(COLUMBIA, S.C., DECEMBER 23, 2009) - The Sisters of Charity Foundation of South Carolina has awarded 16 Caritas grants and seven Discretionary grants, totaling $248,000, to nonprofit and faith-based organizations across South Carolina.

Caritas grants are for organizations providing outreach services to the poor and marginalized. Designed for organizations with annual budgets of less than $250,000, these one-year grant awards do not exceed $3,000. The $35,000 awarded through the 16 grants will go to serve 15 South Carolina counties; Chester, Clarendon, Horry, Berkeley, Charleston, Colleton, Dorchester, Fairfield, Florence, Georgetown, Greenville, Lexington, Oconee, Richland and York.

Seven discretionary grants, totaling $213,000, were awarded to the Center for Law and Social Policy, Family Service Center, Inc., Healthy Learners, Palmetto Development Group, Palmetto Volunteers in Medicine Clinic, The Cooperative Ministry and The South Carolina Afterschool Alliance.

About the Sisters of Charity Foundation of South Carolina

The Sisters of Charity Foundation of South Carolina, established in 1996, is a ministry of the Sisters of Charity Health System. The Foundation strategically uses resources to reduce poverty through action, advocacy and leadership, in hopes that families in South Carolina have the resources to live out of poverty.

December 2009 Caritas Grants

True Vine Christian Fellowship Center – ($3,000) Food for the needy. (Serving Dorchester County)

Christ Central Ministries, Inc. – ($2,000) Commercial hot water heater and metal shelving for the soup kitchen and food pantry. (Serving Richland and Lexington counties)

Christ Central Ministries, Inc. – ($2,000) Food and clothing for the needy. (Serving Chester County)

Churches Assisting People, Inc. – ($1,500) Food for the newly unemployed. (Serving Horry County)

Fields to Families – ($1,500) Growing fresh produce for the hungry. (Serving Berkeley, Charleston and Dorchester counties)

Golden Corner Ministries – ($2,500) Food boxes for the elderly poor. (Serving Oconee County)

Good Samaritan House of Fairfield County – ($2,500) Food for low-income families. (Serving Fairfield County)   

Helping Hands of Goose Creek, Inc. – ($2,500) An emergency food program. (Serving Berkeley County)

Lexington County Foster and Adoptive Parents' Association – ($1,500) Assistance to foster care families. (Serving Lexington County)

Loaves & Fishes – ($2,500) Perishable food for the hungry. (Serving Greenville County)  

Pee Dee Community Project – ($2,500) Food to the hungry. (Serving Georgetown County)

Rock Hill School District Foundation – ($1,500) Nutritious nonperishable food for malnourished students to take home for the weekend. (Serving York County and South Carolina)        

Rural Mission Inc. – ($2,500) Basic needs for low-income families and migrants. (Serving Charleston and Colleton counties)           

St. Anne Catholic Parish Outreach Ministry – ($2,500) Personal hygiene kits for poverty stricken families. (Serving Florence County)

St. Vincent de Paul Society of St. Benedict's Parish – ($2,500) Emergency assistance for those in need. (Serving Berkeley and Charleston counties)

Stella Maris St. Vincent de Paul Society – ($2,500) Nutritional supplements for elderly homebound. (Serving Charleston County)

The Clarendon County Community Development Corporation – ($2,500) Clothing and utility bill assistance for low-income families. (Serving Clarendon County)

 

December 2009 Discretionary Grants

Center for Law and Social Policy – ($5,000) Support for Spotlight on Poverty and Opportunity, a foundation-led, non-partisan initiative aimed at ensuring that political leaders take significant actions to reduce poverty and increase opportunity in the United States.

Family Service Center, Inc. – ($15,000) Support to sustain the Children's and Adult Volunteer Dental Clinic, which provides free oral health care services to residents of low-income households. (Serving Richland and Lexington counties)   

Healthy Learners – ($160,000) Support to provide access to medical services to uninsured children. (Serving Allendale, Dillon, Georgetown, Greenwood, Lexington and Richland counties)

Palmetto Development Group – ($3,000) Support to enhance economic development in rural and low-income communities through the growth and development of small business. (Serving Richland County)

Palmetto Volunteers in Medicine Clinic – ($10,000) Support for primary office medical care, pharmacy services and referral services for the uninsured. (Serving York County)

The Cooperative Ministry – ($15,000) Support for emergency assistance for those in need. (Serving Richland County)

The South Carolina Afterschool Alliance – ($5,000) Support for technical assistance to after school providers. (Serving South Carolina)