Seabrook Employee Earns Habitat House

Seabrook Island residents are an integral part of Sea Island Habitat for Humanity.  Through their volunteer hours and donations of money and materials, they help provide families with a new home they can call their own.  Seabrookers can now take pride in helping  someone in their community with a “hand up, not a handout.”

Ben Johnson, who works in Course Management at the Club, is a recent recipient  of a Habitat home.  Ben had to put in 350 hours of sweat equity as well as meet other criteria.  He has a 30-year interest-free mortgage.

Ben came to Sea Island Habitat after being referred by his sister, who also works on Seabrook Island and lives on Johns Island. A single dad of four children, Ben was living in a double wide mobile home on his property on Johns Island. (Check out Ben and 3 of his kids on the front steps of their Habitat Home.)  He did all he could do to keep up his house, but between raising four kids by himself and working two jobs, the house began to deteriorate.

With the encouragement of his sister, Ben took the big step of reaching out to Sea Island Habitat. They were excited to partner with this hard working father to create a safe and secure place for him and his family. With volunteer hours and donations, Habitat built a 3 bedroom home on his property.  Now his kids sleep every night knowing the roof won’t be leaking and the walls are secure. Instead of worrying about the house, the Johnsons can concentrate on growing together as a family.

Thank YOU for helping families like the Johnsons. They could not do this without your support!  For more information on Sea Island Habitat for Humanity, click here.

-Tidelines Editor

 

Water Wellness Presentation

On April 24, 2017, Shirley Salvo, founder of the Sea Island Hunger Awareness Foundation, and Bill Britton, Coordinator of the Water Wellness Project, were invited to address the WITS at the Meeting House in I’On. The WITS (Women Inspired Through Stories) was formed to provide philanthropic aid to different organizations “that empower and support women and children through self-sufficiency and education” in the Charleston area. Over 40 members were in attendance to hear a presentation on the Water Wellness Project that addresses the water needs of residents on Wadmalaw.

Continue reading “Water Wellness Presentation”

Seabrook Island Supports Women’s Build

During the first week of May, a number of Seabrook’s finest took up hammers and nails to help build one of Habitat for Humanity’s homes.  The weather was fine, though a bit hot as the day wore on. Our Seabrookers were joined by other teams of women to work on the house.

This was the house at the beginning of the day….but after a day of  lifting, hauling, hammering, and measuring, you could see real progress.  Many thanks to all the Seabrookers who came out for this important cause.

Go girls!

-Tidelines Editor

Thanks To Our Volunteers

Despite the chilly temps and threatening skies, twelve of Seabrook’s finest headed out this last Saturday to spruce up Betsy Kerrison Parkway. Luckily the skies began to clear and it turned into a nice stroll. Thanks go out to Joe Mangiulli, Bill Huff (and his truck), Don Day, Regina Carillo, Dan Capazzi, George Fleck, Helen McCarthy, Flo and John Gilson, Jane Marvin, Jean Feldman, and Carl Von Ende for all their hard work. More than 30 bags of trash were collected! The next Adopt-A-Highway pick up is scheduled for September 9.
Thanks again to all of our volunteers!

-Submitted by Rich Siegel

DNR Banding Red Knots – April 29, 10am

A DNR team will be on our Atlantic beach at the east end toward Kiawah trapping Red Knots for banding tomorrow around morning high tide (10-12 noon). They’ll be using cannon nets, which is interesting, a lot of work, and about 50% successful. So, if you see them, please give them room and don’t be startled by the noise if they actually set them off. Also, Janet Thibault (the team leader) is looking for some volunteer help. If you’re interested, send her an e-mail: thibaultj@dnr.sc.gov

Submitted by John Turner

Adopt-A-Highway Cleans Up – May 6

It’s time again to help clean up the gateway to Seabrook- Betsy Kerrison Parkway. Next Saturday, May 6, we will gather in the Eagle’s Nest Room at the Lake House at 8:30am to collect our equipment and head out together. Please come and join us.
For more details contact Rich Siegel at Richard.siegel2552@gmail.com.

-Submitted by Rich Siegel

 

Tidelines Welcomes Guest Columnist, Carrie Moores, Marketing & Communication Specialist, BIFMC

Carrie Moores, Media & Communications Specialist at the Barrier Islands Free Medical Carrie-copyClinic, will share a monthly commentary on the non-profit medical facility located at 3226 Maybank Highway, Johns Island.  History, profiles, patient stories, events, and volunteer spotlights (like her initial piece below) will provide our readership with a closer look at the quality medical care provided for patients-at no cost.

Barrier Islands Free Medical Clinic provides free, high quality and compassionate primary care to hundreds of uninsured patients who live or work on Johns, James, and Wadmalaw Islands. Our free clinic is able to serve the residents and workers of our Lowcountry community thanks to the commitment of our volunteer physicians, nurses, and staff. Cynthia Cronk, Johns Island resident and Human Resources volunteer at BIFMC, shares why she chose to dedicate her time to the Clinic – and her philosophy on the nature of volunteering.

cynthia-cronk
Cynthia Cronk, BIFMC Volunteer

How did you learn about BIFMC? Were you actively looking for volunteer opportunities at the time? When I retired and moved to Charleston, I looked actively for volunteer work that was at least “useful”. Volunteer work should be ‘necessary work’ – regardless of the level of the position. I was not looking for HR work as a volunteer but the opportunity presented and I jumped. For me, it has been fun to do HR in a small organization – a contrast from my previous position, but a good one.

