News and Stories

Bluffton, SC: May 1, 2015: Buffton Self Help, will be a local recipient and participant in Lowcountry Giving Day 2015, a 24-hour online fundraising event sponsored by Coastal Community Foundation. Thanks to the generosity of a local donor who pledged a $4,000 match for the May 5th event, these funds will support our local neighbors suffering from food insecurity and emergency financial crisis. “This is our first year to participate in this local giving campaign that demonstrates on-line giving,” said Lili Coleman, executive director of Bluffton Self Help. “We are excited to see how our supporters and the community responds to on-line giving.” A special event is planned from noon to 2 pm at Bluffton Self Help. The Cinco de Mayo Giving Hours will have volunteers standing by to assist with on-line giving and offer chips and dips donated by Chipotle Restaurant. “Everyone is welcomed,” said Coleman. Coleman is also urging people to ‘burn the midnight oil” in the wee hours of May 5 to make their donation on line as early as possible. “The first five agencies that receive 150 new unique donations (who have not given to Coastal Community Foundation for Bluffton Self Help) qualify Bluffton Self Help to win $5,000.” “This campaign comes during a critical time of the year when the needs expand for the elderly facing increased utility bills due to the heat, mothers’ seeking child care assistance because school is out and parents preparing for back-to school expenses,” said Coleman. 180 nonprofits are participating alongside Bluffton Self Help in this year’s event, nearly doubling participation from last year’s event, which raised over $4 million for communities across coastal South Carolina. Lowcountry Giving Day is part of Give Local America, a national day of local giving held in partnership with over 8,000 nonprofits and 80 community foundations from across the country. Because of this broad partnership, Give Local America 2015 is gearing up to be the largest fundraising event in history. To support Bluffton Self Help on Lowcountry Giving Day, visit http://lowcountrygivingday.org//#npo/bluffton-self-help-inc on May 5th to make your gift. For a full list of Lowcountry Giving Day participants visit https://lowcountrygivingday.org/#leaderboard. Questions about other ways to support Bluffton Self Help through Lowcountry Giving Day can be directed to Lili Coleman at lili@blufftonselfhelp.org or by phone at 843-757-8886. Founded in 1987, Bluffton Self Help’s mission is to help Bluffton neighbors in critical need of short term financial assistance, food and clothing, while supporting them to become more self-reliant.###

May 5 is Lowcountry Giving Day and your donation of $50 means a lot to people living on minimum wages. What can $50 provide, you ask…. $50 can help a client catch up on their bills. If it is not the full amount, it still counts. They can avoid racking up anymore late fees, can’t they?$50 buys socks and underwear for a family, providing hygiene and cleanliness! $50 can gas up a car, truck or van to find a job or keep a job. With $50 a client can go grocery shopping for those items they can’t get in the food pantry especially milk, dairy and cheese products. $50 pays for an oil change to keep a car running efficiently. And $50 buys much needed toiletries and grooming products! $50 doesn’t go far but it is a great gift to Bluffton Self Help to help us help our neighbors. Give $25 or $50 on May 5 by logging onto www.lowcountrygivingday.com. Search for Bluffton Self Help on the home page and click on our name to make a donation. It’s that easy! Not comfortable giving on line? Send a check to Bluffton Self Help made out to Coastal Community Foundation and we will get it in the mail between April 21 to 24. Or, you can stop by Bluffton Self Help between noon and 2 pm on May 5, enjoy some chips and dips and we can assist you on our computers! We might even have some alcohol-free sangria! We’d love to see you! Visit the Bluffton Self Help table at Bluffton Farmer’s Market to pick up your post card telling you how to give. BSH volunteers will be on site in downtown Bluffton Thursday, April 23 and April 30 in a big red tent. Learn how you can participate in May 5 Lowcountry Giving Day. Our goal is to obtain 20 $50 donations on May 5! Low country Giving Day is a LOCAL 24-hour online giving challenge sponsored by the Coastal Community Foundation. Bluffton Self Help has been challenged to raise $4,000. REMINDER: Saturday, May 9 is the annual FEED THE HUNGRY US Postal Drive. Remember to place nonperishables by your mailbox. Last year over 60,000 pounds of food kept Bluffton Self Help clients with food until September.

