On April 4th we celebrate the legacy of Bluffton Self Help founder, Mrs. Ida Martin, the day named in her honor by Mayor Lisa Sulka in 2012. Mrs. Martin was a selfless woman who gave back to our community in countless ways and at the age of 60 she founded Bluffton Self Help- an organization that grew from one simple act of kindness. Today, with the help of Mrs. Martin’s granddaughter, Candyce, we continue to serve our community and strive to make it a community where all can succeed.
My grandmother would say, “ If you aren’t in over your head, then you aren’t in deep enough.” – Candyce, granddaughter of Bluffton Self Help founder Mrs. Ida Martin
Candyce goes on to say, “Bluffton Self Help means a lot to the Martin family. It represents community, dedication, hard work, legacy, character and love. My grandmother moved to Bluffton and started to volunteer at many non-profit organizations on Hilton Head Island. When she saw all the great work they were doing for HHI she immediately knew the same needed to be done for the people in Bluffton. So my grandmother hit the ground running and gathered as many resources as she could and started what is now Bluffton Self Help in her garage right on Bruin Road
I have many memories of Bluffton Self Help as a child who spent summers here in Bluffton. When my grandmother moved from her garage to the old police station she put all her grandchildren to work. It was very important to her to teach us what being a part of a community really meant. What being a neighbor TRULY meant. It meant being a resource and lending a hand to those in need. It meant being a shoulder to lean on or an ear that listens. It meant giving back and being involved in the things important for the community in regards to growth and opportunities. It meant being honest and holding those accountable so that they may grow. If she could not find a way to help, she found someone that could…. Read more (link to blog)
If my grandmother was alive today, she would be beyond proud of the strides Bluffton Self Help has made thus far. Education was always important to her. With the programs we have added, in addition to the merger with The Literacy Center, she would feel complete. The staff and Board of Directors here at Bluffton Self Help have taken her vision and expanded it in ways she always dreamed of. Her vision, her mission, her plan and the mark she made on this community is forever growing and will never be forgotten. I am who I am because of Ida Martin and I hope to carry on her spirit in Bluffton Self Help and the community.”
Stop by our Bluffton Self Help location at 39 Sheridan Park Circle on April 4, to celebrate our founder, for Mrs. Ida Martin Day, and learn more how you can help carry on Mrs. Martin’s legacy of building a community for all.
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