One SC Flood Relief Fund awards $500,000 in grants for flood recovery

The first grant recipients of the One SC Flood Relief Fund, housed at Central Carolina Community Foundation and accepting donations at www.onescfund.org, have been announced. A total of $500,000 in grants will be distributed to the following South Carolina nonprofits to support their flood recovery projects in a number of hard-hit areas:

• All Hands Volunteers (Georgetown County)
• Black River United Way (Georgetown County)
• Central South Carolina Habitat for Humanity (Richland County)
• Habitat for Humanity Georgetown (Georgetown County)
• Hearts and Hands Disaster Recovery (Darlington and Florence Counties)
• Home Works of America (Richland County)
• IMPACT Ministries of Myrtle Beach (Horry County)
• Mennonite Disaster Service (Georgetown and Williamsburg Counties)
• South Carolina United Methodist Church (Berkeley, Charleston, Colleton and Sumter Counties)
• St. Bernard Project, Inc. (Richland County)
• Sumter United Ministries (Sumter County)
• United Church of Christ Disaster Ministries (Richland County)
• United Way of the Midlands (Richland and Lexington Counties)

 

Projects range from mold remediation that will allow people to safely remain in their homes, to complete home rebuilding.  The participating nonprofits will be providing volunteer labor and an additional $2.5 million in financial support for the projects.

Nonprofit organizations can apply for Phase II grants until Friday, January 8, 2016, at 6:00 PM.

“We’ve asked the people of South Carolina to step up, and what we’ve seen so far is the best in our state – but there’s more work to be done,” said Gov. Nikki Haley. “If you were blessed and did not have damage to your home, if you were blessed and able to get back into a safe place, pay it forward. Give whatever you can to support the One SC Flood Relief Fund.”

One of the grantees helping the state recover is the Mennonite Disaster Service team.  Members of the team arrived in South Carolina on October 12, 2015, one week after the floods hit our state.  The team is establishing permanent work camps to host approximately 900 volunteers from across the United States and Canada who will build an estimated 70 homes during the next twelve months.

Their first project is in Andrews, S.C., a community that was devastated by the flooding.  “MDS tries to find and meet the people who do not have resources to do the repairs themselves,” said Larry Stoner, Disaster Relief Coordinator East.  “Through All Hands Volunteers, another volunteer disaster recovery group on the ground in South Carolina, we were introduced to Andrews, S.C., a community that desperately needed help from clean-up to rebuild.  We were also introduced to Trinity United Methodist Church, a church that is providing temporary housing to our volunteers.  Our One SC grant will allow us to continue our work in Andrews.”

The grant recipients were selected by a grants committee made up of representatives from four Community Foundations representing the 24 FEMA designated emergency counties, and business and civic leaders. These individuals know their communities well and helped to distribute the funds to areas where the dollars will have the greatest impact.

“The One SC Flood Relief Fund was established after October’s devastating floods to help bridge the funding gap in order to rebuild our state,” said JoAnn Turnquist, President and CEO of Central Carolina Community Foundation. “The nonprofit organizations receiving grants will help more than 350 households resume their lives. We are grateful for their help.”

 

How Nonprofits Can Apply for Grants from the One SC Flood Relief Fund

• Phase II grants will fund relief and recovery assistance programs provided by nonprofit organizations in the 24 FEMA designated emergency counties.
• Nonprofit organizations can apply for Phase II grants until Friday, January 8, 2016, at 6:00 PM.
• Nonprofit organizations (or those with a 501c3 fiscal agent) providing flood relief and recovery programs may request up to $25,000. Funds are not available for individuals.

Nonprofits can find more information and apply at www.onescfund.org.

 

How to Donate to the One SC Flood Relief Fund

Those wishing to contribute to the One SC Flood Relief Fund can do so in the following four ways:

• Online: Visit www.onescfund.org to make a donation with your credit card.
• Text Message: Text  ONESC to 33923
• Mail: Send a check made payable to Central Carolina Community Foundation-One SC to: Central Carolina Community Foundation-One SC, 2711 Middleburg Drive, Suite 213, Columbia, SC 29204
• Stock Gift: Call Jenni Meyer at Central Carolina Community Foundation 803.873.2050 ext. 325

 

About Central Carolina Community Foundation

Central Carolina Community Foundation is a nonprofit organization serving 11 counties in the Midlands by distributing grants and scholarships and linking the resources of donors, nonprofits and area leaders to communities in need. For more information about the Foundation, visitwww.yourfoundation.org or call 803.254.5601.