IT TAKES A COMMUNITY
2022 ANNUAL REPORT
Beyond Grateful
Dear friends and neighbors,
In this Annual Report you’ll see stories, facts and figures about the year 2022 at Bluffton Self Help. But as we take this brief look back, you’ll also see that 2022 was about looking forward.
In Beaufort and Jasper Counties, 50,000 households struggle to make ends meet. Our community is in crisis.
We must do more to more our neighbors to economic self-sufficiency. That’s no small task, but, with your help, we’re confident it can be done.
It must be done.
Basic Needs
Bluffton Self Help’s basic needs programs are often the first step on one’s path to success, helping neighbors stretch their budget and meet their most critical needs. Through The Market, neighbors have weekly access to fresh, healthy food, clothing, diapers, hygiene items and special groceries for major holidays. We are stabilizing families as they work toward self-sufficiency.
• The Market
• The Clothing Closet
• Diaper Program
• Holiday Grocery Program
households received 431,428 pounds of fresh produce, dairy, eggs, meat, and nonperishable groceries enabling them to stretch their budget and have better health,
nutrition, and nourishment through access to fresh, healthy food.
households shopped for 22,993 articles of gently used workwear, school uniforms, and children’s clothing to build confidence.
families received groceries to prepare special holiday meals to gather around the table for Easter, Thanksgiving, and Christmas.
Education & Training
Our education and training programs help adults acquire the basic skills they need to be productive workers, family members, and citizens. At Bluffton Self Help’s four Learning & Literacy Centers, neighbors attend adult education classes, workshops and trainings, have access to computers and internet, and receive the support they need to reach their individualized goals on their path to success.
• Adult Basic Education Classes
• GED Preparation Classes, Tutoring & Testing
• English as a Second Language Classes
• Workshops, Tutoring, & Certificate Programs
• Open Computer Labs
• American Civics in preparation for U.S. Citizenship
• Educational Scholarships for higher education
• Digital Literacy Program and Classes
neighbors attended English as a Second Language, Citizenship, Adult Basic Education, and GED Preparation classes to improve literacy skills and empower them to improve their lives.
neighbors passed 17 GED subject tests and three neighbors earned their GED in the Fall 2022 semester.
adult learners utilized Bluffton Self Help’s computer labs for computer-based learning and skill development.
scholarships were awarded by Bluffton Self Help for higher education supporting neighbors’ educational attainment goals.
Career Development
We empower, mentor, and advocate for individuals and families to improve their lives and livelihoods, providing one-on-one support to set and achieve individual goals. Through our career development programs, we help train and educate the Lowcountry workforce.
• Apply for Jobs & Connect with Local Employers
• Resume Building & Interview Skills
• Career Readiness Certificate Programs
• Career Planning
• Goal Development
• Guidance for Employment Transitions
visits to our Learning & Literacy Centers helped to provide educational opportunities and create a pathway to personal success.
neighbors earned their National Career Readiness Certificate to take the next step in their careers.
individuals received support with job searching, interview skills, and career planning to gain employment earning
a livable wage.
Resource Coordination & Collaboration
Our Client Advocates work one-on-one with neighbors to establish and achieve long-term goals, connecting them with resources, providing emergency financial assistance, accessing our full array of programs, educating them, and empowering them to build a better life. If BSH does not offer the services neighbors need to succeed, our Client Advocates will connect them with the appropriate community resource that will.
neighbors worked one-on-one with Client Advocates through 674 meetings to connect to resources, develop goals and work toward reaching personal success.
families received Emergency Financial Assistance to avoid
loss of utilities and lessen the threat of homelessness.
Community Programs
Throughout the year, we collaborate with community partners, local schools, and neighbors to provide various programs that provide nutrition, resources, and tools, enabling all Lowcountry neighbors to stretch their budget, experience joy and thrive.
• Fresh Xpress Program
• Education Supplies
• School Snack Programs
• Holiday Toy Shop
households received 58,619 pounds of free fresh produce through community Fresh Xpress events.
Bluffton schools received 11,544 teacher supplies,
valued at $28,860, to help ensure teachers have the tools to provide an exceptional education to students without paying out of pocket.
school snacks were donated to all 10 Bluffton schools to
help children stay nourished throughout the school day
and focused on education, not hunger- that is $29,173
worth of snacks.
children in four counties experienced joy with the
distribution of 14,619 toys during the Christmas
season.
Success through Education
Everyone’s path to success looks different. Fernanda Silveria began taking English as a Second Language (ESL) classes five years ago. Today she has earned her GED and is working at a fulfilling job she loves in education. Her most rewarding part of the journey though was giving back.
“Giving others the opportunity to embrace and appreciate who they are as students and creating a classroom where they can establish and develop their talents can ultimately benefit their families and most importantly themselves,” Fernanda said.
Red Apron Alliance
It takes a community to create change.
RED APRON SUPPORTERS
Bluffton Self Help is here for our community because of our community. We collaborate with local businesses, nonprofits, and individuals in order to build a stronger community.
RED APRON VOLUNTEERS
We rely on volunteers for every aspect of our mission. Some volunteers work the front lines and interact with our neighbors; others are behind the scenes supporting administration.
volunteers donated 18,090 hours of their time in 2022, valued at $541,795.
Financials
Because of the kindness and generosity of our community, we were able to empower more, educate more, and change more lives than ever before.
It takes a community to create change.
Read the full report and what your generosity made possible.
