The Success of Hungry Heart Restaurant Workers Relief Fund

Geoffrey J. (Geoff) Block has built a career as an investor and business leader. A resident of the Lowcountry region of South Carolina, Geoff Block gives back to his community through the Lowcountry Strong Foundation, a charity he established with his wife.

The Lowcountry Strong Foundation funds organizations and initiatives that help people facing hardships in Beaufort County and Jasper County, South Carolina. Established to assist those harmed by Hurricane Andrew, the foundation more recently partnered with the Downtown Catering Co. to form the Hungry Heart Restaurant Workers Relief Fund.

The creation of Hungry Heart stemmed from a desire to support hospitality professionals left unemployed or economically insecure in the wake of the pandemic. To participate, affected individuals needed only to bring their most recent pay stub or other employment-related documentation to a location designated by Hungry Heart. There, they would receive tickets redeemable for free meals at any of the many participating restaurants in Beaufort, Bluffton, and Hilton Head.

In less than two months of operations, Hungry Heart managed to serve thousands of meals to people in need. The program, which was made possible through donations to Lowcountry Strong, had the secondary benefit of generating more than $100,000 for area restaurants.