Category: Volunteer

CATR Seeks Volunteers for Therapeutic Riding Program

Charleston Area Therapeutic Riding (CATR) is seeking volunteers to help staff its upcoming autumn class schedule for adults and children with physical, developmental, or cognitive challenges. CATR will be offering a 2-hour volunteer orientation and sidewalker training at its 43-acre farm on nearby River Road on August 27, 2022, from 9 – 11 am. No prior experience with horses is required.

CATR has been serving the greater Charleston area for more than thirty years, empowering adults and children with disabilities to lead more active and fulfilling lives in partnership with horses. To learn more and to register for volunteer training, contact Volunteer Coordinator Kenna Brookshire at volunteers@catr-program.org.

-Submitted by Norm Powers for CATR

Volunteers Needed for CERT

The Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) was created by FEMA in the late 1970s as a community-based reactive team for emergencies. Their role is to provide first response until professionals arrive and then provide support as needed. Seabrook Island CERT was established in 2006 when a number of concerned residents undertook and completed the FEMA-designed training through the Charleston County Office of Emergency Management.

CERT is a volunteer, FEMA-trained, and certified organization of residents who are there to provide first response to the community in the event of an emergency or disaster. We have provided support to St. Johns Fire Department in the search and rescue of missing children, swimmers, kayakers, and boaters in the vicinity of Seabrook Island.

In addition to being available during an emergency, CERT members support the community by providing traffic control during the 4th of July Parade, the Holiday Parade, and marathons as well as providing backup to St. Johns Fire Department in the event of a major incident.

We are looking for new members. To view of video about how CERT serves communities throughout the United States, click here. The normal time commitment for Seabrook Island CERT is one hour every other month to attend a meeting and then for events as they occur. Please contact:

Stephen Pollock, Team Leader for SI CERT
516-510-9029         
spollock455@gmail.com

-Submitted by Stephen Pollack

(Image credit: en.wikipedia.org)

Potluck in the Park-Seabrook Gardeners Helping the Homeless

Potluck in the Park is a group of individuals, not associated with any organizations or churches, who cook food to feed the homeless every Sunday at Conway Park in Charleston. We were introduced to this group by Karen Babb when Edna Bickett reached out to her inquiring if anyone with a garden plot would be willing to donate extra food/vegetables for her to cook. During the last 8 months, we have become an integral part of this group. 


Many of the gardeners on Seabrook Island have graciously donated their extra produce for us to cook, for which we are ever grateful. Valerie Collins and Karen Babb have also helped cook some food. All dishes are welcomed and enjoyed fully by the people in need. Several people have donated gently used clothing which is always needed.  


It is heartwarming to live on Seabrook where so many are willing to help others who are less fortunate. If you would like to learn more about this service, please contact Bruce Stewart, garden manager at iclimbhigh1@comcast.net.

-Submitted by Diane B. Stewart

(Image credit: Maarten van den Heuvel on Pexels.com)

Sea Island Habitat Women Build “Seabrook Day”

During the Sea Island Habitat for Humanity Women Build Week, ladies from Seabrook Island worked hand-in-hand with Mr.Gathers, the homeowner of the house they were working on.  Blessed with cool weather, they spent time hammering stabilizing nails into the walls of his new home.

A different group of super-strong Seabrook ladies arrived in the afternoon and were joined by Mr. Gathers as they lifted end trusses onto the walls that framed the house to help form his roof. Now it is really beginning to look like a home!

Mr. Gathers said he felt better having a hand in lifting the roof that he will soon live under. He’s just that kind of guy. And we think he’s awesome for that.

Dr. Lisa Anderson
Bottom Row:  Melodie Murphy, Lori Kyle, Kate Sherwood, Gail Kavanaugh, & Ann Constantis.
Top Row (window frame inset): Gail Kahl, Linda Benyo, Sue Dostal
Charlotte Moran

Habitat for Humanity “gives a hand up, not a handout.”  Homeowners must, among other requirements, put in service hours helping to build their home, either on-site or in other venues.  Click here to see more about Sea Island Habitat for Humanity.


-Submitted by Sue Dostal

(Photo credit: Kate Sherwood)

Hunger Impacts Our Greater Community: Saluting SI Volunteers

Hunger and food insecurity are the unfortunate reality for many residents throughout Johns Island and Wadmalaw.

The community of Seabrook Island is a lifeline of nutritious and generous support to be recognized, mobilized, and celebrated!

