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2015

37

MARKETING CONTENT BEST OF 2016

Seeing the Best in

Everyone

East Cooper Community Outreach

E

mpowerment is the

name of the game at East Cooper

Community Outreach, not only for

the folks who receive aid, but also for

the volunteers. In the last year, the

local nonprofit – more often known

as ECCO – has been quite busy

empowering others. And, according to Executive Director

Jack Little, they don’t plan on stopping any time soon.

More projects should bring big things

in 2016, and the staff at ECCO

is looking forward to

impacting more people

than ever.

ECCO has opened a

new location in Huger.

The new campus is a

great example of the

good things going on,

with members of the

surrounding community

pitching in to make the

facility shine.

“Monsignor James

Carter from Christ Our

King, Rev. Dr. Stephen

Love and Matt Sloan of

The Daniel Island Company wanted to open a new campus

in Huger,” Little pointed out. “Knowing the community,

Rev. Love discovered a building. We met for a year-and-a-

half with the community’s leadership to find out what their

interests and needs were. We wanted them to invite us into

the community. “

The new campus, known as the Baldwin Carson Center,

is offering resources the residents asked for, including

medical and dental clinics, cooking classes, home repair,

education and job readiness.

Still, the winner of the Best Nonprofit category in the

Best of Mount Pleasant competition hasn’t dealt only in

new projects lately. Little pointed out that mainstays of the

organization, such as the savings matching program, are still

turning lives around.

“We match someone’s savings if the money is going to

higher education, housing or starting a business,” Little

explained. “We had three matches in 2015 – one high

school graduate from McClellanville is attending Methodist

University in Fayetteville, and the other two started

businesses.”

Last year’s flood victims received help, too, thanks

to steadfast ECCO volunteers and donors. Items such

as bedding and cleaning materials were distributed in

Mount Pleasant, Huger, Awendaw and McClellanville.

Collaborative partnerships were made to pay for roof and

ceiling repairs with

Seacoast Church,

United Way and The

Salvation Army.

“I am so blessed

to work with such

a talented and

compassionate staff

and an active board.

They always rise to the

occasion when troubles

arise,” Little said.

Another of Little’s

goals for 2016 – and

a shared goal for the

organization – is to

investigate how at-risk teens can take their futures seriously

and continue their education.

With that in mind, ECCO recently began another

program at Lincoln High School in McClellanville. The

program helps seniors who have no plans for further

education. ECCO’s case manager of education, Sheila

Russell, addresses topics like budgeting, personal taxes and

other life skills.

“She also took the students on field trips to visit job

sites,” Little pointed out. “The spring class had nine students

with no future plans. Now all of them are going to either a

technical school or college. We will teach the class again in

the spring.”

To learn more, visit

www.eccocharleston.org

or call 843-849-9220.

Photo courtesy of ECCO.

Cooking classes are offered at the Baldwin Carson Center campus.

By DENISE K. JAMES