Kiawah Island Club & Real Estate Community Service

We wholeheartedly understand the importance of creating an uplifting and inclusive Lowcountry community. As part of our Advance Kiawah initiative, we look to delegate time and resources to marginalized communities in the interest of empowering and brightening the lives of our Lowcountry neighbors. 

Continue reading to discover how we recently volunteered our time to help the surrounding Lowcountry community as we hope to inspire others to do the same. 

Frierson Elementary School

The first project we took part in was at Frierson Elementary School, located on Wadmalaw Island. In 2019, 13.9% of Wadmalaw residents were living below the poverty line, meaning they lack the income to afford a basic standard of living for items such as food, clothes, and even a place to live. Sadly, this percentage is higher than the state average. In turn, we sought to reach out to this neighboring island and support them through their education system. 

About the Organization

Frierson Elementary school serves numerous disadvantaged children. The school’s mission is “to develop confident life-long learners who are competent, responsible, and self-motivated by providing a safe environment where parents and teachers support children as they explore an integrated, culturally diverse, and innovative curriculum that fosters critical thinking and creativity.” Our goal was to help them achieve their mission by creating a fun and safe outdoor space for students of Wadmalaw Island to play and learn throughout the school year. 

About the Project

Our volunteers worked together to clean the various outdoor spaces and play areas in order to provide a safe and enjoyable environment for students. The project started with removing debris and leveling the ground to allow for more open areas. We also removed deteriorated play houses and garden beds that were deemed unsafe for children. We enjoyed helping Frierson Elementary School prepare for the beginning of the school year.

Our Lady of Mercy

For our second community service project, we spent time at Our Lady of Mercy Food Drive and Distribution, a non-profit that has served the local James, Johns, and Wadmalaw Islands for over 30 years. 

About the Organization

Our Lady of Mercy Community Outreach was founded in 1989 by the Sisters of Charity of Our Lady of Mercy on the values of compassion, inclusiveness, dignity, empowerment, and integrity. The non-profit provides education, health, and community outreach services to underprivileged areas throughout the Lowcountry. Our Lady of Mercy is dedicated to helping our neighbors on these islands follow their path and reach their full potential.

About the Project

Over the span of three days, 37 volunteers from Kiawah Island Real Estate participated in this community service project. Prior to the food drive distribution, our volunteers helped to unbox and sort donations and package food bags. Several of our volunteers also donated food items for the drive. 

On the day of the event, our volunteers helped with setting up and breaking down the event, traffic control, loading cars with food, and other supplies such as dental products. In all, food and supply kits were distributed to 287 individuals and household members from the local community. 

The Importance of Community Service

Participating in community service is an excellent way to get involved in your local community and help those in need. Through these community service projects, we saw firsthand the positive impact that can be achieved through compassion and service. The entire experience was extremely rewarding and brought us closer as a team. In the end, we hope to continue to make a difference in these communities by helping to combat food insecurity as well as providing children with safer places to grow and learn. 

We at Kiawah Island Club & Real Estate encourage you to go out and make a difference in your own local community. To learn more about how the Advance Kiawah initiative hopes to create meaningful change in our Lowcountry community, click the button below.