Palmetto Project: Families Helping Families of the Lowcountry (2025)

joy. community.

hope.

A partnership between Palmetto Project and Charleston County School District

-Brittany Parent of CCSD Student

I cried all the wayhome this afternoon because I am grateful and feel blessed that mybabies have something to open Christmas morningbecause angels like you made a way.

OVERVIEW

Families Helping Families of the Lowcountry (FHFL), an initiative of Palmetto Project, launched in 2025 to support children and families in need in partnership with the Charleston County School District (CCSD)

Building on our proven FHF model first developed in the Midlands in 1990, FHFL expanded Palmetto Project’s communitydriven approach to holiday assistance and educational support to meet urgent student needs in the Lowcountry.

OUR PROGRAMS

Back-to-Scho

Launched in annual Backbrand new b to students a This effort en entered the s with confiden

Holiday Givi

From Pre-K t FHFL served School Distric families expe the 2025 holi Working thro worker

social worker health & hyg could celebra stressful time

$53,603 $53,603 reinvested in the community this holiday season!

The collabora CCSD teache families in ne support. This who would otherwise go without, allowing educators to foc knowing holistic family needs are supported and strengthe networks that promote stability, dignity, and opportunity f families

The success of FHFL in its inaugural year is a testament t partnership with CCSD and the generosity of individuals, schools, businesses, and sponsors across the Lowcountry

Contributions of time, donations, and in-kind support help tangible resources and joyful experiences to local students

We are deeply grateful to all the CCSD staf dedication and commitment to making FHFL

thanks:

Abria Pryor

Lindsay Paredes

Maggie Dangerfield

Michelle Mills

Sonya Jones

Steve Hamer

Family Advocates

Morningside Middle School

2024-2025 Teacher of Year Candidates

OUR GOALS

Create joy and dignity during the holiday season for CCSD students & their families facing homelessness

Reduce barriers to learning by providing essential school supplies to students in need

Strengthen community by connecting donors, volunteers, and schools in shared impact

Participatingin thePalmettoProject’s giftdistribution was thehighlight of my Christmas season.Beingable tohave ahandin givingback toCCSDfamilies reminded mehowimportantitisfor educators to support and uplift ourfamiliesbeyond school walls.Ilookforward to strengtheningour partnership . . . to continue standingbeside ourfamilies,meetingtheir needs,and ultimatelyenrichinglives.

-CatherineScheaffer

2025 Teacher of the Year

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Palmetto Project: Families Helping Families of the Lowcountry (2025)

Published on Jan 23, 2026

Palmetto Project, Inc.

Families Helping Families of the Lowcountry (FHFL) is a partnership between Palmetto Project, a statewide nonprofit in South Carolina, and Charleston County School District (CCSD). FHFL supports CCSD students in need and/or experiencing homelessness with back-to-school assistance and holiday giving. FHFL creates a grassroots giving movement throughout the Lowcountry community. The UN has reported grassroots giving movements (like FHFL) provide locally-driven solutions to community problems because they are led by trusted local organizations and actors; they can quickly build credibility, mobilization, and achieve impact at the neighborhood level. Furthermore, psychologist Tyler J. VanderWeele, PhD, who leads the Human Flourishing Program at Harvard emphasizes strengthening social infrastructures and improving economic conditions of the working class as pathways to physical and mental health of communities.