Hope for the Community in 2024

You, and everyone you know is facing a challenge in their life, great or small. We all need support. In our neighboring communities of Johns and Wadmalaw islands, there are children who need guidance and more educational support, there are people without clean drinking water, there are leaky roofs and hungry bellies. 

Kiawah Cares is the organization that listens to the needs of the community and finds the resources to support the local programs that nurture our neighbors. We gather donations and filter funds to our incredible nonprofit partners who provide meaningful support to those in need.

Over the last year, we’ve funneled aid to give students the at-home and in-school resources they need, built a school garden and outdoor learning classroom, gave young athletes new opportunities to play tennis and baseball, and provided books for young readers. We’ve dispersed funds to provide families with clean drinking water, monthly food pick-ups and home repairs. We’ve expanded our own Kiawah Cares sponsored programs, Made with Love, a group of volunteers who sew gifts of comfort, like blankets, to give to those in need, and OwlVenture camp, an educational summer day-camp.

If every household on Kiawah Island contributed $20 this holiday season, we’d reach our goal of $180,000 to nurture our neighbors in need on Johns and Wadmalaw islands. Give what you can, and you’ll know that someone just down the road is living a better life, with one less worry, due to your support.

Our Hope for 2024

Each year, Kiawah Cares supports education in our local schools. For our island schools, supporting education often means we’re there to supplement funding for expanding or implementing STEM classes, one-on-one reading help to increase literacy, and support creative ways for our schools to put learning in action. But we’re also there to support other needs that are critical for students to learn, such as new uniforms to wear, food to families in need, and athletic equipment. We provide holistic support to the students who attend island schools because we know education is the foundation of these students’ adult lives.

The need is growing. Johns and Wadmalaw islands are in Charleston County’s District 9. As we see the area’s demographics change, island schools are losing their Title 1 status and, with it, the funding that supports the school’s critical needs beyond the basic state educational mandates. Our organization and ones like us will be asked for more support to allow the schools to meet these extra needs and continue giving basic support to students.

When we think of humanitarian aid, we’re often thinking of individuals in other countries, far from the way of life that we’re used to from day to day. Would it surprise you to learn that many of our neighbors don’t have reliable access to clean water or the means to make their homes safe for the winter? It’s hard to imagine but it’s true.

Our humanitarian aid funding goes to programs that focus on solving access issues to clean water, safe housing and food. While these are always in need, the pandemic has created even greater needs. The rising costs we’re currently experiencing mean it is more difficult to feed the community and to support other basic humanitarian needs, like clothing, shelter and essential services like wells for clean water. Many of our partners’ holiday food drives have lowered their goals, not because there is less need, but because they want to set realistic expectations. Of course, the Kiawah Cares Foundation will step in and bridge some of the gap, because that’s part of our mission.

When faced with big issues, it can be tempting to say that things that aren’t food or shelter should take a back seat. But these are essential needs as well.

These programs take many shapes. Some are youth sports leagues that help build community for young and old, as well as teaching important skills like leadership and sportsmanship. Some are programs that provide comfort items and emotional connections for seniors, veterans, and young people in need. These programs that all have a similar thread: showing our neighbors that someone cares for them.

HOW WE WORK

Our advantage is our model: we’re a small and nimble organization. We use our close relationships with partner organizations to direct funds to the areas where they are most needed. This means that our dollars can do more with fewer overhead costs cutting into the bottom line, and more money gets to where it can do the most good. In turn, our partners help us understand the needs of the community. Through these efforts and relationships, we’re able to reduce redundancies in services and focus efforts to the most impactful programs. Learn more.