Current CAMPAIGN
Take Root Community Wellness Campaign
Each year in November, Kiawah Cares raises funds for important causes on our neighboring islands and this year is no different. We’re asking you to join us in our Take Root Community Wellness Campaign, raising $200,000 to address pivotal community wellness issues on Johns and Wadmalaw islands. You can be part of this healthy community by joining our campaign today! But before we get into specifics, you might be wondering what we mean by wellness.
Wellness is “complete physical, mental and social well-being,” according to the World Health Organization. And that’s what Kiawah Cares’ Take Root Community Wellness campaign is all about. We’re focusing on programs that positively enhance our neighbors’ experience -- physically, mentally and socially. We’re not just looking at individuals here – we’re looking at programs that contribute to wellness for the whole community.
“To plant a garden is to believe in tomorrow.”
A healthy community is like a healthy garden – there’s a space for everyone to grow, thrive and flourish. Each year, Kiawah Cares waters the seeds that others have planted in our community by connecting resources with our partner organizations and helping change to take root. Join us as we tend the garden of our community. We believe in a tomorrow that’s brighter and healthier. We believe in community wellness.
What we need from you
We often don’t realize how big an impact we can have until we see the results of working together. As a community, let’s nourish the seeds our partners have planted. Make your donation to Kiawah Cares, now through Dec. 31, and watch change take root on our neighboring islands!
Fighting Hunger
During the holidays, most of us are considering what we’re thankful for, whether it's family, health or togetherness. Because of the work our partners do, many of our neighbors on Johns and Wadmalaw islands can also be thankful for these blessings.
But that work is far from complete. Nearly, 4,000 of our neighbors continue to struggle with hunger. Hunger causes damage that lasts a lifetime but we can stop it – these partners are successfully eradicating hunger, one meal and one neighbor at a time.
Creating Safe Housing
Throughout Johns and Wadmalaw islands, homes with aging roofs, sagging floors and water-damaged interiors are common. Families and seniors make do with what they have, especially as the rising cost of housing in the Lowcountry puts many options out of reach of our neighbors. Worse still, as our neighbors age, they often find themselves disabled and unable to access all of their homes. These seniors can be trapped inside without a safe way to use the bathroom, take a shower or cook their meals.
Kiawah Cares routinely funds two partner organizations, CHIP (Community Home Improvement Project) Ministry and the Paraclete Foundation of Holy Spirit Parish on Johns Island, that are improving homes and health on Johns and Wadmalaw islands one client at a time. From repairing damaged roofs to creating handicap-accessible spaces for seniors, these programs help make houses into homes again for our island neighbors.
OUR GOAL
$200,000 from Nov. 19, 2023 to Dec. 31, 2023
WHAT OUR GOAL WILL DO
If we meet our goal, we can continue to provide resources to partner organizations doing the hard work of creating a brighter, healthier community for our neighbors.
Enrichment
Enrichment programs usually help students but aren't located within the four walls of the school. However, that description doesn't capture how important this support is. Enrichment makes children's lives better. By teaching them teamwork and leadership skills, or getting them engaged in reading early on, this support changes the lives of our neighbors.
Barrier Island Little League
The mission of the Barrier Islands Little League is to impart the ideals of good sportsmanship, honesty, loyalty, courage and respect, so that children may retain those ideals and become stronger mentally and physically. Barrier Island Little League play also gets children active and involved. By creating a community the kids can count on, the league is life-changing for many of our neighbors children.
Begin With Books
Young children have an amazing capacity for learning. By reading aloud for as little as 15 minutes per day, parents can give their children the best advantage of all: a foundation for literacy. Kiawah Cares and Begin With Books want to help make this a reality for all our neighboring children. Every month, a different book is mailed to program participants, addressed to the budding reader. The level of the books makes it easy for parents to spend time reading with their children, even if they struggle with literacy themselves.
In the past year, a grant from Kiawah Cares funded just over half of all Begin With Books' deliveries on Johns and Wadmalaw Islands. Because of you, half of the children on our neighboring islands are receiving this priceless advantage.