Helping Out for Feb. 5, 2020

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Helping Out highlights some of the many charitable events and activities going on in the Charleston area. Submit your news using our online form.

Naval Information Warfare Center Atlantic donated 634 pints of blood in 2019, despite weather-related issues that canceled two of the center’s 22 blood drives last year.

The donation total broke their previous record from 2017 and earned them the American Red Cross 2019 Premier Partner Award.

Lowcountry Food Bank will be hosting its 21st annual Chef’s Feast gala from 6 to 8 p.m. Sunday. This benefit to support the food bank’s childhood hunger programs will take place at the Charleston Area Convention Center.

The sold-out event will include signature dishes from more than 30 local chefs, a hosted bar and a live auction. More than 700 community partners and guests are expected to attend.

Four Charleston-area charitable organizations have partnered in creating The Opportunity Center, a headquarters, job training center and business incubator co-owned by Increasing Hope, the Center for Heirs Property Preservation, Homes of Hope and the S.C. Association for Community Economic Development.

A 31,250-square-foot former furniture store in North Charleston will be renovated using funds from a $2.7 million grant that the federal Economic Development Administration awarded to Homes of Hope in May. All four organizations will move their offices and staff to the new collaborative facility.

Other investment partners include Coastal Community Foundation, which made an $800,000 equity investment, and Wells Fargo and BB&T, which each invested $100,000. The group is currently working on securing an additional local investment and donations totaling $1 million to fully complete the project.

Upon completion, the facility is expected to create 45 jobs and attract $4 million in private investment.