[caption id="attachment_22217" align="alignright" width="300"]<a href="http://www.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/COMMUNITY-Coke.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-22217" src="http://www.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/COMMUNITY-Coke-300x300.jpg" alt="Pictured from left to right are Pam Rice of Our Lady’s Pantry, Representative Shannon Erickson, Emilie Nicholls, Our Lady’s Pantry volunteers and Coca-Cola staff (in red)." width="300" height="300" /></a> Pictured from left to right are Pam Rice of Our Lady’s Pantry, Representative Shannon Erickson, Emilie Nicholls, Our Lady’s Pantry volunteers and Coca-Cola staff (in red).[/caption]

For more than 125 years Coca-Cola has been the “pause that refreshes” and on March 31st, more than 500 Coca-Cola Bottling Company Consolidated (CCBCC) associates took a break from their daily jobs and “paused” to give back to the community by volunteering with organizations all over the Lowcountry.
The group, who is in town as part of their corporate meeting schedule did just about every job imaginable.  They cleaned office space at Family Promise of Beaufort County, assisted at the Sandalwood Food Pantry, made lap blankets for area nursing homes, helped at the Habitat for Humanity ReStore, packed USO kits for deploying Troops, prepared meals for Meals of Hope as well as delivering food alongside the Hilton Head based Second Helpings team.

“Giving back to the community is something that’s in Coke’s DNA,” said Alison Patient, Sr. Director, Corporate Affairs for Coca-Cola Bottling Company Consolidated. “We’re excited the opportunity to help people throughout Beaufort County.”

[caption id="attachment_22218" align="alignright" width="150"]<a href="http://www.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/COMMUNITY-COKE-Lauren-Steele-Senior-VP-of-Corporate-Affairs-and-Coca-Cola-Bottling-Co-Beaufort_OurLadysPantry-2.jpg"><img class="size-thumbnail wp-image-22218" src="http://www.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/COMMUNITY-COKE-Lauren-Steele-Senior-VP-of-Corporate-Affairs-and-Coca-Cola-Bottling-Co-Beaufort_OurLadysPantry-2-150x150.jpg" alt="Lauren Steele, Senior VP of Corporate Affairs washing windows." width="150" height="150" /></a> Lauren Steele, Senior VP of Corporate Affairs washing windows.[/caption]

Beaufort’s Coca-Cola Bottling Company Branch Manager, Steve Curtis, complimented his fellow Coke associates saying, “It’s gratifying to work for a company that allows employees, at company expense, the opportunity to get out and make a real difference in the communities where we work, live and play.”

Maureen Korzik, executive director, Second Helpings commented, “Second Helpings distributes more than 2.6 million pounds of food and grocery products each year; and one we would not be able to accomplish without the assistance of our dedicated volunteers. On behalf of the thousands of children and family we serve, thank you Coca-Cola for helping Second Helpings serve those in need.”