Help for the hungry sprouts at deli-juice bar

The Sprout, a health-oriented deli-cafe and juice bar in Mount Pleasant, sprouted exactly one year ago Saturday; and to celebrate, it's lending a hand to the hungry.

On Saturday, a portion of all sales will go to Fields to Families, a local nonprofit organization whose mission is to increase not just the amount of food, but the amount of nutritional food, available to the area's hungry. The group coordinates distribution of fresh produce obtained from local gardens and farms.

According to Fields to Families, South Carolina has the second-highest percentage of hungry people in the nation, yet 27 percent of all food produced is thrown away. More than 250,000 Lowcountry residents are at risk of going hungry, according to the organization.

Fields to Families welcomes produce from farmers, homeowners who have excess vegetables, community gardens and area farmers markets.

It provides volunteers to glean farm fields, help in private and community gardens, and transport produce, usually to soup kitchens, shelters, emergency food pantries and Meals on Wheels.

The Sprout is at 627 Johnnie Dodds Blvd., next to Eco Fitness.

Vitamin A is for altruism

In keeping with the spirit of philanthropy, The Vitamin Shoppe, a North Bergen, N.J., nutritional supplement retailer that has a store in North Charleston, is raising funds for Vitamin Angels, a California-based nonprofit dedicated to providing vital nutrition to those in need.

Throughout May, The Vitamin Shoppe will accept cash donations on behalf of Operation 20/20, Vitamin Angels' most aggressive campaign to date. Twenty-five cents can buy a year's supply of Vitamin A for a child in need.

The goal of Operation 20/20 is to eradicate childhood blindness caused by vitamin A deficiency worldwide by 2020. Vitamin Angels hopes to provide two high-dose vitamin A capsules to children ages 1 to 4 and lactating mothers each year for four to five years.

Last year, Operation 20/20 reached more than 7 million mothers and children in 17 countries, and all children received de-worming medicine to improve the absorption of the vitamin A.

"We know our loyal customers will join us in supporting this important initiative to end childhood blindness," Trey Ray, district manager of The Vitamin Shoppe at 2115 Ashley Phosphate Road, said in a statement.

Reach Abi Nicholas at 937-5524 or anicholas@postandcourier.com.