that meant creating a crisis hotline where even local leaders could get real-time information on how to respond to families who felt disconnected from traditional institutions and organizations that lacked the funds, human capital, or reach to make an impact.
Then came Tropical Storm Helene. When the storm tore through Richland County — toppling ancient oak trees, crushing homes, and knocking out power to entire neighborhoods — we realized that government alone could not respond fast enough. So, we rolled up our sleeves and got to work. Through the help of countless volunteers and generous partners, including then–County Councilwoman Gretchen Barron, BBC's Perry Bradley, and Richland County Government employees, we fed more than 900 families across the county.
That was when we proved what the BRBA was built for: rapid response rooted in compassion. The hotline worked. The people showed up! And once again, we find ourselves in another moment of national crisis — with local ramifications — ready to serve.
Federal Shutdown: A Coordinated Countywide Effort
This effort is not about charity — it’s about community resilience. The Broad River Business Alliance (BRBA) has taken the lead in coordinating a network of churches, nonprofits, and public officials to deliver emergency food distributions and household support across Richland County.
Among the first to respond was Bishop Eric Warren Davis of the Word of God Church International, who immediately recognized what was at stake for families living paycheck to paycheck during the federal shutdown. His leadership has been instrumental in shaping a coordinated response that doesn’t just meet immediate needs but also builds infrastructure for the future. Bishop Davis emphasized that long-term strategy is essential — that communities must be prepared for future crises so they’re never again left waiting on federal systems that too often fail them.
“What they are doing in Washington is cruel and uncalled for,” Bishop Davis said. “That is something that can never happen again.”
This unified response has drawn support from across the political spectrum. Senators Tameika Isaac Devine and Russell Ott, City of Columbia Mayor Daniel Rickenmann, and Richland County Councilman Paul Livingston have each stepped forward to help mobilize resources.
Already, the Emergency Community Response Hotline (803-939-6544) has received more than 600 calls from residents seeking food assistance and crisis support. Each case is assessed and connected by ZIP code to the nearest distribution site, ensuring coverage without duplication and delivering compassionate, coordinated aid where it’s needed most.
Charlamagne Steps Up for His Home State
In times of crisis, leadership doesn’t just come from government — it comes from those who remember their roots. "Charlamagne Tha’ God," the South Carolina native and nationally syndicated radio host, has once again proven that his commitment to community runs deeper than words.
As an ambassador for the Food Bank for New York City in Harlem, Charlamagne brought that same spirit of service back home, donating to the Broad River Business Alliance— enough to help 208 Richland County families through the Emergency Community Response System (ECRS) with food baskets and essential supplies.
Charlamagne has also challenged others to match his contribution, urging South Carolinians, businesses, and community leaders to stand up and give what they can. Each $12 emergency basket distributed through the BRBA contains fresh produce and shelf-stable food — lifelines for single parents, veterans, seniors, and working families left in limbo while Washington debates their survival.
This kind of leadership reminds us that real unity requires action. It’s the same energy that built our churches, sustained our neighborhoods, and now fuels our response in the face of uncertainty.
How to Help
Every person, church, and business in Richland County can play a part in this movement of compassion. Whether you give time, resources, or a simple helping hand, your effort matters. Together, we can make sure no family goes hungry while Washington is stalled.
Here’s how you can make an immediate impact:
Volunteer to help pack and distribute emergency food kits. Even a few hours of your time can change someone’s week.
Sponsor a family or organize a neighborhood food drive to collect nonperishables, diapers, and other essentials.
Make a financial contribution to help the Broad River Business Alliance, an IRS-designated 501(c)(3) nonprofit, keep supply trailers on the road and food on the tables.
Spread the word about the Community Emergency Response Hotline: (803) 939-6544. Someone in your network may need that number tonight.
Every $3,000 raised keeps a 25,000-pound supply trailer rolling — stocked with fresh produce, canned goods, and other staples. No act of generosity is too small; it all adds up to hope.
A Call to Unity
This is what community looks like — neighbors helping neighbors, churches partnering with small businesses, and leaders stepping beyond titles to serve side by side.
We’ve seen it before — after storms, shutdowns, and setbacks — and we’ll see it again. Because Richland County’s true wealth has never been measured in dollars, but in its willingness to care.
If you’d like to get involved, partner with us, or make a contribution. Make checks payable to:
Broad River Business Alliance
1120 Briargate Circle, #21851
Columbia, SC 29210
📞 (803) 939-6544
Email: Info@broadriverba.org
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