Riverbanks Zoo and Garden has partnered with Harvest Hope Food Bank to bring back Toucan Tuesdays, a summer promotion that combines family fun with community support.
Beginning June 9, visitors can receive buy-one, get-one free admission to Riverbanks Zoo and buy-one, get-one free regular-sized ICEEs by donating two nonperishable food items. Donation bins will be available at both the Zoo and Botanical Garden entrances.
Toucan Tuesdays will be held on 10 consecutive Tuesdays through Aug. 11. The offer applies to general admission tickets only, with guests receiving a second ticket of equal or lesser value. Explorer wristbands and Riverbanks memberships are excluded from the promotion.
“Riverbanks Zoo is proud to be a place where our community comes together, not just to connect with wildlife, but to support one another,” said Tommy Stringfellow, president and CEO of Riverbanks Zoo and Garden. “Toucan Tuesdays, in partnership with Harvest Hope, gives families a chance to enjoy the Zoo while also helping address food insecurity across the Midlands.”
Organizers are encouraging donations of pantry staples including canned vegetables, canned proteins, dried beans and pasta. The goal is to collect 5,000 pounds of food during the summer campaign, enough to provide approximately 6,000 meals to individuals and families in need.
“Toucan Tuesdays is such a powerful reminder of what our community can accomplish when we come together,” said Sy Hughes, interim CEO of Harvest Hope Food Bank. “By simply bringing a few nonperishable items, families can enjoy a fun day at Riverbanks Zoo while also helping neighbors in need.”
The annual campaign continues to make a significant impact. In 2025, Zoo guests donated 1,900 pounds of food, providing the equivalent of 2,275 meals. Since the partnership began in 2010, community members have contributed more than 52,900 pounds of food to Harvest Hope, excluding a temporary pause during the pandemic in 2020 and 2021.
Toucan Tuesdays offers families an opportunity to enjoy one of the Midlands’ most popular attractions while helping combat hunger across South Carolina.
