To meet the human and social needs in our community by uniting hearts, minds and resources.
“Never underestimate the power of a small group of committed people to change the world. In fact, it is the only thing that ever has.”
~ Margaret Mead
~ Margaret Mead
Three keys to a strong community are Health, Education, and Financial Stability.
The need for help is growing, and is closer than you think.
We could not do what we do without our volunteers! United Way of Kershaw County is a volunteer led organization. We have an all-volunteer board of directors comprised of community leaders from across Kershaw County, from bankers, lawyers, housewives, pastors, educators, to retired individuals giving their time to make our organization function. Volunteers also help greet visitors to our offices, answer phones, fold t-shirts, load and unload trucks, pack and deliver food boxes and so much more. Volunteers are the lifeblood of our United Way! They are our family. I thank you for your tireless efforts to come alongside our staff to make Kershaw County a better place to live. Donny Supplee, President |
Programs and Focus Areas
Health & Hunger
Mobile Nutrition Center (MNC), created in 2017, is a mobile food pantry delivering healthy foods to sites in food deserts in Kershaw County. The MNC directly serves clients by removing barriers that prevent access to food, like transportation and income. Through community partnerships, MNC delivers farm fresh, store-bought and even rescued food and grocery products like vegetables, meats, whole pastas, rice, and baked goods to food insecure people.
Our Mobile Nutrition Center (MNC) has distributed more than 400,000 pounds of food, feeding more than 60,000 Kershaw County residents, while maintaining 10 Distribution Sites and 4 Fixed Pantry Sites. Community Gardens
A United States Department of Agriculture – Natural Resources Conservation Service (USDA-NRCS) grant allows us to establish 8 Community Gardens throughout Kershaw County. This initiative helps us bring easily accessible, fresh and nutritious food to the county. Our emphasis is on under served populations and areas. The gardens expand outreach to increase awareness regarding healthy eating, and put an emphasis on improving the health and well-being of Kershaw County residents. Two classes/workshops are offered monthly. There are 8 garden sites, with 67 garden beds. Garden Site Locations - Belmont Baptist Church in Westville, Bethlehem Missionary Baptist Church in Lugoff, Blanketing Families in Elgin, Good Hope AME Zion Methodist Church in Camden, KC Rec Department Tennis Courts in Camden, Old McCaskill's Farm in Rembert, Saint John Missionary Baptist Church in Camden, and a new location in Bethune. Summer Food Program provides over 50,000 meals and snacks to children in over 30 partner sites.
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Education
Ready Readers is a partnership between United Way of Kershaw County, Kershaw County School District, and AmeriCorps of South Carolina. The focus is developing a love of literacy for our elementary school students who are struggling to read. We know literacy lifts lives out of poverty, and by reading to children early and often, we can better prepare them for success.
Two ways to serve are to volunteer to be a reader for one hour per week, or for those 17 and older, join AmeriCorps of South Carolina. Ready Readers has served more than 300 elementary students, in 9 schools, placing 1,000s of books in the hands of students. Volunteers
Our community and our United Way are blessed to have so many dedicated volunteers. Volunteers are a vital component in the work that goes on here. Without them, we could never see the impact our partner agencies and our own initiatives make in this community every day. Thank You!
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Financial Stability
Vehicle Access Network (VAN) provides door to door no cost transportation for residents to access health, food, social service, employment and education related needs, through our partnership with SWRTA Santee Wateree Regional Transportation Authority, One Carolina Transit and Double R Transportation 1 LLC. There are a total of 20 vans dedicated to Kershaw County.
VAN has provided 200,000 miles, 6,646 rides, (and counting), 912 rides getting people to work. New Day Transitional Housing and
Homeless Services is working towards eliminating homelessness by addressing the needs of our community's homeless population. New Day's mission is to "Fill gaps in homeless housing and services as we identify them by working in harmony with community agencies, local, state and federal government, churches, individuals and other ministries." New Day has served 300 families, providing rental assistance, deposits, and emergency shelter. There are three New Day cottage locations, one for women/women with children, one for men, and one for families or women. While living in a New Day cottage, clients receive case management to overcome obstacles that led them to become homeless. The goal of all our transitional homes is for the client to graduate into permanent housing. We have a 93% success rate for clients becoming permanently housed when exiting New Day. Fresh Start Mobile Shower & Laundry allows us to help those who have no means of showering or washing their clothes, leaving them feeling more confident and dignified. Fresh Start allows our Outreach to meet new people and provide clothes, food and conversation to those in need.
Fresh Start is available Monday through Thursday in the parking lot of United Way of Kershaw County, 3 showers and 1 laundry station, with a schedule for Friday locations. |
It is our honor to be of service to those in need right here in Kershaw County.
Thank you for your support and kindness.
Please share with others so everyone is aware of the needs, and What We Do, United.
Thank you for your support and kindness.
Please share with others so everyone is aware of the needs, and What We Do, United.