Bluffton Self Help Acquires New Building Agency Will Move to New Location in Early November

by | Jul 20, 2011

Bluffton, SC, July 18, 2011—The calls come in daily. Some people have recently suffered from a health emergency or accident. There are clients who have recently lost their jobs and their utility bill is due. Their new job won’t start in time to pay the rent and utilities. Other people need fans to deal with the heat because their health is in danger. There are mothers who have to work and are seeking affordable child care. Other people paid all their bills, leaving no money to feed their children. School is starting soon and there is no money for uniforms and basic supplies. These people live in Bluffton and they turn to Bluffton Self Help.

The need continues to grow, so it’s time for Bluffton Self Help to grow too.

Bluffton Self Help showcased their new larger facility at a special media and donor event held on Monday, July 18. The new building site is located at 39 Sheridan Drive, off Highway 278 in Sheridan Park. This new facility will offer expanded services to the more than 22,000 clients who received food, clothing and emergency financial assistance in 2010.

The agency expects to move their operations into the soon-to-be-renovated location by early November.

“Having just closed on our new building, we are now one giant step closer to bringing this very important community project to reality,” said Peter Bromley, president of the board, Bluffton Self Help. “We are very excited to preview our new building at our separate Media and Donor events on July 18th , and to officially launch Phase Two of our Building Campaign to raise another $300,000 for renovation and for a 10-year utility endowment.”

Renovation on the building begins immediately. Once the renovation is completed the new facility will offer:

• A large area for both food and clothing distribution, with the possible addition of more food distribution days.
• A much larger pantry so that food doesn’t have to be stored off-site after generous food drives
• Three private interview areas and the opportunity to offer Benefit Bank…an on-line processing service to file for eligibility on state and local programs such as SNAP (food stamps), child care assistance, educational grants, Federal tax return filing, medical assistance for medication and equipment, educational grants, income assistance and voter registration.
• A loading dock with separate entrance for the Second Helping and other delivery trucks. This larger area will also make it possible for Bluffton Self Help to participate with the local food bank, offering a considerable savings in providing food and supplies to clients.
• Storage space for off-season clothing and holiday toys
• A multi-purpose meeting and training room to offer budgeting and benefit information
• Ample parking for clients and volunteers

“These improvements are not “nice-to-have” improvements but are very much a necessity,” explained Bromley. “At the current site, clients are lining up in the summer heat during food distribution days, food delivery trucks have limited space to drop off food and there is cramped space for conducting day-to-day business.” These are just a few of the challenges the current location poses.

Once the renovation is completed, Bluffton Self Help will host a Grand Open House to offer other donors, community leaders and clients the opportunity to share in the celebration.

Until the move, Bluffton Self Help, a United Way agency, is located at 1264 May River Drive near Downtown Bluffton. It’s business as usual.

For more information contact Lili Coleman at 843-757-8000 or visit blufftonselfhelp.org ###

Other suggested stories on the new facility:

• More volunteers needed for the new location.
• Peter Bromley and the building committee, who are they?
• Ida Martin…Watching her mission grow.
• Bluffton Self Help has a wish list for the new building.
• No Mortgage…how did that happen?

Just call us for more information!!!

COVID-19 Update to our Supporters

Dear Bluffton Self Help Friends, Because you are an important stakeholder in Bluffton Self Help, we want to keep you informed about how we are responding to the COVID-19. While we continue to do everything possible to ensure the safety of our staff, volunteers and clients, and to prevent community spread of the virus, at the same time we believe we must make every effort to continue to be here for our many neighbors in need. As we’ve reported before, we have modified to distributing pre-bagged groceries as opposed to neighbors shopping for items in our Wellness Food Pantry. We set up the very critical COVID-19 Family Relief Fund to ensure we are able to assist our neighbors with the emergency financial needs. We closed our Confidence Clothing Closet, however will always fill on demand requests for workwear. Our commitment to our community is stronger than ever. We continue to remain available every week day for neighbor’s inquiries, concerns and immediate basic needs. In this time of so many unknowns, the one thing know for certain is that the need for our support continues to rise every day. Many neighbors find themselves suddenly without income and in need of help for the first time. Hardworking neighbors living paycheck to paycheck, now are faced with an already stressful health crisis that puts real strain on their financial situation.
As we navigate the COVID-19 pandemic together, one thing is clear: Bluffton Self Help is a vital resource for our community. Bluffton Self Help is meeting the challenges of this moment head on. We’re working hard to ensure our community has consistent and safe access to food, basic needs and financial support to emerge through this crisis stronger. Just this week alone we served more than 300 families facing food insecurity and the number of new requests rising more than 20%. Our modified food distribution is able to provide each family with a weeks worth of fresh meat, produce, milk, bread and non-perishables each visit. The requests for financial support grow each day. With rising unemployment, we are ready to meet the needs of our community to prevent homelessness and ensure critical financial needs are being met for our neighbors. Many of you stepped up to support our services, our mission and most importantly our neighbors. We continue to receive donations of food, hygiene products and generous financial donations, but we can’t do it alone. We will continue to need your support to keep our operations open in a crucial time of need.
During this time of great uncertainty and unprecedented change, our commitment to our neighbors, staff and volunteers and the most vulnerable in our society remains stronger than ever. We could not do this without you. With your continued support, I know that we can meet this challenge head-on and emerge stronger, together.
Take care of yourself and each other. Kimberly Hall
Executive Director | Bluffton Self Help

Community Food Drives & Drop-off Locations

Please drop off any food donations to the below Food Drives throughout our community: Bluffton Self Help NO Contact Food Donation Drop-off Details: You may leave your donations in one of the bins located around and in the back of the BSH building Where: Bluffton Self Help | 39 Sheridan Park Cir | Bluffton, SC 29910 When: Mondays-Thursdays | 10am-2pm * Please do not leave any donations outside of this time as they do attract animals. Sun City Residents Details: You may leave your donations on the porch of two Sun City neighbors Where: 24 Bristol Bay or 386 Eaglecrest Drive When: Anytime Looking to hold your own food drive for your neighborhood? Please email julia@blufftonselfhelp.org

ERC 2nd Anniversary

Education & Resource Center 2nd Anniversary Our Education and Resource Center (ERC) is turning two next month! The ERC was created to provide additional resources for our neighbors whose income falls above the poverty line yet well below a livable wage. We are incredibly proud of the work we have been able to do and continue to do through the ERC’s programs, workshops, hiring events, ESL classes, job skills training and GED classes in partnership with BCSD Adult Education. We know our neighbors cannot be truly successful until their basic needs are met but the Education & Resource Center takes our mission one step further- to create opportunities for our neighbors in need. These opportunities truly change lives and support our neighbors on their path to personal success. We continue to grow and innovate to meet the needs of our community and to break the cycle of poverty. Looking forward, we’ll continue to improve and expand our core services of food, clothing and emergency financial assistance, while building on the early success of our Education & Resource Center. Our vision is to be recognized as Beaufort County’s leading community-centered organization that facilitates and engages the community and other human services organizations to improve the quality of life and provide a personal pathway to success for all fo our neighbors in need. Check out our monthly ERC Calendar for all the events & classes!