Beaufort County thank-you letters, Jan. 28, 2016
"Amazing Grace" is an old hymn that describes appreciation for being saved. Our tax-exempt organization that supports the men at Allendale Correctional Institution feels amazing grace when we think of The Church Mouse and the generous grant awarded to the 13 programs at the state prison in Allendale.
Because of the generosity of The Church Mouse, men at ACI who are in these programs can purchase supplies and serve additional men.
One example is the Addiction Recovery Program. This program was begun five years ago at ACI by a member of St. Luke's Church on Hilton Head Island, which has The Church Mouse thrift shop as one of its ministries.
To date, the Addiction Recovery Program has served 263 men. The new grant award allows the purchase of intake and orientation workbooks in Spanish as well as multiple Narcotics Anonymous workbooks and composition books.
Camille Nairn
Chair
Allendale Correctional Worship Center Board
Allendale
As the new Education Director for Friends of Hunting Island, I was pleased to be part of the volunteer group that worked the 8th Annual Pelican Plunge at Hunting Island on New Year's Day. This year's event raised nearly $3,000 to benefit the Discover Carolina education programs.
Discover Carolina is a statewide organization that encourages students and teachers to leave the classroom and learn about nature, history, biology, and the state of South Carolina by visiting state parks.
At Hunting Island, third-, fifth-, and seventh-grade students learn about sea turtle conservation, barrier islands, and the flora and fauna of Hunting Island. The students gain invaluable hands-on experience and spend a day in the out-of-doors or at Hunting Island's Nature Center. The programs are taught by Megan Stegmeir, Interpretive Ranger, and other park staff.
I want to thank the more than 25 volunteers who helped with the event, especially Richard Knieriem for the very useful and visible count-down clock; Matt and Laura McAlhaney, owners of City Java and News for providing a large volume of their excellent coffee; Gina Eickhoff, retail manager at the park, for her delicious hot chocolate; and Valerie Solze for organizing registration. In addition, it wouldn't have been possible without the help of the wonderful park staff and Daniel Gambrell, park manager.
Madeline Helser-Howard
Friends of Hunting Island State Park
Thank you to all involved with The Church Mouse Thrift Store for their recent grant to Second Helpings. Their staff, volunteers and donors perform a wonderful service for our community and their efforts are helping many people. The grant supports our food rescue program that distributed more than 2.8 million pounds of food to area charities last year.
Maureen Korzik
Executive Director
Second Helpings
Hilton Head Island
No honey, there are no mice at church, but ... because of The Church Mouse, you can come play and learn with your friends! Paying it forward is exactly what The Church Mouse does and The Children's Center is sincerely grateful for the generous donation that they made
I can't tell you how much we appreciate their support of our children's programs -- programs that build a foundation for life. One well-known study found that individuals who were enrolled in a quality preschool program ultimately earned up to $2,000 more per month than those who were not. Young people who were in preschool programs are more likely to graduate from high school, to own homes, and have longer marriages. At The Children's Center we teach a child the basics and ensure he or she is ready for kindergarten.
Jody L. Levitt
Executive Director
The Children's Center
Hilton Head Island
I know I will be joining the voices of many other nonprofit organizations here in the Lowcountry who acknowledge and applaud the extraordinary volunteers and staff at The Bargain Box for their hard work and wonderful generosity. All of us at NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) are most grateful for The Bargain Box's support for our free mental health programs and we congratulate them on 50 years of service to our community.
Sarah Eliasoph
Executive Director
NAMI Lowcountry
Hilton Head Island
The Sandalwood Community Food Pantry board and clients give thanks to the Westin Hilton Head Island Resort & Spa for blessing our pantry family with $800 raised during its 2015 Silent Auction & Raffle, "Tis the Season of Giving."
This financial and moral support will allow us to continue our mission to more than 700 families who continue to teach us much in regard to humility. They grace us with their friendship, gratitude and powerful witnessing, reminding us that people, even more than things, have to be restored, renewed, revived, reclaimed, and redeemed; but never thrown out.
Nannette Pierson
Sandalwood Community Food Panty
Hilton Head Island
The Island Recreation Association would like to thank The Bargain Box for its generous support of our 2015 Challenge Camp that is designed to integrate children with special needs into our summer camp program.
The children had a lot of fun with different experiences each week.
We will continue to earn this support by serving our community with opportunities for a healthier, happier life for everyone.
Leah Arnold
Director of Programs and Operations
Island Rec Center
Hilton Head Island
The Grateful Hearts Soup Kitchen wishes to thank The Church Mouse Thrift Shop for its generous grant.
It will help feed the homeless, hungry, unemployed and working poor living on Hilton Head Island with a hot meal every Monday and Wednesday. It is not only feeding their hunger but also feeding their spirit.
