PIEDMONT EMERGENCY RELIEF CENTER
Mission Statement
Food Pantry
About This Cause
Piedmont Emergency Relief Center (PERC) is a small food pantry in Piedmont , South Carolina. Piedmont and the surrounding areas of Pelzer, Powdersville, Easley, and Williamston were once thriving Textile Towns until the Textile Industry outsourced their work to other countries. With the demise of the Textile Industry, most businesses left are stores like Dollar General and fast food outlets like Hardees. Even with the recent location of Budweiser and Coca-cola Distribution Warehouses, opportunities for jobs are not as forthcoming as in the neighboring city of Greenville, South Carolina. Additionally, there is no public transportation in the area leaving many without the ability to even reach a job out of walking distance. PERC provides food assistance to those in need of a helping hand in Piedmont and the surrounding areas. Some participants make too much for government assistance, others cannot make the government assistance (based on a 1960's calculation) stretch far enough. We partner with Loaves and Fishes, Feeding America, Food to Donate, Stamp Out Hunger Postal Drive, and USDA Commodities to provide as much nutritional food as possible to our participants. In order to help participants not rely only on our food pantry for help, we contract with the State of SC to help those without SNAP Benefits to apply from our location. We also provide volunteer opportunities for school students, businesses, churches, and even those in mandatory community service programs. PERC operates on a very tight budget received from churches, businesses, individuals, and one state grant. Food donations also come from churches, businesses, and individuals. Volunteers do most of the work; however, PERC does employee 2 part-time individuals--the director and the assistant director. Any assistance is always welcome. PERC has been in the area since November 10, 2005.