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CLOSED CAPTIONING PROVIDED BY BUFORT COUNTY.
OKAY, UM, WE HAVE THREE VERY INTERESTING GUESTS TODAY.
UM, AND I PUT 'EM IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER.
THE, UH, FIRST ONE WE HAVE, THE GREAT HONOR WITH US TODAY IS, UH, THE ANCHOR OF WTOC, MR. TYLER MANION.
HE'S GOING TO TALK ABOUT THE ALZHEIMER'S WALK, WHICH HAS TAKEN PLACE IN OCTOBER.
I WILL HAVE TO TAKE A MOMENT TO TELL YOU THAT TEAM HARSH STARSHIP HARDY BILL HAS ALREADY RAISED $2,000.
AND FOR THOSE OF YOU IN BLUFFTON, DAN, UH, I HAVE A LUNCH BET WITH ALL, UH, FORMER MAYOR SALKA BACK THERE.
SO, UH, I WANT TO, I DON'T KNOW IF I'M WINNING THE BET YET, BUT I'M SURE, UM, AFTER TODAY I'LL CONTINUE TO BE AHEAD.
SO, AT ANY RATE, WITHOUT FURTHER ADO, MR. TYLER MANION, SHOULD I TALK REALLY CLOSE TO IT TOO? LIKE MARY WAS
TYPICALLY MY MIC IS LIKE ON MY LAPEL, SO THIS IS A LITTLE DIFFERENT MORNING EVERYONE.
THANKS FOR HAVING ME OUT HERE TODAY.
UH, PLEASED TO BE OUT HERE TO TALK TO YOU ALL ABOUT THIS AGAIN THIS YEAR.
AND I WAS OUT HERE LAST YEAR, UM, BUT LAST YEAR I MADE MY OWN POWERPOINT, WHICH IS NOT A SKILL OF MINE.
SO THIS YEAR WE HAD THE ASSOCIATION DO IT.
HOPEFULLY IT'S A LITTLE MORE VISUALLY APPEALING FOR YOU AND IT'LL CHANGE UP MY SPIEL.
SO THOSE OF YOU WHO WERE HERE LAST YEAR, DON'T JUST HEAR THE EXACT SAME THING AGAIN.
UH, I'M A ANCHOR WTOC ANCHOR THE FIVE O'CLOCK HOUR OF THE NEWS MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY.
BUT TODAY I'M HERE FOR THE ALZHEIMER'S ASSOCIATION, UH, SOMETHING THAT I CARE DEEPLY ABOUT, THAT I TALK ABOUT A LOT, ANYWHERE THAT WILL LET ME, UH, SO TODAY, VERY PLEASED THAT YOU ALL ARE LETTING ME DO THAT HERE.
I'M AN EXECUTIVE EVENT CHAIR, UH, FOR THE ASSOCIATION FOR OUR WALK IN PARTICULAR.
TODAY WE'RE GONNA TALK ABOUT HOW YOU ALL CAN GET INVOLVED IN OUR WALK TO END ALZHEIMER'S AND ALSO WHAT THAT CEREMONY LOOKS LIKE.
'CAUSE THAT'S WHAT'S SO SPECIAL ABOUT THE WALK.
THAT'S THAT REALLY POWERFUL MOMENT.
WE'LL TALK ABOUT THAT IN A LITTLE BIT.
JUST A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE ALZHEIMER'S ASSOCIATION.
IT IS THE WORLD LEADER TRYING TO FIND WAYS TO CURE THIS DISEASE THAT DOES NOT HAVE A CURE.
WE'LL TALK ABOUT THE SOBERING STATISTICS A LITTLE BIT HERE AS WELL.
WE'RE GONNA RUN THROUGH THIS STUFF ABOUT THE ASSOCIATION RATHER QUICKLY SO WE CAN GET TO THE STUFF SPECIFICALLY ABOUT OUR WALK HERE IN THE LOW COUNTRY.
ONE OF THOSE SOBERING STATISTICS IS RIGHT THERE ON THE PROJECTOR SCREEN, IS THAT RIGHT NOW ONE IN THREE SENIORS IS DYING WITH ALZHEIMER'S OR ANOTHER FORM OF DEMENTIA.
