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This October, Bluffton residents have the opportunity to make an impact – help us partner to ensure that our local workers, families, and neighbors don’t sit down to an empty table on Thanksgiving. On Saturday, October 11, 2025, from 8:00 to 10:30 a.m., Second Helpings and Bluffton Breeze (operated by Palmetto Breeze) will host the Stuff the Bus for Thanksgiving Food Drive on the parking lot at Buckwalter Place Commerce Center. This drive-thru style event, pull up, donate, and go, benefits Second Helpings’ Fill the Need Program, ensuring that workers, families, and neighbors across the Lowcountry will not face an empty table this holiday season.Look for the Bluffton State of Mind Wrapped Bus and be part of the reason every family has something to be thankful for. Don’t miss your chance to make a real difference this Thanksgiving.
What to Bring
Donations of non-perishable foods and support for turkeys are especially needed this season:
Stuffing mix
Canned green beans
Canned corn
Cream of mushroom soup
Pumpkin puree
Dry cake mix
Pudding mix
Spices such as cinnamon, nutmeg, and pumpkin pie spice
Evaporated milk
$25 Gift Cards for Turkey
Other pantry staples are always welcome, including:
Canned tuna and chicken (white meat preferred)
Canned peas and baked beans
Canned fruit
White rice (1-pound bags)
Pasta and tomato sauce
Condiments such as ketchup, mayonnaise, and mustard
Salad dressings like Italian and Ranch
Peanut butter and jelly
Chef Boyardee meals (Ravioli, Meatballs, etc.)
Variety of snacks in individual portions (bars, chips, pretzels, etc.)
Those who wish to help provide turkeys can also make a direct donation through Second Helpings at: https://apps.secondhelpingslc.org/buy-healthy-food
Fill the Need: Eight Years of Gratitude in Motion
For eight years, the Fill the Need Program has provided dignity, relief, and nourishment by transforming community donations into meals for the workers who keep the Lowcountry thriving. Created by Second Helpings and Palmetto Breeze, the program was designed to fill the gap for those who commute two to three hours each way to Bluffton and Hilton Head Island to serve in restaurants, hotels, retirement and assisted living homes, landscaping, and construction. These workers are the backbone of our economy, yet too often they return home after exhausting shifts to households still struggling with food insecurity.
“Thanksgiving should be about family, not fear of an empty table,” said Amy Colin, Executive Director of Second Helpings. “With Stuff the Bus and our Fill the Need program, we’re making sure that the very people who sustain our community are sustained themselves. Every donation, whether it’s a can of food, a gift card, or a financial contribution, becomes part of that circle of gratitude.”
A Community of Thanks
Bluffton Breeze, operated by Palmetto Breeze, is proud to support this effort by providing the Bluffton State of Mind Wrapped Bus as the collection site. The initiative invites the community to come together and ensure that every family in Bluffton and beyond has something to be thankful for this season. As a gesture of appreciation, all donors will receive two complimentary tickets to ride the Bluffton Breeze.
If you cannot attend the October 11 event but would still like to help, please get in touch with Second Helpings at [email protected] or (843) 689-3616.
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Event Venue & Nearby Stays
Buckwalter Place, Bluffton, United States
