Lowcountry foundation to match donations for coronavirus relief amid area layoffs
A S.C. Lowcountry foundation established a “COVID-19 response fund” on Friday, promising to match donations of up to $100,000 as a wave of layoffs swept the local service and hospitality industries this week.
“This is an amazing region with a lot of heart,” said Chris Kerrigan, president and CEO of the Community Foundation of the Lowcountry, a nonprofit philanthropic group that connects charitable giving with community organizations in Beaufort, Jasper, Hampton and Colleton Counties.
The foundation plans to deploy initial resources through grants to “health and human services nonprofits” in the Lowcountry, especially those “working with residents without access to healthcare, or who are food or housing insecure,” according to a news release. The foundation has not yet identified specific groups that will receive funds.
The Community Foundation likened the response fund to previous efforts aimed at natural disaster recovery. It awarded more than $220,000 in grants in the aftermath of Hurricane Matthew in 2016, according to the news release.
Since the fund opened on Friday afternoon, it has received about $5,000 in donations, although checks are still being processed, said foundation spokesperson Jean Heyduck in an email.
The announcement came after a week that saw S.C. Governor Henry McMaster order dining rooms shuttered in restaurants across the state and Hilton Head Mayor John McCann close island beaches for 60 days. New unemployment claims in South Carolina shot up more than 400%, reported the Post and Courier.
Around 44% of hotel employees in every state are projected to lose their jobs in the coming weeks, according to the American Hotel & Lodging Association. This translates into 52,795 employees facing job loss in South Carolina, the association wrote in a media briefing.
The Community Foundation’s fund is targeted at the economic consequences of the COVID-19 outbreak.
“People will step up to help those who are hurting,” said Kerrigan.
Residents call on local government for relief
The Community Foundation’s announcement comes days after Hilton Head Island residents called on local government to “assert some leadership” and create its own emergency fund for those who are laid off or sick during the coronavirus outbreak.
“If we don’t develop a program to support our citizens, what does that say about our character?” said Hilton Head resident Risa Prince at a town council meeting on March 17, as she called for a local funding of COVID-19 relief efforts.
Hilton Head Town Manager Steve Riley said the town could not develop a stimulus plan and has shied away from “using tax dollars to feed charities,” the Island Packet and Beaufort Gazette previously reported.
Asked by reporters if he could make the decision to start a relief fund, Hilton Head Mayor John McCann said “major decisions” were being made by the S.C. governor’s office.
Other emergency funds activated
A statewide relief fund was also activated on Friday, with support from Gov. McMaster. The One SC Fund, established in 2015 by former S.C. Gov. Nikki Haley, supports South Carolina residents in times of state-declared emergencies.
The fund is administered by the Central Carolina Community Foundation in partnership with a group of major philanthropic organizations in the state.
One hundred percent of money donated to the fund will go to regional organizations responding to need generated by the COVID-19 outbreak, according to a news release.
Across the country, communities have established informal “mutual aid” groups, often coordinating via email and platforms like Nextdoor. Residents have posted in local Facebook groups in Beaufort County offering free services and grocery pickup for elderly residents.
The Community Foundation of the Lowcountry is accepting donations for its COVID-19 Response Fund by check and online at https://cflowcountry.civicore.com/covid
BEHIND THE STORY
MOREWhat you should know about the coronavirus
The coronavirus is spreading in the United States. Officials are urging people to take precautions to avoid getting sick, and to avoid spreading the disease if they do contract it.
Click the drop-down icon on this card for more on the virus and what you should do to keep yourself and those around you healthy.
What is coronavirus?
Coronavirus is an infection of the respiratory system similar to the flu. Coronaviruses are a class of viruses that regularly cause illnesses among adults and children, but this outbreak has spawned a new disease called COVID-19, a particularly harsh respiratory condition that can lead to death.
Health officials believe COVID-19 spread from animals to humans somewhere in China. It spreads among humans by physical person-to-person contact, including via coughs. That’s why health officials urge sick individuals to avoid contact with other people.
For more information, visit the website for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
What are the symptoms?
Symptoms are similar to the flu and include fever, coughing and shortness of breath.
How can I stop the spread of the coronavirus?
Wash your hands regularly with soap and water, and cover your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze.
If you develop symptoms similar to the coronavirus, you should seek medical attention. Stay home from work or school and avoid contact with others. It can take up to 14 days after coming into contact with the virus to develop symptoms.
COVID-19 is a new condition and there’s much about the disease we still don’t understand. For now, taking precautions is the best way to stop the spread of the coronavirus.
