Community Foundation of the Lowcountry Partners with generous residents to address needs during COVID-19 pandemic.

I’ve lived in the Lowcountry for 22 years, and I’m always moved by the generosity of the people here.

When Hurricane Matthew devastated our area, you donated almost $180,000 to the Community Foundation’s Disaster Recovery and Rebuilding Fund; we added $100,000. We then granted to nonprofit organizations providing both immediate help and, later, rebuilding support in Beaufort, Colleton, Hampton and Jasper Counties. Money came into the fund not only from individual donors, but also from multiple neighborhoods, businesses and groups that held fundraisers to support the fund. It was both overwhelming and humbling.

We’re seeing that again, as our region faces uncertainty caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. As we watch the pandemic roll in and create hardship, we don’t do so helplessly. We roll up our sleeves and get to work.

In response, the Community Foundation created the Lowcountry Community COVID-19 Response Fund that has been deploying grants to front line nonprofits supporting the most vulnerable in our community. In early April we granted $158,000 to 11 area nonprofits, and we’ve awarded even more since then.

Others in the community are stepping up, as well. Here are some of the groups and organizations that have partnered with us to address COVID-19-related needs:

Lowcountry Strong Foundation, a fund of the Community Foundation, created the Hungry Hearts Restaurant Workers Relief Fund. Partnering with Downtown Catering Company, they’re serving free meals, between 11 a.m. – 2:30 p.m., to restaurant workers who are currently out of work. To donate go to https://cflowcountry.civicore.com/LowcountryStrongFoundation.

Camelot Limousine will pick up prescriptions, groceries, take-out orders and run errands. In lieu of payment, please make a gift to their crowdfunding campaign linked to our COVID-19 Response Fund. https://cflowcountry.civicore.com/camelotlimoreliefcovid19

Community Strong – Club Outside is a membership initiative by Outside Brands. Donors purchase a $250 membership and receive a gift card and discounts on purchases and experiences. $100 from each purchase supports their laid off employees and $50 goes into the Lowcountry Community COVID-19 Response Fund. https://www.outsidehiltonhead.com/cluboutside/

Hampton Hall Charitable Fund has created a crowdfunding campaign to raise money for our COVID-19 response fund. You don’t have to be a Hampton Hall community member to donate. Learn more at https://cflowcountry.civicore.com/HHCFCOVID19Drive.

Help 4 Hope, established by the Watterson Family Foundation and various partners, helps feed families impacted by the pandemic, generate business for local restaurants and sustain food service jobs. https://cflowcountry.civicore.com/help4hope

USCB Education Foundation – Student Emergency Fund has been created to provide support for USCB students who are housing/food insecure, who may not have internet accessibility or transportation, or may have basic household needs during times of unforeseen crisis or unexpected hardship. https://cflowcountry.civicore.com/uscb-student-emergency-fund

If you’re looking for a way to help, we ask that you donate to the Community Foundation’s COVID-19 fund at https://cflowcountry.civicore.com/covid, or to any of the funds above. As we’ve seen with disasters in the past, our community will pull together and we will get through this.

Thank you to all who’ve helped.

Chris Kerrigan is president and CEO of Community Foundation of the Lowcountry. www.cf-lowcountry.org