HUGER, S.C.–East Cooper Community Outreach (ECCO) announced the launch of its satellite program for the underserved residents of the Cainhoy Peninsula.
On Saturday, ECCO and the community hosted a grand opening event to commemorate the new Baldwin Carson Community Outreach Center at 1161 Baldwin Corner Rd in Huger.
Historically, the rural population surrounding Huger has remained isolated from any support agencies, with Moncks Corner and Mount Pleasant both 20-miles away.
According to ECCO officials, Almost 20 percent of their clients live in the Cainhoy/Wando/Huger area and feedback from surveys and forums indicated a greater need for medical and dental care, home repair, education classes, and job assistance.
A committee comprising community members and leaders started planning in early 2014 for a new
program that would provide easily accessible resources for those in need. Rev. Stephen Love, a Huger resident and member of ECCO’s Board of Directors, has played a vital role throughout the planning process and connecting ECCO to community advocates.
“This project has been a great opportunity to serve our community and offer opportunities for the community to help serve themselves,” Love stated.
ECCO raised more than $350,000 for three years of operating support and funds to renovate a 3,600 square foot building, formerly home to a Head Start program. In order to meet the needs and interests of the community, the facility was outfitted with two medical examination rooms, a commercial instructional cooking kitchen, a community room, and a classroom equipped with 12 computers.
Partnering sponsors include The Daniel Island Community Fund, Christ Our King Catholic Church, Benefitfocus, Nucor Steel, Google, BP, and the Wando-Huger Community Fund of Coastal Community Foundation of SC.
The Baldwin Carson Community Outreach Center hosts ECCO’s medical, dental and health education programs along with its education, empowerment, and computer classes, and is equipped for not only ECCO services, but also provides an area for Operation Home, the facility coordinator, and enough space for future partners.
Huger residents now have access to prescription assistance, health information, screenings with medical referrals by a nurse practitioner from MUSC’s College of Nursing, and oral screenings, along with computer classes, use of the Internet and job resource center, and budgeting classes. ECCO employs community member Dianne Moore-Hazlett as the BCCOC coordinator to assist with outreach and daily operations of the center.
For more information about ECCO, click here.
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