Volunteer – Page 3

Holiday Canned Food Drive at The Lake House

9th Annual SIPOA

Holiday Canned Food Drive

November 1 – December 10, 2024

Goal – 5,000 pounds

One way to make our own holiday celebrations even more meaningful is to help our neighbors in need on Johns and Wadmalaw Islands. When you go grocery shopping, please consider purchasing a couple of extra cans of food, or even better, multi-packs of canned food items, for distribution to the clients of the Sea Islands Hunger Awareness Foundation (SIHAF). Protein items like hearty or chunky soups, stews, chili, corned beef hash, tuna, and canned chicken, as well as canned vegetables and fruit, are especially appreciated. Please check expiration dates before donating.

Donations and contributions can be delivered to The Lake House lobby. Place your items in the bin under the new donations sign behind the column. All donations will be weighed before they are picked up.

Together, we can fight hunger, one meal at a time!

-Submitted by SIPOA

SIPOA 2024 Thanksgiving Turkey Trot

Leave the cooking for later or for someone else and join us at the Lake House on Thanksgiving morning for Seabrook Island’s Annual Turkey Trot! Sign up now to run, walk, or volunteer for the Thanksgiving Turkey Trot on Thursday, November 28, 2024.

Volunteer

The Lake House is looking for volunteers to assist with Seabrook Island’s Thanksgiving Turkey Trot. Volunteers will be asked to meet in the lobby of the Lake House at 7:15 am. The race should be finished by 10:00 am. Responsibilities may include: directing participants on racecourse, hydration support at water stations, and cheering on participants. If you are interested in volunteering, please email jmogus@sipoa.org

Run/Walk

Race will start promptly at 8:00 am from the Lake House. Please arrive 10-15 minutes early.
The course is just over a 5k at 3.4 miles.
Participants will be placed in corrals to space out the start.
This is a fun run. A clock will be at the start/finish; however, official times will not be recorded.
Packet Pick-Up will be Wednesday, November 27 from 10:00 am – 4:00 pm.
Race Day Pick-Up will be 7:15 am – 7:45 am.
There are no refunds.
If you have any questions, please email jmogus@sipoa.org.

-Submitted by SIPOA

Another Winning Day for Seabrook Island Village

On October 8, 2024, forty-six Mah Jongg players gathered at the Seabrook Island Club for a day of friendly competition and fundraising. Half of each person’s registration fee was a donation to Seabrook Island Village, our local not-for-profit organization that helps others remain in their homes. Volunteers help our neighbors age in place, and funds from events like the Mah Jongg tournament help keep our dues very low.

Free Tax Prep Program Seeks Local Volunteers

VITA (Volunteers Income Tax Assistance) is an IRS program that provides tax preparation help, free of charge, with a special focus on low to moderate-income taxpayers 50 years old and older, to help them get the credits and deductions they’ve earned.

Volunteers of all backgrounds and ages are welcome and needed to serve clients in the Charleston area, including Johns and James Islands. Familiarity with income tax returns and technology is helpful but not required. Tax counselors receive extensive free tax training and will become familiar with IRS/SC tax rules and regulations. The key to providing this service is local volunteers who are trained to become IRS certified.

Tax counselors are expected to be available at least fou hours one day per week from February 1 to April 15, 2025. The reality is that many people travel, so adjustments can be made. It’s a great way to learn new skills, assist in helping others, and become more involved in your community.

Please consider joining our local volunteer team! Contact the Charleston District Recruitment Coordinator, Fran Williams at (803) 443-1878, or email francesca.m.williams@gmail.com for more information.

To learn about the VITA Program, click here.

–Tidelines Editors

(Image Credit: IRS VITA Program)

Discontinue Grocery Bag Collection

The Sea Islands Hunger Awareness Foundation is very grateful to the Seabrook Island community and to The Lake House staff for collecting and organizing the Harris Teeter bags used for the past several years to distribute food to the clients of the Blessing Basket. It is estimated that close to 20,000 bags have been contributed, which have been filled with groceries, fresh produce, meat, eggs and other items to benefit our neighbors on Johns and Wadmalaw Islands.

Harris Teeter recently changed the size of its bags and, unfortunately, the new bags are not sufficient for our food distributions. Therefore, we are discontinuing the bag collection process, effective immediately. We do have an inventory of bags that will last through May of 2025 and alternate arrangements are being made to secure the bags needed for subsequent distributions.

Thank you very much for your support in the past and we hope you will continue to support SIHAF and the Blessing Basket in other ways, through volunteering and donations, as the need and our work continues.

-Submitted by the Sea Islands Hunger Awareness Foundation

Dining for a Cause: Third Serve Foundation

Third Serve Foundation has partnered with 48 Wine Bar for a Dining for a Cause event on Tuesday, September 10 anytime between 5:00 – 9:00 pm.

Third Serve Foundation will receive 50% of food revenues generated that evening so let’s pack the restaurant with Seabrookers. Seabrook Island is the host to Haut Gap Middle School Students twice weekly during the school year.

For more information, go to thirdservefoundation.com .