Join your Seabrook Island hosts Robert and Shawn Kahle and Lowcountry Food Bank leadership for an opportunity to learn more about how our nearby neighbors are being helped through the incredible dedication of Seabrook Island volunteers, donors, and passionate nonprofit partners.

Those who will share more about their important work include:
• BackPack Buddies of Seabrook Island
• Hebron Zion Presbyterian Church
• New Webster JIP Food Pantry
• Our Lady of Mercy Community Outreach
• Sea Islands Blessing Basket/Sea Island Hunger Awareness Foundation
• St. James Bethel AME Church

Members of the Lowcountry Food Bank team joining us for this gathering include CEO Nick Osborne and Lowcountry Food Bank Foundation Chair Pat Walker.

This is a free reception to recognize the great work underway as Seabrook Island volunteers, donors, and nonprofit partners join the fight against hunger. We would love for you to join us and bring friends and neighbors interested in learning more.

We’ll provide a festive and grateful spirit along with light hors d’oeuvres and refreshments.

Thursday, April 28, 2022
5:00 – 7:00 pm is a chance to mingle and learn more; a brief program at 5:45 p.m.
Live Oak Hall
Seabrook Island Lake House
2319 Seabrook Island Road
Casual attire is perfect!

Be a peach and RSVP by Monday, April 25, 2022, to: eatkinson@lcfbank.org or you can call with your RSVP to Beth Atkinson at 843-747-8146, ext. 123

-Submitted by Shawn and Bob Kahle

Dolphin Education Program Seeking Volunteers

The Seabrook Island Dolphin Education Program is gearing up to start again in May. The program is looking for volunteers to help educate the public and collect critical data at Captain Sams Inlet from May-December.

Volunteers are required to work two shifts per month of their choosing. Each shift is 4 hours but shifts can be shared with others. Volunteers must be comfortable walking (or biking) to/from the spit and talking to the public about the local dolphins.

A virtual introductory meeting will be held on Thursday, April 28, 2022, at 6:30 pm for anyone interested in learning more. Please email Lauren at Kiawahdolphineducation@gmail.com to get signed up.

To learn more about dolphins and the Lowcountry Marine Mammal Network, visit our website.

-Submitted by Lauren Rust, Dolphin Education Program

Turtle Patrol Pre-Season Announcement

Due to supply chain difficulties, the Seabrook Island Turtle Patrol announces that turtle patrol tee shirts will need to be ordered this year no later than Tuesday, March 15.

In order to work on the beach, turtle patrol tee shirts are mandatory.  An email with ordering details will be sent to existing patrol members and new members who have previously contacted the patrol.

If you are interested in working with turtle patrol this year and have not yet contacted them, please send an email immediately to the patrol at hello@siturtlepatrol.com or call at 843-310-4280.  You can see a brief description of the various volunteer opportunities under the “Information” section on the Seabrook Island Turtle Patrol website, siturtlepatrol.com.

-Submitted by Jane Magioncalda

Seabrook Island Special Interest Groups – Volunteering

One of the things that makes Seabrook Island so special is the breadth of interests and talents shared by its residents. Fortunately, we have a wide variety of avenues to nurture those interests and talents. Depending on what is important to you and how you like to spend your time, you might want to check out these volunteer opportunities.

Backpack Buddies Seabrook Island (BPBSI)

BPBSI is an all-volunteer, nonprofit 501(c)(3) charity founded in May, 2014. Our mission is to feed hungry children living below the poverty line who attend Charleston County, SC public schools. We provide nutritious food and snacks to those needy children for the weekend (and school holidays) so that they do not go hungry and can return to school ready to learn. We currently buy the food and pack 259 bags of food that are delivered each week to elementary and high schools in the area. Please contact us if you are interested in volunteering or would like more information. 

Contact: Mark Snyder, snydermws@yahoo.com, 919-724-9847.

Website:https://backpackbuddiesseabrookisland.com/

Seabrook Island Village, Neighbors Helping Neighbors

Seabrook Island Village (SIV), Neighbors Helping Neighbors, is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization totally staffed by volunteers with the goal of helping Seabrookers of any age remain independent and active in the community. The program officially launched in January, 2020 to fulfill SIV’s mission of providing a variety of services to Seabrookers through a group of trained and vetted volunteers. Services include, but are not limited to transportation, companionship visits, reassuring calls, minor home maintenance, and basic help with technology. We especially are in need of volunteers for transportation and those that are interested in planning and attending social events with members.

