FOCUS ON HUMANITARIAN EFFORTS
Kiawah Cares supports humanitarian efforts that respect the dignity and advance the wellbeing of Sea Island
residents. These programs confront important issues, such as housing insecurity, unemployment and disaster relief.
When an EF-2 tornado cut a path through
Johns Island on Sept. 25, 2015, Kiawah Cares
volunteers were there to help. Not only did
members participate in a clean-up event, but
they gave over $7,000 to help repair several
damaged properties on Brownswood Road.
Hurricane Matthew ravaged Camp Ho Non Wah,
a Boy Scout camp and important community
center on Wadmalaw Island, toppling trees onto
buildings and damaging docks with high water,
waves and winds. Kiawah Cares hoped to raise
half the $10,000 needed to fund repairs, but
members gave an incredible $11,895 to rebuild
this treasured location.
Poverty has left many Sea Island homes in states
of disrepair but still inhabited by families and
seniors. Kiawah Cares partner Community Home
Improvement Program (CHIP Ministry) led the
charge against substandard living conditions.
CHIP Ministry was a recipient of 2017’s Kiawah
Giving Month funding, and was able to make
more than a dozen homes habitable again for
Sea Island residents, primarily seniors.
Next Steps Johns Island is a 100% volunteer-
based mentoring ministry that promotes
change, dignity, and self-reliance for our
neighbors living in emotional, physical, and/
or spiritual poverty. Next Steps is a “self-help,
hand-up” program. Kiawah Cares’ financial
commitment to this program went toward
aiding participants with license renewals and
other employment related items, enabling
these individuals to better their lives.
Charleston Area Therapeutic Riding improves
the lives of children and adults with disabilities
at the area’s oldest nationally accredited
therapeutic horseback riding center. Riding
and interacting with horses promotes social,
communicative and cognitive progress. Kiawah
Cares is delighted to continue its support of
this important program, which also serves
wounded veterans.