Giving Back This Holiday Season

The holidays are a time for surrounding yourselves with family, friends, and good food. However, it is more important now than ever to remember to give back to those in our community who could use a helping hand. There are many opportunities to give back in the lowcountry, especially in the wintertime! 

Here is a roundup of a few of our current favorite local organizations:

• A 100% community-funded organization

• East Cooper Meals on Wheels helps address the nutrition and social needs of seniors and homebound individuals.

• Alongside individual volunteers, they welcome the opportunity to work with businesses, churches, and schools that want to engage their employees, members, and students in volunteer activities.

• Participate in a beach and marsh sweep

• Volunteers under 16 years of age must be accompanied by an adult

• Volunteers aged 5-18 are provided meaningful opportunities through programs that impact kid hunger issues right here at home. Opportunities include:

• Hands-on service (canned food drive)

• Food advocacy (specifically looking at student lunch debt)

• Grants and mentoring

• Headquartered in Charleston, Lowcountry food bank leads the fight against hunger throughout 10 coastal counties of South Carolina

• Volunteer activities range from packing and sorting food, to assisting programs and distributions.

• Volunteers must be 12+ years of age

• Island Realty is hosting a canned food drive! Drop off your non-perishable items in our lobby through the end of December 2022.

• One80 Place works to end and prevent homelessness with local shelters, affordable housing, and food resources.

• Volunteer opportunities include serving meals in the Zucker Family Community Kitchen, working in the Bakker Family donation center, and more

• Help provide year-round, amazing experiences for children with cancer and relieve the stress on their families when life becomes overwhelming.

• Volunteer opportunities may include: arts & crafts, baking treats, beach days, adventure courses, karate, and more

• Volunteers must be 21+ years of age

• Working to break the cycle of domestic violence, My Sister's House provides support, services, and education to women in the Tri-county area

• Volunteers serve in a variety of capacities to empower survivors of domestic violence

• Community members may also donate gently used women's clothing, or purchase home goods from their Amazon list

• Volunteers must be 18+ years of age

• Help build homes and community buildings throughout the Charleston area

• Individuals and volunteer groups are welcome year-round regardless of prior experience and skill level.

• Volunteer opportunities include:

• Framing, laying the floor system, roofing, painting, landscaping, etc. at new affordable home builds

• Organizing and pricing donated items in the ReStore

• Marketing, family services, front desk, and clerical duties in the Administrative Office

• Planning and implementing annual fundraisers like the spring Builder Bash (Gala & Silent Auction) and fall Oyster Roast

• Help prevent animal cruelty in Charleston. In 1874, Charleston Animal Society became the first animal organization in South Carolina and one of the first in the Nation and has never turned our local animals away.

• Volunteer opportunities include:

• Walking, socializing, and enriching the lives of dogs

• Caring for cats and kittens

• Assisting in our spay/neuter clinic

• Helping with laundry and cleaning

• Assisting at our Second Chance Resale Store

• Transporting animals during emergency response efforts

• Volunteers must be 18+ years of age

• Younger community members who wish to help out can be a part of the Youth Volunteer Program

CAS also accepts business ambassadors, fosters, and donations from their Amazon list

• Battling food insecurity in the Charleston area

• Over 150 drop-off locations for nonperishable food items and hygiene supplies

• Find a map of all blessing boxes in the area here