Contact: Pam Madaio, pamadaio@gmail.co ; Ann Demitruk, ann@demitruk.com

Click here for the volunteer application form.

–Tidelines Editors

(Image credit: Clipart Library; BPBSI; SIV)

Seabrook Island Special Interest Groups

Do you have a hobby about which you are passionate, or an interest in learning something new? Are you a reader in search of a group, a helper in search of a volunteer opportunity, or a player in search of a game? Or perhaps would you just like a to meet others who share your area of interest?  If you answered yes to any of the above, Seabrook Island probably has a group suitable for you. 

Below is a list of the groups we have gathered information on thus far. If you are aware of others that should be on the list, please email us at tidelinesblog.com.  

Volunteering:

  • Backpack Buddies
  • Seabrook Island Village – Neighbors Helping Neighbors

Book Groups:

  • Exploring Books
  • Jane Austen Society
  • Men’s Book Club

Game Groups:

  • Mah Jongg Mavens
  • Seabrook-Kiawah Duplicate Bridge
  • Social Bridge
  • Social Chicago Bridge
  • Bunco  

Clubs and Groups:

  • Digging into Roots Together Genealogy Club (DIRT)
  • Seabrook Island Coin Club
  • Seabrook Island Garden Club
  • Seabrook Island Photography Club
  • Seabrook Island Art Guild
  • Seabrook Island Dog Owners Group (SEADOGS)
  • Seabrook Island Natural History Group (SINHG)
  • Grief Support Group

Nature Groups:

  • Seabrook Island Turtle Patrol
  • Seabrook Island Green Space Conservancy
  • Seabrook Island Birders (SIB)

Community Organizations:

  • Community Emergency Response Team (CERT)
  • Council of Villas and Regimes (COVAR)
  • Exchange Club of Kiawah-Seabrook 
  • Seabrook Island Blood Drive

Over the next several weeks, Tidelines will be posting details about each of these groups and information on how you can join or get involved. What a great way to enjoy a favorite pastime and/or meet new people!

–Tidelines Editors

(Image credit: clipart library; etsy; depositphotos.com; sunvillage.org; usgs.gov; cbsd.org)

Exchange Club Seeks Nominations for Angel Oak Award

The Kiawah-Seabrook Exchange Club is soliciting nominations for its 10th Angel Oak Award. The annual award was first presented in 2012 and recognizes a person who performs volunteer services that contribute significantly to the people and/or quality of life of Wadmalaw, Johns, Kiawah, and/or Seabrook Island. The award is named after a historic tree on Johns Island that clearly represents the people, culture, and natural environment of the islands. Mary Hill, the 2020 recipient, was recognized for her work with the Sea Islands Hunger Awareness Foundation and for her leadership in the mission and outreach ministry of the Wesley United Methodist Church on Johns Island.

Do you know someone who is making a difference through their volunteer work? The Exchange Club invites nominations for this award from the public. Nominees need not live on the aforementioned islands but must be a South Carolina resident and the volunteer service for which they are being nominated must have been performed on the islands within the past 12 months. Nomination forms can be found on the Kiawah-Seabrook Exchange Club website at www.ks-exchangeclub.com and you can click here to learn about eligibility criteria and nomination instructions. The deadline for nominations is February 11, 2022.

The award recipient will be recognized at a banquet on May 18, 2022 at Wingate Place and receive an honorarium of $5,000, which he/she can designate for assignment to a charitable organization serving the islands. The recipient will also receive a memento and have his/her name inscribed on the Angel Oak Trophy, which is permanently displayed on the islands.

Please contact Alan Armstrong at alan9631@comcast.net or 410-274-7545 if you have any questions.

-Submitted by Alan Armstrong

How to Volunteer for a 2022 SIPOA Committee

Do you want to become involved with a SIPOA committee and help make Seabrook Island an even better place for all of us to live? It’s easy to do!

As you know, volunteerism is the backbone of our community. Many of us bring our skills and hard work to committees, schools, churches, medical and social service organizations. Now is the time for property owners to begin thinking about volunteering for SIPOA committees. The SIPOA committees will be organizing shortly after the 2022 SIPOA election of new Board members and the assignments of committee chairs are made.

To help you decide which committee(s) you’d like to apply to, just click here to find a description of all the SIPOA committees and the approximate time commitment for each.

Once you’ve had a chance to review the information, you can click here for the Committee Volunteer Form to submit your application to serve on a SIPOA committee.

-Submitted by SIPOA

(Image credit: Clipart Library)