The COVID-19 Relief & Recovery Fund, a collaborative effort with Waccamaw Community Foundation and other organizations across coastal counties of South Carolina, is awarding grants on a rolling basis to nonprofits working with communities disproportionately affected by the coronavirus outbreak and whose work is within the nine counties of coastal South Carolina: Beaufort, Berkeley, Charleston, Colleton, Dorchester, Georgetown, Hampton, Horry and Jasper Counties.
So far, grants totaling more than $1,576,685 have been awarded to support nonprofits expanding food access and health services, providing shelter to children and supporting small businesses throughout coastal South Carolina in response to the coronavirus pandemic.
A record number of South Carolinians have applied for unemployment benefits amid the pandemic, with Horry County leading the state with nearly 15,000 unemployment claims in the last two weeks of March, according to the U.S. Department of Labor Statistics. With a processing backlog at the S.C. Department of Employment and Workforce, workers are expected to rely more heavily on nonprofit services to make ends meet.
The COVID-19 Relief & Recovery Fund aims to help nonprofits quickly meet that increased demand.
The fund so far has awarded grants in Horry and Georgetown counties totaling $528,147.
Conway Downtown Alive in Horry County has been awarded $15,000 to provide direct, one-time relief payments to up to 70 employees of independent hospitality businesses in downtown Conway. More workers in Horry County have applied for unemployment benefits than any other county in the state, according to the U.S. Department of Labor Statistics.
The Salvation Army of Horry County was awarded $10,000 for food purchases and utility assistance. The nonprofit’s thrift store, a main source of income, is closed during the pandemic, prompting the need for additional support to continue serving Horry County’s low-income population.
North Strand Housing Shelter (Worldview Ministry International, Inc.) — which provides housing and program assistance to veterans and families with children in Horry County— has been awarded $10,000 to provide food to residents and cover operating expenses including utilities and transportation for the next two months.
Churches Assisting People, which provides emergency assistance to those in need in Horry County, was awarded $5,000 for food distribution.
Family Justice Center of Georgetown and Horry Counties, which provides support services to victims of domestic violence, was awarded $5,000 to support constituents with food, shelter and other needs.
North Strand Helping Hand, an emergency relief organization providing comprehensive services to those in crisis in Horry County, was awarded $4,000 to purchase food and provide emergency services.
SOS Health Care, Inc. was awarded $10,000 to provide iPads to families in Georgetown and Horry Counties so they can receive virtual therapy and to pay for sick time off for employees.
The Center for Counseling & Wellness Inc. — which provides out-patient mental health and/or addiction treatment in Georgetown and Horry Counties — has been awarded $5,000 to support counselors and front office salaries.
The Community Kitchen of Myrtle Beach has been awarded $5,000 to purchase to-go containers, portable drinks, and food to provide free meals to the working poor, families, veterans, senior citizens, and transients in Horry County.
Neighbor to Neighbor of SC – which works with homebound seniors and homebound adults with disabilities – has been awarded $6,720 to supplement extra staff, procure sanitation supplies, and provide incentives for volunteers.
Smith Medical Clinic, Inc. – which provides free medical care to low-income and uninsured individuals in Georgetown County – has been awarded $5,365 to fund cell phone service, postage to mail prescriptions, lunch for staff/volunteers, and postage supplies.
The Children’s Recovery Center – which serves children who are victims of physical and sexual assault – was awarded $5,000 to match salaries for Direct Care Staff for a one-month period in lieu of missed fundraisers.
Black River United Way has been awarded $50,000 to provide basic needs like rent/mortgage/utility assistance, food, transportation, and internet to residents of Georgetown County experiencing financial hardship due to the pandemic.
Friendship Medical Clinic – which provides primary care and medications to low-income adults in Horry County – has been awarded $5,000 to assist with medical care and treatment of clinic patients.
United Way of Horry County was awarded $55,000 to provide mass food distributions to families facing food insecurity due to school closures.
Helping Hand of Myrtle Beach – which assists individuals and families in Horry County with immediate short-term needs like food, rent assistance, and prescription medicine – was awarded $10,000 to help with rent and utility assistance.
Lower Cape Fear LifeCare – which provides a range of health services in Charleston, Georgetown, and Horry Counties – was awarded $2,400 to purchase personal protective equipment and provide telehealth technology.
New Directions of Horry County was awarded $10,000 to assist with their 4 shelter facilities which provide basic necessities, shelter, and connection to resources for homeless individuals in Horry County.
Georgetown County Family YMCA was awarded $15,000 to benefit approximately 80-100 families by providing summer learning to school age children through a certified teacher.
Palmetto Works Community Development Corporation was awarded $7,650 to host a virtual summer camp for kids in Horry County.
Teach My People – which teaches children and youth in partnering schools to help them overcome academic and social challenges – was awarded $10,000 to support teachers and cover basic operating costs benefiting 124 students in Georgetown County.
Freedom Readers – which serves children struggling with reading in low-income communities in Georgetown and Horry Counties – was awarded $10,000 to provide care packages to 50 students for personalized summer instruction and to hire teachers to further assist students.
Black River United Way – which serves communities in Georgetown County – was awarded $8,200 to assist with four weeks of teacher stipends for tutoring instruction, program support, and supplies for 24 families.
