The United Way of Horry County continues to provide help and hope in tough times
The coronavirus pandemic has changed how the United Way of Horry County continues to prove hope throughout our community.
But one thing that hasn’t changed, and that’s our community’s willingness to help.
United Way of Horry County Campaign Chair Christy Everett said people throughout the community “recognize the needs of others and are willing to help.”
The 2020-21 fundraising campaign started in mid-September and is at 22% of the $950,000 goal.
That’s an unofficial percentage, but Everett said it’s still “well ahead” of last year’s pace.
“We’re thrilled about that,” Everett said.
Because of the pandemic, the last campaign effectively ended well before its scheduled April 30 closing date. “We quit soliciting pledges in March,” said Blakely Roof, CEO of the United Way of Horry County.
The 2019-2020 campaign raised $1,099,380 — nearly 92% of its $1.2 million goal.
A painful fact
A painful socioeconomic fact is that as overall needs increase, the ability of nonprofits to raise money decreases.
Following the 2008 recession, for example, people who had supported charitable organizations such as Churches Assisting People in Conway were suddenly turning to those agencies for food and assistance with paying rent and utility bills.
Unfortunately, the pandemic has had a similar effect: it has forced the United Way of Horry County to downsize the number of nonprofits it helps to maintain its level of funding for safety-net services such as food pantries and homeless shelters.
These safety-net organizations include:
▪ New Directions.
▪ North Strand Housing Shelter.
▪ Helping Hand of Myrtle Beach and North Strand Helping Hand.
▪ Friendship Medical Clinic.
▪ Family Justice.
▪ The Children’s Recovery Center.
▪ The Rape Crisis Center.
“The board decided to focus on critical care needs,” Roof said.
“It was not an easy decision.”
The new focus means the area chapter of the American Red Cross is not scheduled to receive grants from the United Way of Horry County after this year.
Other nonprofits off the list include:
▪ A Father’s Place.
▪ The Miracle League.
▪ Horry County Disabilities and Special Needs.
▪ The Freedom Readers.
Day of caring
On Oct. 9 the United Way will celebrate its annual Day of Caring, which will see some 100 volunteers take part in projects at 12 sites to benefit various nonprofits.
But in years past it wasn’t unusual for more than 300 volunteers to take part in the annual Day of Caring — and Jentry Ward, marketing and communications coordinator for the United Way of Horry County, said the nonprofit is eager to recruit more volunteers between now and the end of the day Monday, Oct. 5.
If you’re interested in volunteering, you can email Ward at jentry@unitedwayhorry.org.
Here are a few of the sites where projects will be carried during the Oct. 9 Day of Caring:
▪ The Little River Medical Center.
▪ Habitat for Humanity of Horry County.
▪ The Catholic Charities’ Clean of Heart in Myrtle Beach.
COVID-19 relief
The United Way of Horry County received more than $230,000 in COVID-19 relief, including a $100,000 grant from The One SC Fund. The money has been disbursed to six agencies, and it has also helped to provide food that was largely distributed at area schools.
Touching gestures
Just how much do people in this community care about helping others?
Roof said that amid the uncertainty of COVID-19, several people have donated money from the pandemic stimulus checks they received to help the United Way and other nonprofits.
It’s touching gestures of generosity like these that will continue to help the United Way, the nearly two dozen agencies and programs it assists and the thousands of people in distress from the coronavirus pandemic.
How to help
Here’s how you can contact the United Way of Horry County to volunteer, donate or get information:
▪ Mail: P.O. Box 673, Conway, SC 29528.
▪ Phone: (843) 347-5195
▪ Online: www.unitedwayhorry.org
This story was originally published October 2, 2020 at 5:00 AM.