Need help? Beaufort County resources offer food, finances, internet amid coronavirus
As the coronavirus continues to spread and stores and businesses close in Beaufort County, local nonprofits and resources are offering help to those who need it.
Here’s how you can get help locally:
Bluffton Self Help
Contact information: Call 843-757-8000 or complete a form on its website.
▪ Food pantry: Bluffton Self Help is distributing food between 3 and 6 p.m. on Mondays and 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Thursdays. Current clients with their BSH cards can pick up pre-bagged food once a week. Bluffton residents who aren’t already clients but who need food can call Bluffton Self Help’s main line to set up a time to pick up food. Staff or volunteers will bring the food to people’s vehicles.
▪ COVID-19 Family Support Fund: This fund is designed to help people with lost wages during the virus outbreak and will go through the organization’s Financial Assistance Program (greater Bluffton/Okatie residents) and support mortgage/rental/utility assistance and food. Families needing financial assistance can access the application online at www.blufftonselfhelp.org. Interviews will be conducted via phone.
▪ Emergency Financial Assistance: The organization is accepting only completed forms. The application is online. The newly created COVID-19 Family Support Fund has been set up to help people with lost wages and will go through the financial assistance program.
Deep Well Project on Hilton Head Island
Contact information: Call 843-785-2849 or complete a form on the website.
▪ Food pantry: Although in-person shopping in the pantry is temporarily suspended, those in need can register for food assistance and have food from the pantry brought to their car. People can get food assistance only once per four weeks No special food orders are being accepted. Delivery will be available only in an extreme situation.
▪ Emergency Financial Aid: Call to speak with a staff member about your situation 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Applicants will need to fill out a form.
▪ Livable Housing Home repairs: New applications seeking help with repairs will not be accepted until at least May 1.
▪ Furniture/appliance room: This room will be closed until at least May 4.
FISH Casual Coastal Seafood and Operation BBQ meals
The two organizations have partnered up to offer hundreds of free meals daily to whoever needs them.
The effort began earlier this month on Hilton Head Island at Coligny Plaza and has since expanded to the Enclave Apartments in Bluffton.
Those in need can pick up meals curbside from a drive-through car line using social distancing at either location between 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. The meals are posted daily on the groups’ Facebook pages.
The Free Little Pantry
The national initiative that is a “take what you need, leave what you can” pantry that anyone can access has some locations nearby, including at Christ Lutheran Church on Hilton Head.
HELP of Beaufort
Contact information: Call 843-524-1223 or visit their website.
HELP of Beaufort has a food pantry that is open from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Hungry Heart Restaurant Workers Relief Fund
Hungry Heart Restaurant Worker Relief Fund gives free meals to hospitality workers affected by the coronavirus pandemic. Those in need can go to participating restaurants, mention “Hungry Hearts” and receive a free meal. The fund was created by the Lowcountry Strong Foundation.
The Salvation Army of the Lowcountry
Contact information: Call 843-524-3727 or email BeaufortSC@uss.salvationarmy.org.
▪ Food bank and financial assistance: The Salvation Army of the Lowcountry, which has a location in Beaufort, offers resources such as a food pantry and emergency assistance for rent and utilities.
Sandalwood Community Food Pantry
Contact information: 843-715-3583 or complete a form on the website.
▪ Food pantry: The pantry, located on Hilton Head Island, is open from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Tuesdays. Distribution is outside for safe distancing. Food and other items, such as diapers and paper supplies, are available to whoever needs it.
United Way of the Lowcountry
Contact information: Call 843-524-HELP (4357)
▪ United Way of the Lowcountry’s HELPLINE: Residents in Beaufort and Jasper counties can speak with a trained specialist who can provide information and referrals to local resources and services.
Free internet
▪ Hargray: The company is offering 60 days of free internet services to households in its service area with K-12 or college students who do not already have Hargray. It also offers discounts to all customers.
▪ Comcast: For the next couple of months, Xfinity Wifi hotspots across the country are available for free, and all current customers will have access to unlimited data. All new customers will have the Internet Essentials services free for 60 days, typically only available to low-income households for $9.95 a month.
Want to help?
If you find yourself in a position to donate, the need for it is greater than normal right now, nonprofit leaders recently said.
In addition to all of the organizations listed above, nonprofits across Beaufort County could use your help, whether its donating food items, volunteering, giving blood, supporting local hospital staff, or making a monetary donation.
Click here for a list of places in Beaufort County that could use your help to help others..
This story was originally published March 17, 2020 at 12:11 PM.