What is your background in healthcare? My background is in human resources, though I had volunteered in the Santa Barbara ER every Saturday night for about 6 years…it was great! Saturday night in an ER is always a side-show – so that was fun – but mostly I loved it because I was doing work that needed to be done such as managing the waiting room hysterics, running labs, changing beds, filling the blanket warmers, stocking carts for the techs, taking moms in labor to Obstetrics – it was work that if I did it, the techs and nurses could do their legitimate ‘skilled’ work. So for me, it was not the level of the work, but the need for the work to be done – by someone.

Continue reading “Tidelines Welcomes Guest Columnist, Carrie Moores, Marketing & Communication Specialist, BIFMC”

Women Build – April 29 to May 6

It’s that time of the year again!  Habitat for Humanity’s Women Build needs your help.  For decades the Women Build volunteers, who come from all walks of life, work together to build stronger, safer communities. During this special week, women make a difference by helping build a decent and affordable home for a family that needs a hand up, not a hand out.

Volunteers at Women Build.

This year Women Build will be held from Saturday, April 29 to Saturday, May 6 (skip Sunday April 30).  Half day shifts are available from 8:30 am to noon or 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm.  The full day shifts are from 8:30 am to 4 pm. All half day and full day shifts include lunch.

We need all skill levels. NO construction experience necessary…..we’re serious! If you have a smile and a hammer, we want you. Our friendly staff will be on site to show you how to use every tool you’re comfortable with. Work either a half day or a full day shift. Not so comfortable with a hammer? We need volunteers to help in our hospitality tent.

Continue reading “Women Build – April 29 to May 6”

Sea Island Hunger Awareness Seeks Newsletter Writer

SI Hunger Awareness logo Feb 2017Sea Islands Hunger Awareness Foundation is looking for a volunteer to write newsletters and other communications for the organization. If interested, please contact Bill Britton at bbritton@seabrookislandrealestate.com.

 

For more information about the Foundation, please visit our website here or on Facebook here.

-Submitted by Bill Britton

Recycle That Bicycle!

If any of our readers are planning to put old bicycles out at the curb for Brown & White pickup on Friday, February 17th, here’s a great alternative for them to consider:

Sarah Quinn is a resident of Seabrook Island who attends Porter-Gaud School. Her service project this semester is Bicycles for Humanity (B4H).

B4H is is a global grassroots movement of local chapters in developing countries that empowers many in the developing world with the gift of mobility delivered by a bicycle. A bicycle allows a healthcare worker to visit 4 to 5 times the number of patients in a day. It allows a mother to transport water and get her goods to market. For students that have to travel long distances to schools, it allows them more time and energy for studies and helping at home. A bicycle can help in all these areas and many more.

Over the last three years, Porter-Gaud students have been a part of the B4H-Charleston program by donating, fixing up, and preparing bicycles to be shipped to small villages in Namibia and Uganda.

Sarah is reaching out to readers with hope that they have a bicycle (rusty, old, or new) that they could graciously donate to this mission. Her parents have agreed to pick up any donation. B4H also accepts money to fund the bikes’ trip to Africa.

Sarah can be reached at (843) 768-4407 or by e-mail at seq417@me.com.

To learn more about Bicycles for Humanity, click here.

-Tidelines Editor; submitted by Sarah Quinn

Soup Supper Volunteers

Soup Supper Volunteers

February 3, 2017

 

The Seabrook Island Natural History Group’s annual Soup Supper will be held on

Friday, February 3rd.  This highly attended event is successful because of generous volunteer support.  Once again we are asking for your support to ensure this year’s event is just as successful as past suppers.  Below is a list of volunteer opportunities:

  • Soup Stallions – help deliver the soups from drop off areas to the ballroom
  • Greeter/Registration – Register/sign in attendees
  • Table Monitors – assists in placing soups on tables before supper and monitors soup tables during the supper

 

If you would like to help, please email Doris Reinhart at dreinhart@bellsouth.net

with your assignment preference.

Thank you!

Submitted by David Osborn

Adopt-A-Highway Needs You

Betsy Kerrison Parkway is the gateway to Seabrook Island. We owe it to ourselves to present the best possible face to our friends and other visitors.

Adopt-a-Highway SC logo

Please come out to help us on Saturday, February 4 (rain date 2/11) to clean up our section of the highway. We will meet to pick up supplies and carpool to the spot at the Lake House at 8:30 AM that day.

Please come and bring a friend if you can. For information contact Rich Siegel at richard.siegel2552@gmail.com or 716-969-4731. Thanks.

-Submitted by Rich Siegel