Best of Mount Pleasant 2016

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2015
37 MARKETING CONTENT BEST OF 2016
Seeing the Best in
Everyone
East Cooper Community Outreach
Empowerment 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 or call 843-849-9220.
Photo courtesy of ECCO.
Cooking classes are offered at the Baldwin Carson Center campus.
By DENISE K. JAMES