Keeping Your Priorities Straight
By Charlie Wetmore
eing a Town Councilman in Bluffton is a very demanding job. There are issues that must be faced in a town that is growing as fast as ours and most of them must be faced right now.
We have to deal with infrastructure needs – items like parks, roads and river access. Even though we are not responsible for the schools (the county is), we still need to work with the school district in the placement of them in our town. We have to deal with people who own property and want to develop it – whether it is a house or a large retail complex. We also have to address other things, such as a new Comprehensive Plan, next year’s budget, affordable housing, joint Planning Commission issues, the Old Town Master Plan and more. All in all there is a lot to do in the town. It is very rewarding to be a part of it.
So, with all of that said, why the headline about priorities? Infrastructure is very important but lets not forget the heart of our community, our people. The following is a list of ways to volunteer your time to help strengthen Bluffton by adding to the growth in more ways than legislatively.
We care about our precious town so lets do our best to make her the best she can be.
CHILDREN’S SERVICES: Assist in a variety of after-school programs from tutoring to sports and field trips.
Boys & Girls Club of Bluffton PO Box 1908 Bluffton, SC 29910
843-706-2300
Bluffton Family YMCA (www.ymca.net)
18 Plantation Business Park Bluffton
843-757-9622
Bluffton Elementary 160 H E McCracken Circle, Bluffton
843-706-8500
Bluffton High School 12 H.E. McCracken Circle, Bluffton
843-689-8800
Michael C. Riley Elementary 200 Burnt Church Rd., Bluffton
843-757-2296
Okatie Elementary 1657 Okatie Highway, Bluffton
843-322-7700
May River Montessori
843-757-2312
SANDBOX-An Interactive Museum for Children 843-842-7645
Children’s Relief Fund (CRF)
843-681-7668
Boy and Girl Scouts
Girls-843-757-6639 Boys-Bill Tholen -843-836-3006
Child Development Center
Contact Janice 843-987-9111
Sun City Book Club- Volunteers and donations welcome. Purchase new books to give to children at Christmas. 843-705-2695/843-705-5848
COMMUNITY SERVICE AGENCIES: Assists Bluffton area residents and non-profit organizations in many different situations.
March of Dimes- 843-341-9005
Rotary Club of Bluffton-www.blufftonrotary.org
Okatie Rotary Club - 843-342-7610 843-815-POLO
Zonta Club - 843-341-3700
American Red Cross- 843-757-7437
American Cancer Society (www.cancer.org)- 843-842-5188
Kiwanis Club -843-681-8800
Salvation Army (www.salvationarmyusa.org) 524-3727 or 524-2271
Bluffton Self Help- Food Services, Emergency Food, Assistance with utilities, rent, clothing & medication
Contact person: Jenny Haney 843-757-8000
Calhoun Station- A thrift shop for charity. Donations accepted. Items ranginging from clothes, electronics to furniture.
843-757-5191
Citizens Opposed to Domestic Violence (CODV)-Safehouse for women and children. 843-770-1083
United Way- (www.unitedwayofbeaufortco.org/agencies.htm) Fund-raising and coordination of community human service agencies. Bluffton/ Helpline 843-757-4357(HELP)
Meals on Wheels. Drivers and donations appreciated
843-689-8334
The Volunteer Center-Matches your interest with a community need. 843-686-4361
Habitat for Humanity-Volunteer for construction-843-757-5864
Volunteers for resale store-843-757-9995
Senior Services of Beaufort - (www.seniorservicesofbeaufort.org/) A non-profit organization dedicated to helping older citizens maintain their lives with independence and dignity,
Bluffton Senior Center Ulmer Road Bluffton 843-757-1508
S.C.O.R.E. (www.scorehiltonhead.com) Retired executives offer advice to new business owners. 843-785-7107
Low Country Legal Aid-Retired attorneys sharing advice.
843-341-9222
Town of Bluffton-Commissions and committees which cover a variety of civic issues. Play a part in the town.
Victim Advocacy Program (Victims of Crime)
(www.bcso.net/servicesvictimadvocacy.php) Beaufort County Sheriff’s Dept. Contact Persons: Sgt. Mabelle Scott 843-470-3717 or Sgt. Prince Norton 843-842-4111
CULTURAL SERVICES: Provide help and encouragement in the arts and environmental aspects of our community.