-Submitted by Lucy Walton, Third Serve Foundation

Building Homes, Honoring Heroes

9/11 Day of Service & Remembrance

Join Sea Island Habitat for Humanity for a meaningful day of service and community on Wednesday, September 11, 2024. This special build event honors first-responders and those that have served our country or are currently serving while bringing together a community of support. Whether you served, are currently serving, or just want to support those that served, sign up for this special build event.

When: Wednesday, September 11, 2024
Volunteer Shifts: Morning (8:00- 12:00), Afternoon (12:00-4:00) or Full Day
Location: 3370 Habitat Blvd., Johns Island

All volunteers will receive a Sea Island Habitat for Humanity shirt and lunch. There will be a program during the lunch hour to honor our heroes. There is no cost to volunteer, but spots are limited.

Sign up on our volunteer site.

Volunteers Needed For CATR

Charleston Area Therapeutic Riding (CATR) on River Road is offering volunteer orientation and training. The training sessions will take place in advance of CATR’s fall session, which begins mid-September.

The three-hour class at CATR’s 43-acre farm just ten minutes from Seabrook will take place twice. The first training class for volunteers is scheduled for Saturday, August 24, 2024 from 9:00 am to 12:00 noon. A second class will be held on Tuesday, August 27, 2024 from 5:00-7:00 pm.

No prior experience with horses is required. Volunteers help with both mounted and unmounted classes serving adults and children with physical, developmental, or emotional challenges. CATR, in operation for more than thirty years, is one of the Charleston area’s oldest non-profit service organizations. For more information and to enroll, email volunteers@catr-program.org.

-Submitted by Norm Powers for CATR

(Image credit: CATR)

Adopt-a-Highway June 15

Saturday, June 15, 2024
9:00 to 11:00 am

Bring gloves, sunscreen, bug spray, sturdy shoes and enthusiasm!
Vests, sticks and litter bags will be provided.
Children under 18 permitted if accompanied by a participating adult.

Meet Mary Gwyn at The Lake House at 9:00 am
for a beautiful two-hour stroll
with a pick-up stick and litter bags.

RSVP to Mary Gwyn at mkginmd@verizon.net
and for more information.

-Submitted by SIPOA

Volunteer for TOSI Public Safety Committee

Are you interested in serving on a Seabrook Island town board, commission, or committee? The Mayor and Council are currently soliciting applications from citizen volunteers for appointment to the Public Safety Committee. They are looking to fill one seat.

Applications are being accepted through the end of May. They will be appointed at the Town Council meeting on June 25. To learn more, click here.

-Submitted by Abby Grooms, Commication & Events Manager, Town of Seabrook Island

Volunteerism Fair at The Lake House May 13

Get the Scoop – Volunteerism Fair

Tuesday, May 13, 2024
4:00 – 5:30 pm
The Lake House, Live Oak Hall

Are you interested in volunteering? SIPOA is hosting a Volunteerism Fair on Monday, May 13 from 4:00 – 5:30 pm in Live Oak Hall at The Lake House.

Many organizations outside of Seabrook Island are in need of volunteers. This fair is a great opportunity to learn where your time and talents are needed and can be put to meaningful use.

Hosts from the charitable organizations will be on hand to provide information about their causes.

We hope to see you there!

-Submitted by The Lake House

Here We Go With Another Glorious Seabrook Turtle Season

The excitement of the new season is upon us and South Carolina had its first nest on April 29, 2024 in Garden City, south of Myrtle Beach. Photo is courtesy of Garden City Surfside S.C.U.T.E, South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR) permit MTP524.

As always we are grateful for the support and interest we receive from everyone on the island. Please feel free to approach anyone you see wearing the bright colors of the Seabrook Island Turtle Patrol. We are happy to connect with you and answer any questions you may have. The number one question we hear every year is what can an ordinary person do to help? Well, since you asked:

Report all sick/injured/dead sea turtles and nest disturbances to the SCDNR at 1-800-922-5431 so that staff/volunteers can respond as soon as possible.
Respect boating laws and boat cautiously, especially in small tidal creeks where sea turtles like to feed. Boat strikes have emerged as the leading cause of death for sea turtles in South Carolina.
Keep artificial lights off the beach at night during nesting season – this includes beachfront property lights and flash photography, which can disorient nesting mothers and hatchlings.
Always respect sea turtles by watching from a distance on the beach if you are lucky enough to observe a nesting turtle.
Keep our beaches and ocean clean by avoiding single-use plastics. Plastic bags and balloons are among the most common trash items found on South Carolina beaches and can cause injury or death when sea turtles mistake them for food.
Feel free to dig holes and build castles in the sand but fill those holes and level the castles before you leave the beach.
Carry all chairs, coolers, grills, umbrellas and other beach paraphernalia off the beach when you leave.

Whether you live here year-round or visit in the summer, we all love the beautiful beaches, marshes and habitats that these protected marine animals are utilizing. Sadly, the primary cause of injury and death for sea turtles in South Carolina are boat strikes but you can help these remarkable creatures.