Volunteer – Page 3

Love Your Neighbor Celebration March 22

Love Your Neighbor Celebration- An Evening of Elegance, Jazz, and Generosity

Our Lady of Mercy Community Outreach is thrilled to announce its annual Love Your Neighbor Celebration, a premier fundraising event set to take place on Saturday, March 22, 2025, at the newly opened Dunlin Resort.

This elegant evening will bring together supporters, philanthropists, and community members to raise crucial funds for programs that provide education, healthcare, and essential resources to neighbors in need.

Tickets and sponsorships are available now! To purchase tickets, make a donation, or learn more about sponsorship opportunities, please click here or contact Marnie Bonn at marnie.bonn@olmoutreach.org.

The mission of Our Lady of Mercy Community Outreach is to build equitable communities and empower individuals to reach their full potential by providing basic and emergency needs, education, employment, and health services. Click here to learn more.

-Submitted by Lucy Walton

Upcoming Dolphin Volunteer Orientations

The Kiawah-Seabrook Island Dolphin Education Program will hold two introductory dolphin volunteer orientations at the Seabrook Island Community Center (2241 Oyster Catcher Court). Kiawah and Seabrook residents will have the opportunity to learn more and ask questions about the volunteer program on the following dates:

Monday, March 24, from 5:30 pm – 8:30 pm, followed by a walk to Capt. Sam’s spit.
Thursday, April 10, from 1:30 pm – 4:30 pm, followed by a walk to Capt. Sam’s spit.

The walks are optional but will provide attendees with a better understanding of what the volunteers do. Attending the orientations does not commit you to being a volunteer.

To RSVP, email Lauren Rust here.

–Tidelines Editors

(Image credit: Lowcountry Marine Mammal Network)

Reminder: Habitat Women Build – March 11 to 15

It’s not too late to sign up for Women Build!

Women Build Week is a testament to the power of women uniting to impact their community. It allows individuals of all skill levels to come together, make a real difference, and help provide safe and affordable housing in our community. Whether you’re a seasoned builder or new to volunteering, this is your opportunity to learn valuable skills, work alongside an inspiring group of women, and support Sea Island Habitat for Humanity’s mission.

You can work a half-day, all day, or several days.

Spots fill up quickly, so don’t miss your chance to be part of this meaningful initiative. By participating in Women Build 2025, you’ll join a dedicated group of women committed to creating lasting change and strengthening our neighborhoods. Together, we can build hope and transform lives, one home at a time!

Dates: March 11-15, 2025
Cost: $50 donation
Build Shifts: Choose up to two half-day shifts
• Morning Shift: 8:00 am – 11:30 am
• Afternoon Shift: 12:30 pm- 4:00 pm

Your donation includes lunch and a T-shirt.

Want To Lend A Hand?

Our Lady of Mercy Community Outreach is seeking volunteers to mentor 2nd-5th grade students in its after-school program.

Volunteers will support students in math, reading, social-emotional learning, and STEAM activities. Mentors help guide small groups, participate in enrichment activities, and foster healthy communication and boundaries.

Please contact Gloria Carroll at gloria.carroll@olmoutreach.org for more information.

-Submitted by Lucy Walton

Days are Longer, Warmer … and It’s Tax Time

It’s that time of year … time to pull together all your interest, dividend, retirement, investment, and any other documents you may need to prepare your taxes.

The big news for taxes this year is that due to the South Carolina floods and disasters, both the Federal and South Carolina deadlines have been extended to May 1, 2025.

Federal Return

If you have made home improvements, you may be eligible for Residential Energy Improvement credits. Improvements include windows, doors, heat pumps, solar, geothermal, and others. New for this year, you may also receive a credit if you have had a Home Energy Audit conducted in 2024. Improvements do not include maintenance and repair.

If you have excess, unused funds in a 529 Plan (Educational Savings Plan), you can now roll over unused funds into a Roth IRA. There are rules and annual and lifetime limits so it would be wise to talk with a tax professional before taking this action.

As in previous years, you can send some or all of your Required Minimum Distribution (RMD) from tax-deferred accounts to a non-profit charitable organization as a donation. The result of this action is that:

you won’t have to pay income tax on the charitable payout even if you don’t itemize.
you will be providing a donation to help an organization that could use that money towards their mission.

If you decide to make this donation, the distribution needs to go directly from your brokerage account to the charitable organization, and you need to keep records of it. It may not appear on your 1099 form next year.

Click Continue reading to learn about South Carolina.

2025 Habitat Women Build – March 11 to 15

Women Build Week is a testament to the power of women uniting to make a positive impact in their community. It offers individuals of all skill levels the chance to come together, make a real impact, and help provide safe and affordable housing in our community. Whether you’re a seasoned builder or new to volunteering, this is your opportunity to learn valuable skills, work alongside an inspiring group of women, and support Sea Island Habitat for Humanity’s mission.

Dates: March 11-15, 2025
Cost: $50 donation
Build Shifts: Choose up to two half-day shifts
• Morning Shift: 8:00 am – 11:30 am
• Afternoon Shift: 12:30 pm- 4:00 pm

Your donation includes lunch and a T-shirt.

Holiday Canned Food Drive at The Lake House Ends Tuesday

9th Annual SIPOA
Holiday Canned Food Drive
November 1 – December 10, 2024

Goal – 5,000 pounds

Thank you to those on Seabrook Island who have supported the Holiday Canned Food Drive.

To date, we are only a little over half way to our goal. With only a few days to go let’s stretch and reach that goal!

Please consider purchasing 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.

Thank you!

–Tidelines Editors

Reminder: Holiday Canned Food Drive at The Lake House

9th Annual SIPOA
Holiday Canned Food Drive
November 1 – December 10, 2024

Goal – 5,000 pounds

Thank you to those in Seabrook Island who have supported the Holiday Canned Food Drive. As we gather today to share a Thanksgiving meal and give thanks for all that we have let’s remember that many of our neighbors on Johns and Wadmalaw Island deal with hunger on a daily basis.

To date we have collected 2,391 pounds of canned food. With 12 days to go, we are half way to the goal of collecting 5,000 pounds of canned goods. Let’s stretch and reach that goal!

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.

Thank you!

–Tidelines Editors

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)