Black River United Way

We ensure the success of the waccamaw region for childhood success initiative by our two common agenda items, mission: ready and mission: read. Black River United Way leads the Way for collaboration between childhood development centers, school districts, after-school programs, local municipalities, and state agencies. Waccamaw region for childhood success (wrcs) 36 co-creation partners working together to ensure childhood success in georgetown and williamsburg counties 162 students tutored by 24 americorps members 52 pre-k students attended kinderwaves a 4-day kindergarten transition camp 157 volunteers read the day the crayons quit to over 3000 students in pre-k 3rd grade classrooms in georgetown and williamsburg counties public schools and child development centers on the same day. 94 participants made up of teachers and volunteers participated in the annual waves of possibilities teacher summit, which included a full day of professional development and ceus were offered to georgetown and williamsburg county child care providers, teachers and tutors.

Black River United Way provides overall support to our communities through sc 211 (human services hotline) and the emergency food & shelter program. Black River United Way led the local board for the emergency food & shelter program for georgetown county. 21,536 was distributed to st. cyprians outreach and the salvation army for rent and utility assistance. Every hour of every day, many people in georgetown and williamsburg counties need essential human services, but most do not know where to turn for assistance. 2-1-1 is the starting point to get connected with resources in the community. 2-1-1 is an easy to remember telephone number that provides free and confidential information on local resources for food, housing, utility assistance, employment, health care, counseling and more. In georgetown and williamsburg counties, 978 person-to-person calls were made, with 1794 resource referrals. 2-1-1 is made possible to georgetown and williamsburg counties through Black River United Way.

Black River United Way leads communities in georgetown and williamsburg counties in resiliency activities that reduce suffering and provide support to those affected. Resilience is the ability to prepare and plan for, absorb, recover from, and more successfully adapt to adverse events. Disaster resiliency (dr) 29 co-creation partners working to create resilient communities after a disaster. Black River United Way leads the winyah bay community organizations active in disaster (wb coad) for georgetown and williamsburg counties. The wb coad is the only coad recognized in sc by the sc emd. 988 students received disaster preparedness training and disaster starter kits 2 homes were completed in partnership with habitat for humanity and catholic charities that were impacted by local uncategorized weather activity. These residents are now able to reside in their own homes safe, secure and sanitary. 3 homes were completed by Black River United Way in partnership with sc housing trust fund and other grant and campaign funding to bring homes to a safe, secure and sanitary level. These homes occupied by our senior population experienced damages due to deferred maintenance. Black River United Way made it possible for them to age in place. Black River United Way, under the leadership of trident United Way, along with other United ways in sc, launched alice (asset limited, income constrained, employed. Alice represents households that are working and earning above the federal poverty level yet are not able to afford the basic necessities of housing, food, childcare, health care, transportation and a smartphone. The alice report will provide county-by-county and town- level data on the extent of financial instability among households. This report will be disbursed to community stakeholders in georgetown and williamsburg counties.

Black River United Way (bruw) continues to support other community collaborations such as the tidelands health community partners, williamsburg county community coalition (wc3), the early childcare collaborative, the early learning council and gcost georgetown county out-of-school time. In addition, Black River United Way had a unique opportunity to apply for the sc homeowner rescue program grant through the United Way association of south carolina. Bruw provided subgrants (20,000) for housing stability services to two local organizations: cmds pantry and marys angels independent living for young women. Sc homeowner rescue program are services that may be used to connect eligible households with legal services, representation, education and outreach to help keep households stably housed.