Community Impact Partners
Our Community Impact Cabinet volunteers work diligently to identify and fund Community Partners to address Anderson County’s most pressing needs and create positive, lasting and measurable change.
AIM
AIM coordinates with several area church groups, civic organizations, and clubs to build ramps or make minor repairs to qualified applicants. We match clients in need with the resources and labor needed to make these improvements, which will enable them to remain self-sufficient.
Able SC is a disability-led organization seeking transformational changes in systems, communities, and individuals. Since 1994, Able SC has remained a consumer-controlled, community-based, cross-disability nonprofit that seeks to make South Carolina a national model of equity and inclusion for all people with disabilities.
Alston Wilkes Society
The mission at AWS is “Rebuilding Lives for a Safer Community” and we look to achieve that by providing the assistance and resources necessary for our clients to find the security and stability that allows them to become productive members of society, Our programs work in partnership with the Veterans Administration and Federal Bureau of Prisons and are nationally accredited.
The Anderson Area YMCA’s mission is to put Christian principles into practice through programs that build healthy spirit, mind and body for all. Their three focus areas are youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility.
Anderson County First Steps is a local nonprofit organization dedicated to ensuring that all children enter school ready to reach their full potential. We do this by engaging families, caregivers, and community partners in high-quality programs that support early childhood development from pre-birth through age five. We also serve as a connector and convener for early childhood stakeholders across Anderson County. As a local partnership of South Carolina First Steps—our state’s early childhood initiative—we operate as an independent nonprofit with our own board and staff. This structure allows us to tailor our programs to the unique needs and resources of our community. Currently, we offer eight programs in Anderson County. Please see our website at Andersonfirststeps.org or email us at 1stepsac@bellsouth.net.
Anderson Free Clinic
The Free Clinic provides medical, dental, vision, mental health, and pharmacy services to the uninsured whose income does not exceed 200% of the Federal Poverty guidelines and who have no insurance.
Anderson/Oconee Speech and Hearing Services
At AOSH, their mission is to meet a community need by providing comprehensive speech and hearing services to anyone with a speech or hearing problem at a low cost. AOSH is the only agency in Anderson County that services hearing impaired children whose families cannot afford it.
Big Brothers, Big Sisters of the Upstate
For more than 50 years, Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Upstate has been IGNITING, INSPIRING, and DEFENDING the potential of youth in the Upstate. We believe that every child has the potential to succeed and thrive in life. As a member agency of the oldest and largest youth mentoring organization in the United States, we make meaningful, monitored matches between adult volunteers (“Bigs”) and children (“Littles”), across the Upstate.
Blue Ridge Council, Scouting America
Troop 215 is chartered by the First Presbyterian Church of Anderson, South Carolina, and has been serving Anderson and surrounding areas since 1928. We currently have over 50 active scouts and recently honored our 159th Eagle Scout.In December 2021, First Presbyterian Church chartered an all-female troop, Troop 315. Troop 315 currently has over 20 active scouts and they are working diligently towards Eagle Rank.
Cancer Association of Anderson
CAA provides resources to those who are battling cancer. Its mission is to help reduce the burden of cancer on Anderson County residents by providing treatment-related financial assistance, information and referrals, as well as emotional support.
The Champions Center For Special Children
The United Way partnership with the Champions Center helps to provide funding for an onsite nurse so that students can learn in a safe environment. They provide on-site occupational, physical, and speech therapy; the equipment and facilities needed to provide a stimulating, safe, and appropriate environment for children to gain confidence, self-esteem, and maximize potential.
Children’s Cancer Partners of the Carolinas
Children’s Cancer Partners provides financial assistance for transportation, lodging, and meals away from home so families can access treatment, regardless of income or location. CCP will serve over 2,800 Carolina families this year, removing financial barriers and providing guidance and resources so families can focus on their child’s recovery.
Emmanuel’s Hammer works with community service organizations, churches, and government agencies to identify homeowners who have experienced a home disaster or who are facing a critical situation that affects the safety, sanitation, or security of their home. We then lock arms with that family to conduct the needs assessment, fund raising, mission team recruitment, materials procurement and project management of their rebuild.
First Light
The sexual trauma center at First Light serves survivors, family members, and others involved in recovery from sexual assault or child abuse in Anderson. Their Child Advocacy Center is a safe place for children; with intervention specialists in counseling, and prosecution, to provide healing for children and their loved ones. Through outreach and education, they host workshops to help youth build healthy relationships and to help adults recognize and prevent sexual assault and child abuse.
Girl Scouts of South Carolina- Mountains to Midlands
Girl Scouts of South Carolina—Mountains to Midlands empowers girls across 22 counties in central and western South Carolina to build courage, confidence, and character. Through leadership development, STEM, outdoor adventures, entrepreneurship, community service, and more, Girl Scouts provides girls with meaningful experiences that help them discover their strengths, explore their passions, and make a positive impact in their communities.
Habitat For Humanity of Anderson County
Everyone should have an affordable, durable place to live in dignity and safety. With volunteers, donors and our future homeowners, we build decent, affordable shelter for people in need.
The LOT Project
The LOT Project seeks to cultivate intentional relationships with those in need, to build connections to the opportunities in our community, and to serve our neighbors in creative and empowering ways.
Meals on Wheels - Anderson
Meals on Wheels delivers a hot, nutritious meal daily to over 650 recipients across Anderson County. But it is so much more than food in a tray. Volunteers deliver recipients their food, but they also greet them, interact with them and make sure they are doing okay. This warm, human interaction helps reduce the feelings of isolation and improves their physical and mental health and also makes them feel safe and cared for.
Rebuild Upstate
Rebuild Upstate provides home repair to seniors, disabled people, and those who have medical needs and creates a safe environment for them. Whether that is addressing safe entry and exit by building a new wheelchair ramp or ensuring that a family is healthy and dry under a new roof, their goal with every home repair is to make sure the residents remain comfortably and safely in their homes.
Safe Harbor
Safe Harbor offers a continuum of services for survivors of domestic violence and their children in Anderson County. Their services include a 24/7 Help Line, safe emergency shelters, counseling for adults and children, case management, assistance with filing for an Order of Protection, transitional housing, domestic violence education, parenting classes, and group support.
The Salvation Army
For those with no place to go or in need of emergency shelter, local Salvation Army homeless shelters provide a warm, safe place for men, women, and – whenever possible – families to stay.
Upstate Warrior Solution
This group of dedicated individuals meets veterans where they are in life and assists with navigating them through their next steps. Upstate Warrior Solution helps connect warriors and their families to supportive services and community resources in Anderson County. Upstate Warrior Solution offers face-to-face outreach and case coordination to assess areas of need including employment, navigating VA benefits, Mental Health Support or simply meeting other warriors and military families in the area. They are also participating in a Suicide Prevention Study.