Family Outreach of Horry County – which works to prevent abuse, neglect, and poverty in Horry County families – was awarded $15,000 to support expectant and young mothers and their children through support and supplies.
Friendship Place, Inc. – which works to address unmet community behavioral health issues in Georgetown County – was awarded $15,000 to support general operating costs for their Riverside Behavior and Learning Collaborative.
The Village Group was awarded $8,812 to purchase 60 mobile hotspots with two months of service as well as Chromebook usage for youth living in poverty in rural Georgetown County.
Freedom Readers – which serves children struggling with reading in low-income communities in Georgetown and Horry Counties – was awarded $10,000 to provide care packages to 50 students for personalized summer instruction and to hire teachers to further assist students.
Eastern Carolina Housing Organization (ECHO) was awarded $12,500 to purchase mattresses, box springs, cleaning supplies, and basic hygiene products to help support homeless individuals and families in Horry County.
Chabad Jewish Academy, who works to provide education and a vibrant Jewish identity for K-5 students in Horry County, was awarded $7,500 to help offset COVID-19 cleaning costs for their after-school care.
A Father’s Place, whose mission is to engage and empower fathers in the positive support of their children, was awarded $10,000 to provide emergency needs for clients, technology upgrades, DHEC compliance for facilities, and more.
The Georgetown County Family YMCA was awarded $10,000 to support operating expenses including staffing costs, rent, and cleaning and sanitation.
The Shepherd’s Tale, serving Horry County, was awarded $5,000 to support serving 80 to-go meals Monday through Friday, as well as 100 “weekend packs” every Friday of the month.
The Boys & Girls Club of the Grand Strand was awarded $15,000 to assist in restarting the Boys & Girls Club Fall program in Horry County in addition to complying with COVID-19 social distancing protocol.
The Children’s Recovery Center was awarded $20,000 to provide 75 forensic interviews for children who are victims of traumatic abuse incidents, as well as for the purchase of PPE for 2021.
Smith Medical Clinic, serving Georgetown County, was awarded $25,000 to ensure low-income, uninsured residents have every opportunity to get vaccinated against influenza, as well as provide critical cancer screenings and women’s health care.
Teach My People, a faith-based afterschool and summer program serving Georgetown County students impacted by the negative effects of poverty, was awarded $15,000 to assist in moving their afternoon program to a full day program. The funds will be used to compensate instructors for the additional hours they work during the new program model.
The Grand Strand Miracle Leagues, dedicated to providing those with Special Needs life-changing opportunity, was awarded $5,000 to support the preparation of the facility for safe play — including the purchase of sanitizing wipes, restroom cleaning, social distancing stickers, and signage.
Miss Ruby’s Kids, serving Georgetown and Horry counties, was awarded $10,000 to support the cost of laptops and tablets for virtual visits, books and backpacks for students, learning program subscriptions, resource kits for mentors, library supplies, reimbursement fees, and sanitation kits.
Mobile Meals of the Grand Strand, providing home-delivered nutritious meals to individuals in Horry County unable to prepare them on their own, was awarded $7,500 to support the cost of meals for 5 days a week for 150 to 175 individuals.
St. Christopher’s Children was awarded $7,500 to support the purchase of clothing for 50 children, which includes shoes, pants, undergarments, shirts, belts, and coats.
The Village Group, serving Georgetown County, was awarded $10,000 to support the purchase of 35 Chromebooks and software for children in kindergarten through 3rd grade.
Carolina Human Reinvestment (CHRSC), serving Georgetown County’s at-risk youth and their families through gardening and education programs, was awarded $15,000 to support staff salaries for the Virtual Learner’s Day Program and CHRSC Community Garden.
Freedom Readers, serving Georgetown and Horry Counties, was awarded $15,000 to support the purchase of 1,200 books for six weeks of online reading practice, a subscription to Moodle to host the online training program, safety training, and supplies.
Healthy Learners, providing children with access to health care services, was awarded $30,000 to support trainings, health screenings, health care services, and staff recruitment and employment. Healthy Learners currently serves Georgetown County, but a program expansion is underway in Horry, Colleton, and Hampton counties to serve more children and provide access to critical services.
Little Smurf, currently serving 50 Georgetown County students by providing a safe environment for them to do schoolwork, virtual and in-person tutoring services, computers, and meals, was awarded $10,000 to support the costs of food, new computers, and hazard compensation for staff members.
Bible Way Community Learning Center, providing high-quality childcare for children in Georgetown County ages six-12, was awarded $10,000 to support efforts to sanitize the center, as well as purchase new technology, and hire two additional full-time employees.
The list of grants awarded in other parts of the region can be found here.
About the fund
The COVID-19 Relief & Recovery Fund of Coastal Community Foundation is a regional, collaborative effort supported by Black River United Way, the Chapin Foundation, Frances P. Bunnelle Foundation, the Gaylord & Dorothy Donnelley Foundation, Trident United Way, United Way of Horry County, United Way of the Lowcountry and Waccamaw Community Foundation.
This fund is designed to make grants only to 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations, and groups fiscally sponsored by a 501(c)(3) organization. This is a rolling process, and applications will be accepted as they come in on our online portal. Donations can be made securely online with a credit card here.
