Give Back Beaufort

Spotlight: Bluffton Self Help

Neighbors helping neighbors right here in the Lowcountry

Every day in Beaufort and Jasper counties, families are working hard to make ends meet. Bluffton Self Help has been serving local neighbors for decades, providing food, education, financial support and real pathways toward stability and success.

According to Bluffton Self Help’s 2024 Annual Report, more than 2,177 unique households received support last year, a nearly 19 percent increase over 2023. This growth shows both the need in our region and the community trust in their mission to step in and support families in meaningful ways.

What They Do

Bluffton Self Help focuses on three core pillars that make a lasting impact: education and training, basic needs and guided access to community resources.

Basic Needs

The Market, Bluffton Self Help’s no cost wellness grocery store, allows families to choose healthy groceries like milk, eggs, produce and hygiene items at no cost. In 2024, neighbors received more than 562,000 pounds of food and more than 170 food drives were hosted across the community.

Education and Workforce Support
Education changes lives and Bluffton Self Help is proving it.
In 2024 alone:
-10 students earned their GED
-10 neighbors became US Citizens
- 522 students attended ESL classes
- 23 graduated from financial literacy programs

These programs help adults gain skills, increase their earning potential and open new opportunities for their families.

Emergency Assistance
Sometimes families face a crisis that requires immediate support. Bluffton Self Help invested more than $100,000 in emergency rent, mortgage and utility assistance last year, helping prevent eviction and homelessness.

More than a handout
More than 55 percent of neighbors participated in more than one program, meaning families are not just getting immediate help, they are building knowledge and skills for long term success.

With more than 350 volunteers donating 27,000 hours of service, Bluffton Self Help is powered by everyday people who believe no one in our community should go without support, dignity or hope.

Why It Matters
More than 60 percent of households in our region do not earn a livable wage. Families are working, but rising costs make daily essentials harder to afford. Bluffton Self Help steps in with food, learning, job training and compassionate case management so families can move from surviving to thriving.

This is neighbors helping neighbors. That is the Lowcountry way.

How You Can Help Today

Bluffton Self Help relies on community donations to keep food on tables, classrooms open and support programs growing.

If you are able, consider making a tax deductible gift today.