ON TOP OF THAT, MORE THAN 6 MILLION AMERICANS ARE LIVING WITH THE DISEASE, AND THAT'S GONNA BE MORE THAN DOUBLE IN JUST 25 YEARS.
AS FAR AS PROJECTIONS GO, IT'S NOT A PROBLEM THAT'S GOING AWAY.
IT'S A PROBLEM THAT'S GETTING WORSE, AND IT'S OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO COMBAT THAT, TO REVERSE IT, AND TO MAKE SURE THAT WE GET OUR FIRST SURVIVOR.
SO THESE ARE THE THREE PILLARS OF THE ASSOCIATION AS FAR AS WHAT IT'S BUILT ON.
IT'S BUILT ON CARE AND SUPPORT.
IT'S BUILT ON RESEARCH AND IT'S BUILT ON ADVOCACY.
WHEN WE TALK ABOUT RAISING FUNDS AT EVENTS LIKE THE ALZHEIMER'S WALK, THIS IS WHAT THOSE FUNDS GO TO.
IT'S NOT JUST A SINGLE STREAM THAT WE'RE ATTACKING THIS DISEASE.
IT'S AS ALL FRONTS THAT WE CAN.
IT INCLUDES THE FRONT LINES OF THINGS LIKE SUPPORT GROUPS THAT WE HAVE ALL OVER THE COUNTRY, WHERE FOLKS FROM THE ASSOCIATION WELCOME IN.
EVERYONE FROM THE COMMUNITY WHO WANTS TO TALK AND HOLD GROUPS THAT CAN BE THEIR OWN COMMUNITY WITHIN OUR COMMUNITIES.
THAT'S HOW WE GET ADVANCEMENTS.
SO A LOT OF THE MONEY WE RAISE THAT.
THINGS LIKE THE WALK END ALZHEIMER'S GOES TO RESEARCH AND THEN ADVOCACY.
WE'VE HAD SOME GREAT ADVOCACY STRIDES IN SOUTH CAROLINA IN PARTICULAR, OUR PEOPLE IN THE STATE HOUSE ARE REALLY, REALLY GOOD.
I HAD LUNCH WITH TOM DAVIS LAST YEAR, AND HE SPECIFICALLY WAS LIKE, DO YOU GUYS UNDERSTAND HOW HOW GREAT OF ADVOCATES YOU HAVE? BECAUSE THEY ARE ON MY BEHIND ALL THE TIME, AND THAT'S HOW WE GET STUFF DONE IN THE STATE HOUSE IN SOUTH CAROLINA.
SO IT'S A THREE-PRONGED APPROACH THE ASSOCIATION TAKES.
THEN THEY'RE ALSO JUST ALWAYS THERE FOR YOU.
SO IF YOU HAVE SOMEONE THAT YOU KNOW MIGHT NEED SOME HELP, THERE ARE RESOURCES THAT YOU CAN PASS ALONG.
I'M NOT SURE IF THIS PRESENTATION GETS SENT OUT, DOES IT? IF NOT, YOU CAN GOOGLE THESE.
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THIS IS, UH, MY FAVORITE DAY OF THE YEAR.EVERY YEAR IT'S OUR WALK TO END ALZHEIMER'S FOR LOW LOW COUNTRY HAPPENS HERE IN BLUFFTON.
UH, WE ALSO HAVE SOME OTHER ONES IN THE AREA IN STATESBORO AND IN SAVANNAH.
UH, BUT OBVIOUSLY HERE TODAY WE ARE TALKING ABOUT THE ONE JUST DOWN THE STREET.
SO THIS IS HELD ALL OVER THE PLACE.
MORE THAN 600 COMMUNITIES NATIONWIDE HOLD A WALK TO END ALZHEIMER'S.
THEY GO IN ALL KINDS OF VARIANTS OF SCALE.
YOU'VE GOT PLACES THAT HAVE MORE THAN A THOUSAND PEOPLE AT THESE WALKS.