EVENT DETAILS WHAT: Annual School Supply Drive to Benefit School Kids in Bluffton WHEN: Now through August 11 WHERE: Bluffton Self Help DETAILS: Drop off supplies at Bluffton Self Help prior to August 11 CONTACT: Julie at 843-757-8000 BLUFFTON SELF HELP IS COLLECTING SCHOOL SUPPLIES FOR THE 2014-2015 SCHOOL YEAR! School Supplies are pricier than ever! Bluffton Self Help consistently urges the community to donate brand new school supplies for the beginning of the school year. The supplies are distributed among the social workers of the Bluffton schools. The mission is to help each child begin the new school year with a fresh start, regardless of family income level. With the help of a generous community, the children can thrive in their education with the right tools! 1. STURDY BACK PACKS (able to carry heavy books) WITH DURABLE ZIPPERS 2. Marble composition notebooks 3. 1 ½ inch 3 ring binders 4. 2 ½ inch 3 ring binders 5. High lighters 6. Pencil bags 7. Crayons 8. Markers 9. Colored pencils 10. Index cards 11. Spiral index cards 12. Glue sticks 13. Solid colored folders with prongs 14. Wide ruled loose leaf paper 15. Pencils 16. Dry erase markers 17. Dividers 18. Boxes of Kleenex (not small purse packs) 19. Hand Sanitizers (8 oz or 10 oz sizes) Please call 843-757-8000 for more information!

Bluffton Self Help will again be the recipient of proceeds from the Tiger Bass Race Series, now in it’s 7th year at Hampton Lake. This year’s event will include a 5K-, 12K- and 1-Mile Fun Run. It will be held at 8 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 20. The Tiger Bass Race Series is a great example of community working together to create an event focusing on fitness, family, fun and philanthropy. It has become a signature event for the community because of the strong participation and enthusiasm from its attendees, volunteers, sponsors and Hampton Lake property owners. EVENT DETAILS WHAT: 7th annual Tiger Bass 5K/12K WHEN: 8 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 20 WHERE: Hampton Lake, Bluffton DETAILS: If registered before Sept.17, the 5K is $30; the 12K is $35; the 1-mile fun run is $15 CONTACT: 843-815-1718, rob@palmettorunning.com, www.tigerbassrun.com The race committee hopes to reach its goal of 500 participants and make a donation to Bluffton Self Help, whose mission is to help Blufftonians in critical need of short-term financial assistance and food and clothing, while supporting them to become more self-reliant. In 2013, Tiger Bass Race organizers hoped to have 250 participants and raise $10,000 for Bluffton Self Help. They exceeded their goals with 300-plus runners and more than 60 sponsors. This success meant that they were able to donate $12,000 to Bluffton Self Help. (This post is an abbreviated version of a feature story about this event published the August 2014 edition of Hilton Head Monthly Magazine. For the complete story, go here.)

Bluffton Self Help is proud to be a beneficiary of the 2014 Southern Living Idea Home. This year’s home is located in the River Road neighborhood of Palmetto Bluff, and will open for tours on June 28th. The $15 entry fee for these tours will benefit our Club. We will be providing volunteers to staff the home and act as docents for visitors taking the tour. If you are interested in volunteering for this, please call or email Lili Coleman for more information.

With great pleasure Bluffton Self Help’s executive director drove to Beaufort’s Town Hall to accept a grant for the food program. BI-LO Charities, Inc. has a long tradition of supporting charities. The goal is to support agencies that touch countless lives in the neighborhoods and communities around BI-LO stores. The BI-LO Charity Classic, an annual golf tournament held in Greenville, South Carolina, serves as the primary fundraising event for BI-LO Charities. Funds raised through the tournament are distributed through a grant application process, and priority is given to education, children’s charities, and agencies addressing the needs of the hungry.