COLUMBA – More than a year after the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic and as a large part of the population begins to be vaccinated, South Carolina’s largest food bank is still preparing for ongoing needs.
That’s because economic health, more than physical health, is what drives demand at Columbia-based Harvest Hope Food Bank. And the organization’s new leader expects the economic effects of the city center to persist for years to come.
Harvest Hope appointed Erinn Rowe as its new CEO on March 15. Rowe recently worked for Bank of America and has been on the board of Harvest Hope for the past five years, including as its president in 2019 and 2020.
Rowe takes over an operation that delivered nearly 30 million pounds of food last year and 25 million meals serving about 2 million people through partner agencies in Midlands, Pee Dee and Upstate and emergency food pantries in Columbia and Greenville.
She compared the beginning of the pandemic to a hurricane and the need to react and adjust to continue feeding people in 20 counties.
“As we move forward next year, what people don’t realize is that COVID’s numbers may fall, but if the economy is still where it is, we still have a lot of people who need our help,” said Rowe. “And if you look at the socio-economic impact of COVID, these are much more lasting issues. I would say that we will be on the hurricane cleanup, on the reconstruction part, for years.”
Rowe succeeded Wendy Broderick, who died in January. Rowe helped hire Broderick in 2019 and worked closely with the former CEO.
“We are fortunate to have someone who has such an in-depth knowledge of Harvest Hope who can lead our organization during this difficult time,” said Harvest Hope President John Welsh in a statement. “Erinn helped Wendy start her career at Harvest Hope. It ended very early for all of us, but we are grateful that Erinn is willing to join Harvest Hope full-time to fulfill our mission of serving people in need. “
Rowe brings experience that includes a degree in hospitality management and an MBA from the USC. She has worked for Bank of America for the past 10 years and, prior to that, ran a franchise for Young Chef’s Academy, a children’s cooking school.
Harvest Hope received help in 2020 as part of high-profile donations from Amazon boss Jeff Bezos and basketball legend Michael Jordan, but the nonprofit will continue to need volunteers and cash donations, Rowe said.
“We are really looking to just help people while they rebuild their lives,” said Rowe.
Talk to Stephen Fastenau at 803-365-3235. Follow him on Twitter @StephenFastenau.