United Way moves to smaller digs in Bluffton to cut costs

United Way of the Lowcountry has relocated its southern Beaufort County office to greater Bluffton.

After 11 years of renting space in the Carolina First Bank on Hilton Head Island, the nonprofit moved to a smaller office in the Bridge Center on Fording Island Road to cut costs, said vice president Jill Briggs.

"We are like everybody else," she said. "We are looking at every single line item to see where we can be more efficient."

Though the office is one-third the size of the former location, Briggs said the new facility is more centrally located for Bluffton and Hilton Head residents.

Clarece Walker, president of the local United Way, said the smaller office will save about $20,000 a year in rent. The Lowcountry chapter is trying to shave $90,000 off itsbudget by reducing costs and cutting staff, Walker said. One full-time position and two part-time positions have been eliminated, she said.

The United Way missed its fundraising goal last year by $108,600. The group raised $2,616,400 in its 2008 campaign.

"We're lean and getting leaner and looking at every advantage to get every dollar we can get back out to the community," Walker said. "We want every dollar we can get back out there for services because people are hurting more than ever in this economy."

Walker said residents' needs have been "overwhelming" and include help with everything from making mortgage payments to buying groceries.

"There are families now that need help that had never needed help before because they've lost their job, benefits, health insurance and they are just finding themselves in trouble," Walker said. "There's a different type of client out there now needing services. ... Many of them have been contributors to United Way for years and are now out of a job."

United Way depends on donations to funnel that money to local nonprofits and agencies that helpBeaufort and Jasper residents become financially independent and obtain adequate health care, nutrition, education and shelter. Briggs said she is beginning to organize this year's capital campaign, which launches in September.

In the meantime, United Way is working to meet those goals through various efforts. It recently offered training to early-childhood educators and day care providers on how to instruct parents to use games as ways for children to learn. Briggs said one of United Way's goals is for children to test at grade level when they enter school.

The nonprofit also is working with the Catholic Heart Workcamp to repair 50 to 60 homes in both counties beginning July 13.

The camp, based in Florida, brings high school students from across the country to the Lowcountry to paint homes and make minor repairs for low-income residents, seniors and disabled residents, said Bethany Marcinkowski, United Way's director of resource services.

This is the camp's 11th year in Beaufort County, she said. The students will remain here through July 18.