Causes: Emergency Assistance, Human Services

Mission: To provide services to eliminate poverty and help neighbors overcome barriers for success.

Results: We are neighbors. Living beside each other, blocks from one another, or far across town. Saying “hey” when we see each other, waving at one another’s children, or pausing and talking awhile. We are bound together, not by address, but by the collective power of community. That means when our neighbor’s in need, we lend a hand.  We help keep them in their home. We help put food on their table. We help make Christmas morning happen. We also help them develop the skills they need to thrive, whether those are cooking and resume writing or yoga and origami. We help because they aren’t clients or cases, they’re neighbors. At Greer Relief, we believe in the power of neighbors helping neighbors. Of one hand helping another. Of one hand reaching for another. Of what happens when two hands join together to get things done. And what can happen when an entire community of hands unites to collaborate, support, empower, and inspire one another.  That’s how transformational community change happens. In lending a hand to neighbors in need, we do more than help change individual circumstances, we create the opportunity for true and lasting connection with the people in our community. We understand what it means to be a neighbor, to have a hand in change. The threat of going hungry, losing their housing, having their power disconnected, or needing a prescription filled prevents our neighbors from focusing on the bigger picture of life: getting or retaining a job, furthering their education, or nurturing their children. They have more immediate needs that affect their ability to make the next step. Once the crisis is answered, we take the opportunity to offer referrals including connecting them to the new RENEW program. RENEW, Reaching Every Neighbor Every Way, is an education and life skills program critical to improving the life and health of our neighbors. It includes a network of community supporters who produce and execute classes or training on many topics including nutrition, food preparation, personal health, job seeking tools, and financial stability. The RENEW program incorporates incentives to encourage participation of our neighbors in need. For instance, participants might receive a gift card for healthy purchases after attending a nutrition tour through the grocery store. Hosting educational and life skill programs and engaging them in the process will create a network of success to set them on a path of healthy living. In 2021,3,796 neighbors in need received assistance, 72% of our neighbors were new to need, 4,318 neighbors received 10+ days of food, $622,287 prevented homelessness by paying 584 rent/mortgage/utilities bills for 1,310 neighbors, $1,004,494 tax refunds to 549 homes were prepared for FREE, a 72% increase YOY. 2,095 RENEW Rewards earned, a 30% increase YOY. 282 little smiles from our Christmas Morning Shoppe, 11,209 volunteer hours donated, a 30% increase YOY, by over 300 volunteers

Target demographics: eliminate poverty & break down barriers.

Direct beneficiaries per year: 3,796 neighbors in need

Geographic areas served: the Greater Greer Community

Programs: Case ManagementFood AssistanceFinancial Assistance to prevent homelessnessPrescription Assistance to alleviate financial hardshipsRENEW a next step prevention program