Coastal Discovery Museum (www.coastaldiscovery.org)-Volunteers needed as tour guides, speakers, office and giftshop assistance. 843-689-6767, ext. 225 /FAX 843-689-6760
The Score Program (not the same as S.C.O.R.E.) (www3.csc.noaa.gov/scoysters/html/project.htm) South Carolina Oyster Restoration and Enhancement Program-oyster shell recycling and community-based restoration. By working together, community members and biologists can restore oyster populations
SCDNR Marine Resources 843 953-9820
U.S. Coast Guard Guard Auxilary-Variety of water and boat related areas. 843-671-6536
May River Theater- Help stage productions. Contact Ed or Jodie Dupuis 843-837-7768
Heyward House (www.heywardhouse.org)- Bluffton Welcome Center and historic home. Volunteer to be a docent. Become a Bluff Buff - the volunteer force of the Heyward House Historic Center and the Bluffton Historical Preservation Society - opportunities exist for museum tour guides, giftshop attendants and preservation helping hands. Please join us at one of the introductory training sessions offered on Saturdays in February (Feb 4, Feb 11, Feb 18, or Feb 25) from 11am - 12 noon at the Heyward House 70 Boundary Street in Old Town Bluffton
For more information, call Maureen at 843-757-6293
Heritage Library-Office, research and bookstore. 843-689-9558
EDUCATION SERVICES: Opportunity to contribute your services in our resourse centers.
Friends of the Bluffton Library (http://www.co.beaufort.sc.us/bftlib/bluffton/blufftonfriends.htm) 843-757-1519
Literacy Volunteers of the Low Country (info@lowcountryliteracy.org)-Help adults learn to speak English. 843-686-6655
Public / private schools-Schools enlist the aid of non-certified individuals to enhance learning opportunities. Assist with one of the splendid reading programs in the public schools.
Programs for Exceptional People (PEP)- Help mentor adults with developmental disabilities. 843-681-8413
HEALTH CARE: Help provide a little “TLC” for people in the community who need assistance with healthcare issues.
Access Network- AIDS resource and support group. Free and confidential HIV testing and conseling. 843-379-5600
Sun City Alzheimer’s and other Dementia Support Group
Contact person: Marilyn Wiener, MS, Director and Group Facilitator 843-705-5349 (Call for meeting information or for information on Alzheimer and other forms of dementia)
Alzheimer’s Respite and Resource-Christy 843-842-6688
Coastal Carolina Medical Center-843-784-8000
Mental Health Assn. of Beaufort/Jasper Counties-needs your help to provide advocacy, education and services to children, adults and the elderly. 843-682-9200
Caring Hearts-Provides assistance to medical caregivers in time of need. 843-837-3084
Hospice Volunteers-Provides support for the terminally ill and their families. Give time off to a caregiver. Offer a few precious hours respite to people who devote themselves round-the-clock to loved ones who are terminally ill or victims of Alzheimer’s.
Palmetto Health Hospice-1-888-818-8269/843-705-2566
Hospice Care of the Low Country-843-342-8919
Hospice Care of the Lowcountry will offer its 21-hour training course for new volunteers in March at its new offices in Bluffton Village. The dates are March 13, 15, 17, 20, 22 and 24, from 2 to 5:30 p.m. each day. 342-8919
Hospice Community Thrift- 843-689-5455
Carolina House of Bluffton - Help with reading, walking or visiting with people in our assisted living community. Musicians especially welcome. 843-816-2555
Heros On Horseback-Help with horse riding sessions for children & adults with special needs. 843-757-5606
ANIMAL SERVICES: Help in office work, animal care and vet assistance.
Beaufort Humane Association (www.beauforthumane.org.) Needs volunteers to assist with adoptable pets at Petsmart in Bluffton or in the Burnt Church Road facility.
Call Amy 843-227-2691/843-522-4499
Miracle Animal Rescue Spay and Neuter Clinic-Needs fundraising director, events planner and vet assistance. 843-227-DOGS
Carolina Companion Animal-offering low cost spay and neuter services Volunteers needed in all areas. 843-815-4984
For ideas or comments please feel free to email.
Email address: BlufftonTalkOfTheTown@gmail.com
