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After years of running on little more than instincts and
good will, Bluffton Self Help is beginning to practice what it preaches. For
the first time in its 20-year history, the nonprofit charity is planning
ways to raise money it needs to help keep its doors open, spread the word
about its services, and continue to pay for its first salaried executive
director. "We are learning to do for ourselves what we ask our clients to do
for themselves: self help," said Margaret Sanders, chairwoman of Bluffton
Self Help's board of directors.
The organization's first large-scale fund-raising endeavor, an oyster roast
at the Bluffton Oyster Co. netted $1,500 toward its goal of more than
$20,000 -- a number that Sanders calls "enormous for us." Unexpected bad
weather kept the crowd to about 100 and pushed the party inside the
oyster-shucking house. But Sanders considered the event a success. "For the
first shot out of the cannon," she said, "I don't think ($1,500) is too
bad."
The organization, started in 1987 by Bluffton resident Ida Martin to feed,
clothe and otherwise assist the town's needy residents, has relied on local
grants and other charitable donations in the past. But the charity's board
of directors decided it needed to bolster those grant money reserves with
its own contributions. "We set for ourselves a challenge: to get serious
about fund-raising," Sanders said.
"Because Bluffton is growing so rapidly, and we're getting so many different
people in the community, our outreach has to be slightly broader," Saunders
said. "In order to do that, we need additional funding. Time changes
everything," Saunders said. "Before, the board did more policy setting. Now,
we want to get out there and see what services need to be out there."
Besides serving as a food bank and giving away needed clothes, shoes and
linens, Bluffton Self Help gives financial assistance to those in need.
Residents can ask for money only once in a 12-month period, Haney said, and
they are asked to contribute part of the bill themselves.
"My first question to these people always is, 'How much do you have towards
this bill?' " Haney said. Last year 294 people were helped financially by
the charity, she said. To be able to continue that service, Self Help has to
step up to the fund-raising plate. "We really are low on funds, we're
seriously low on funds," Haney said. Besides money, the board of directors
wants to spread the word about what the charity does -- and how important it
is.
"There's an amazing amount of ignorance around here about the need," Sanders
said. "There's a perception that this is a rich, well-to-do part of the
world, and we're not yet doing a good enough job to raise the awareness
level about the need here."
In recent years the charity's hours have been extended to 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Monday through Friday. Haney also added to the 20-person volunteer staff and
has bi-lingual volunteers to better serve the Hispanic residents who come in
for help. Haney's goal is for the long-standing Bluffton charity to help as
many people as it can.
"This is a passion," she said of her job. "It's such a wonderful opportunity
to give something back."
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Bluffton Self
Help Quarterly Update
Bluffton Self Help is the only non-profit agency serving the Bluffton area
that offers all donated items free of charge. This includes food, clothing
small appliances, books, sheets, blankets and towels. Limits are
established on the amount one person can take each day. We also provide
emergency financial assistance to families living in the Bluffton area who
are in a documented crisis situation. We are located at 1264 May River Road
and are open Monday through Friday from 10:00a.m. to 4:00p.m.
During the quarter ending September 30, 2008, Bluffton Self Help provided
food to over 900 people from three weekly deliveries from Second Helpings
and provided additional non-perishable foods to 375 people. We also assisted
over 4,500 people with clothing.
We provided financial assistance to 42 families with rents/mortgages or
emergency lodging, 48 families with utility and water assistance, 2
individuals with medications or medical supplies and 5 children with school
approved items and school supplies to all five Bluffton schools prior to the
start of the school year through our Children’s Assistance Program and 9
seniors with home repairs and five miscellaneous items including providing
bus tickets to a family who tried for several years to live and work in
Bluffton, but realized they needed to be closer to family to become self
reliant. The total assistance is a 40% increase in dollars spent over the
same time in 2007 and the need continues to increase.
On behalf of our clients, we thank everyone who has been bringing in gently
used clothes. We are now accepting light fall clothes. Please no bulky
sweaters or coats for another month as space is limited.
Donations are always welcome during business hours. For additional
information, please call 757-8000.
Special thanks to the following organizations that provided grants during
the third quarter: Community Foundation of the Lowcountry, Phillips Family
Foundation, Heritage Classic Foundation, FEMA, Ginn Family Foundation,
Hilton Head Area Association of Realtors and a belated thank you to The
Bargain Box who has supported us from the beginning and continues to do so.
Jenny Haney
Director |
