Public Private Partnership Providing Hope in a South Carolina Low Country Neighborhood

Pictured left to right: Pastor Tory Liferidge, Grace Reformed Episcopal Church; Chad Charles- Executive Director South Carolina Association of Habitat Affiliates; Kristine Foye, HUD Columbia Field Office Director; Alisha Simmons. Community Outreach Coordinator Habitat for Humanity of Berkeley County; George Druyos- CEO and President Habitat for Humanity of Berkeley County

Community's Hope Impact Center

Submitted by Kristine Foye
August 28, 2018

Where there was once an abandoned blighted property now sits a beautiful new community center.

Community's Hope Impact Center, which opened on June 2, 2018 in Monck's Corner, is a partnership between Berkeley County Habitat for Humanity and the Reformed Episcopal Church. The Center provides after school programs, job training, senior programs and community events.

The Habitat affiliate, which has built 14 homes in the neighborhood, envisioned the Center helping to achieve one of its goals of connecting families to the community. Last year, Lowes Home Improvement awarded the Habitat affiliate a $70,000 grant to get the project going.

"Habitat for Humanity of Berkeley Country is doing amazing work to provide decent and safe housing for families, stabilizing neighborhoods into places people want to call home," said Kristine Foye, Columbia Field Office Director, who visited the area on August 24. "Community's Hope Impact Center is providing a greater sense of camaraderie and is creating opportunities for neighborhood residents."

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