This holiday week 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.

This program runs a food pantry, called the Sea Island Blessing Basket, that helps families supplement their diets with healthy, nutritious foods. Shelf stable items, breads and fresh seasonal produce are distributed to over 500 residents of Johns and Wadmalaw islands on a monthly basis.

Sea Island Hunger Awareness also works to educate children on the importance of healthy eating by teaching crock pot cooking classes in island elementary schools. After completing the six-week courses, students receive a crock pot of their own, measuring cups and spoons, spices, a recipe booklet and a certificate of participation.

The Kiawah Women's Foundation's Backpack Buddies program provides weekend food to over 360 children at Angel Oak and Frierson elementary schools and Haut Gap Middle School. The program began in 2013 when it came to light that many children were not getting regular meals from home. They ate lunch at school on Friday and then didn’t eat another meal until returning to school on Monday for breakfast. A hungry child cannot concentrate or learn. 

Each week volunteers prepare bags filled with healthy, shelf-stable foods the children can prepare on their own. Each bag contains fresh fruit, lunch and breakfast items, and nourishing snacks. These bags are discretely slipped into the child’s backpack and sent home with them on Friday.

It's a shock to realize that many residents of Johns and Wadmalaw islands have no access to public water, leaving the dependent on wells for all their water. Failing, old and improperly-installed wells often leave them without clean, safe water for drinking, bathing and cooking. This lack puts them at high risk for numerous health issues and forces them to purchase expensive bottled water.

Water Wellness Mission changes that by installing new, functioning wells and filtration systems and a follow-up team ensures continued system operation and clean water flow. This life-changing gift has been given to 112 families who were without access to clean water in the area. 68 remain on the waiting list.

Kiawah Cares partners with so many area nonprofits, we can't explore them all here. Some of our additional partner that are fighting hunger for our neighbors are:

Kiawah Cares Take Root Community Wellness Campaign

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