Helping Out for May 27, 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.

Coastal Community Foundation and its regional partners in the COVID-19 Relief & Recovery Fund have raised more than $2.1 million since the fund's inception, and $641,745 has been awarded so far to nonprofits across coastal South Carolina.

About half of the funds — 49% — have been awarded to nonprofits distributing free meals and supplies to residents in need. About 35% of funds have been awarded to nonprofits providing financial assistance, helping people pay rent and utility bills.

The fund balance is now at $1.5 million. Donations are still being accepted, and grantmaking is ongoing. Money is going directly to the nonprofits working on providing medical care, food access, financial support and more.

Six rounds of grants so far have included $189,000 awarded in Berkeley, Charleston and Dorchester counties and $62,000 awarded to nonprofits serving all nine coastal S.C. counties.

Notable donations include $100,000 from South State Bank and $150,000 from the Mary Reynolds Babcock Foundation.

The Department of Veterans Affairs has granted an additional $1.5 million to One80 Place via its Supportive Services for Veteran Families grant.

With these funds, One80 Place will work to help more veterans who are in danger of losing their housing or are homeless, largely as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Veterans do not need an eviction notice at this time to receive funding, as long as the rent shortfall is documented.

Water Mission is developing a new, portable, safe water unit that will expedite first responders’ ability to provide clean, safe water when first arriving in a disaster area.

First Citizens Bank has made a donation to support Water Mission’s clean water solutions.

These flight-ready systems are engineered with a compact footprint, designed to fit in a suitcase, and have increased capacity.

Family Connection of South Carolina and the S.C. Department of Education have launched a new program called Text 2 Read for parents of preschoolers. Parents can text T2R to 734-526-6552 to receive weekly tips and activities to promote reading readiness.

Texts are created from South Carolina’s early learning standards and are segmented for early preschoolers, 36-48 months old or older preschoolers, 48-60 months old.

Text 2 Read also provides parents with information to monitor their child’s growth and developmental milestones. Messages are sent each Friday at 3 p.m.