May God continue to bless the Church Mouse and all the people who make the grant possible.
Chris Flanigan
Martha Clements
Nora Bess
Andrea Myers
Charlee Pullon
Grateful Hearts Soup Kitchen
Hilton Head Island
The board of the Esther Project would like to thank The Church Mouse for its continued support and the generous grant received in January.
The funds will be used to assist St. Luke's parishioners who are unable to meet basic needs such as food and medical expenses. Many families will be blessed by this generous donation.
The Esther Project is a fund established "for such a time as this," to assist St. Luke's families in need due to economic difficulties caused by job loss, unexpected illness, or other unanticipated needs. We would not be able to continue without the support of The Church Mouse board, staff, and volunteers.
Frances Worthy
Esther Project board member
Hilton Head Island
The executive board of the Gullah Museum of Hilton Head Island expresses its deepest thanks and appreciation to the following individuals and companies for supporting our seventh annual gala, "Honor the Music," honoring those who have contributed to the preservation of the culture through song and music:
Elnora Aiken, Amy Cason Photography, Arts Center of Coastal Carolina, Bluffton Oyster Company, Martha Braden, Bondi Brown, Willie Cohen & the Heritage Steel Drum Band, Curves of Bluffton, David Delaney, Amiri Farris, Carrie Hirsch, John and Marsha Ivans, The Fresh Market, Gullah Tours, Hudson's Seafood House on the Docks, Island Printer, Java Burrito, Local Pie, Earl Mitchel, Picture This Gallery, Spanish Wells Club, Summer Blues Indigo, The Art Cafè, the Westin Hilton Head Island Resort and Spa, Brenda Williams, Gerri and Jeff Wilson and our volunteers.
Proceeds raised will benefit our museum's preservation efforts and programs.
Nell Hay
Louise Miller Cohen
Gullah Museum of Hilton Head Island
I want to thank Palmetto Bluff, its staff and all those who attended the Music to Your Mouth Festival for their support.
Palmetto Bluff generously donates a portion of the proceeds of all its events to local charities. These funds allow Second Helpings to distribute surplus food to thousands of low-income people who desperately need our help every week. It is not unusual for our volunteers to arrive at a food pantry and see a long line of people waiting patiently to receive our food.
We thank Palmetto Bluff for stepping beyond the focus of its business and investing in our community.
Maureen Korzik
Executive Director
Second Helpings
Hilton Head Island
Programs for Exceptional People (PEP) was founded in 1995 by six local families for the purpose of supporting their adult children who were living with lifelong disabilities. There were no services in Bluffton or Hilton Head Island at that time.
PEP now serves more than 60 community members and their families, uniquely supporting each through activities that promote personal growth and independence. PEP provides an environment and support system whereby members learn, work, and play in our beautiful Lowcountry settings.
The Greater Bluffton Chamber of Commerce selected PEP as the first recipient of the prestigious Golden Oyster Award for the Non-Profit Category at its inaugural Bluffton Ball on Jan. 8.
PEP extends its sincerest gratitude to the chamber for sponsoring the competition, and hosting a fabulous event that recognized the nominees. Additionally, PEP would like to thank all of its supporters who participated in the nomination process. The honor of that award and experience will remain with PEP forever.
Steve Maglione
Executive Director
Programs for Exceptional People
Bluffton Self Help thanks Berkeley Hall for being a faithful donor. The ceremony held Jan. 14 was so inviting and those in attendance showed sincere interest in what nonprofits are trying to accomplish in our community. Bluffton Self Help wants to express its sincere gratitude for the grant in support of our emergency financial assistance program.
Lili Coleman
Executive Director
Bluffton Self Help
Our family members took a Thanksgiving morning bike ride. As my wife was dismounting she fell, and then the bike fell on her, and the result for her was a broken femur.
Our hats go off and our hearts go out to Bluffton-area emergency services, which were on the scene within minutes of my call. A few minutes later she was in the emergency department at Coastal Carolina Hospital. She was treated, assigned to a room, evaluated by an anesthesiologist and scheduled for surgery.
Orthopaedic surgeon Jeremy Hatch entered the room, explained what needed to be done, and not long after came back to me and our family members with excellent news.
I write this in gratitude to all who made a rough holiday have a smooth ending. Our experience is just one more reason to love the Lowcountry, its people, its services, and, well, the list is long. The care at Coastal Carolina Hospital could not possibly have been better, and so to them and their team a special thank you.
Louis S. Lunardini
Rose Hill
This story was originally published January 28, 2016 at 9:12 PM with the headline "Beaufort County thank-you letters, Jan. 28, 2016."