That the Charleston area has a lot of everyday heroes is unquestioned. We are a generous, warm people.
But all too often, we may get used to important charitable work done across our region and forget to say “thank you” enough. Now with Thanksgiving drawing near, let’s remember the people and organizations who dedicate their lives to us all.
Every day of the week, nurses and doctors save lives. Teachers and government employees help students and families in countless ways. And first responders — police officers, firefighters and emergency medical technicians — show up at scenes of violence and tragedy to protect, serve and assist.
This month, there’s another group of citizen-servants who deserve a special shout-out for their dedication to public service. Hats off to everyone in the Lowcountry who works to keep our neighbors fed during an unnecessary federal government shutdown that kept them from their jobs, held up paychecks and thwarted regular food assistance to tens of thousands.
In particular, here’s a big shout out of thanks to the leaders at the Coastal Community Foundation and two partners, Trident United Way and Palmetto Goodwill, for channeling hundreds of thousands of dollars to the Lowcountry Food Bank, which has been swamped with pleas for help during the six-week shutdown.
Within a day of the foundation opening its Care Fund to provide rapid-response funds to the food bank after the lapse of federal nutrition assistance, donors gave $340,000. Since then, donors have added another $71,000 to steer the fund closer to its $500,000 monthly goal. A special shout out to these funders, all of which are putting their monies where their mouths are:
- Coastal Community Foundation: $150,000
- Trident United Way: $50,000
- Palmetto Goodwill: $50,000
- Saul Alexander Foundation: $25,000
- Jerry Kaynard: $25,000
- Ackerman Foundation: $25,000
- Stoops Family Foundation: $10,000
- The Post and Courier: $5,000.
Despite the expected end of the shutdown soon, the hurt and pain caused by the cessation of government funding since Oct. 1 will continue to cause harm. Families desperate to feed their children likely used up any holiday savings to buy food and necessities. That means in just a few short weeks, they won’t have the money to get gifts that their children and family members are dreaming of.
So while the immediate food crisis may be coming to an end, we should also remember to support charities like Goodwill, Toys for Tots, the Salvation Army and other local entities to help with toy drives and donations to make people’s holidays better.
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