THEY RAISE ABOUT A MILLION DOLLARS.
HERE IN BLUFFTON, WE STRIVE FOR ABOUT 400 TO 500 FOLKS.
THAT'S WHAT WE'VE HISTORICALLY HAD.
WE RAISED ABOUT A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS.
IT WAS LAST YEAR'S TARGET WAS ABOUT 98,000 IS WHAT WE ENDED UP RAISING, WHICH WAS FANTASTIC.
AND I'LL TELL YOU, JUST DOWN THE STREET IN STATESBORO, WE HAD ABOUT 40 FOLKS.
SO THERE REALLY IS A SLIDING SCALE OF WHAT THESE WALKS LOOK LIKE ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
IF YOU'VE NOT BEEN TO A WALK, THIS IS WHAT THE CEREMONY LOOKS LIKE.
IT HAS TO DO WITH THESE COLORS OF FLOWERS RIGHT HERE.
AND THIS IS WHEN I TALK ABOUT THE REALLY SPECIAL MOMENT.
SO WHEN YOU COME IN, WE HAVE EVERYONE A LITTLE BIT OF TIME TO GET SETTLED.
GO TO A TENT AND GRAB ONE OF THESE FOUR FLOWERS.
AS YOU CAN SEE, THEY ALL HAVE A DIFFERENT MEANING.
IT'S A REPRESENTATION AS TO WHY YOU ARE THERE.
IT CAN BE SOMETHING AS SIMPLE AS YOU JUST WANNA SUPPORT THE COST.
SO YOU'RE GONNA HOLD THAT FLOWER AROUND WITH YOU.
ONCE WE TAKE THAT NICE STROLL AROUND BLUFFTON YELLOW IS YOU SUPPORT OR CARE FOR SOMEONE THAT IS LIVING WITH THE DISEASE.
I CARRY A YELLOW FLOWER UP WITH ME ON THE PODIUM, UH, AND AROUND THE WALK BECAUSE MY MOM HAS ALZHEIMER'S.
SHE WAS DIAGNOSED JUST AFTER THE AGE OF 50 WITH EARLY ONSET.
UH, SHE IS IN HER LATE FIFTIES NOW, FIGHTING EVERY SINGLE DAY.
AND LAST YEAR SHE WAS UP WITH ME ON THE STAGE AS A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE BLUE FLOWER.
SO THAT'S SOMEONE LIVING WITH ALZHEIMER'S.
WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE FACT THAT THERE ARE 600 OF THESE WALKS ALL AROUND THE COUNTRY, IT'S A BIG NUMBER, RIGHT? IT CAN BE EASY TO GET LOST IN THE SHUFFLE THERE.
BUT I'LL TELL YOU THAT HERE IN BLUFFTON, WE ARE THE OPPOSITE OF LOST IN THE SHUFFLE.
WE MIGHT NOT BE ON THE HIGHEST OF RESEARCH AND FUNDING, BUT WE ARE ON THE FRONT LINES OF TREATMENT.
WE HERE IN BLUFFTON TWO YEARS AGO HAD AS FAR AS THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA GOES.
SO THAT INCLUDES PLACES LIKE GREENVILLE, PLACES LIKE CHARLESTON, WITH A LOT MORE PEOPLE THAN WE HAVE.
WE WERE THE FIRST ONES TO HAVE A BLUE FLOWER ACTIVELY BEING TREATED WITH SOME OF THE CUTTING EDGE MEDICATIONS APPROVED BY THE FDA.
HE WAS UP THERE ON THE STAGE REPRESENTING EVERYONE WITH THE DISEASE.
AND THE FOLKS FROM THE ALZHEIMER'S ASSOCIATION TOLD ME THAT HE WAS THE FIRST IN THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA TO DO THAT, BE THE BLUE FLOWER AT A WALK WHILE BEING TREATED, SAID, THAT'S AMAZING, RIGHT? WHAT DID WE DO LAST YEAR? WE DID IT AGAIN.
WE HAD THIS SECOND PERSON, MY MOM UP THERE.
SO THEN WE HAD BACK TO BACK YEARS OF DOING THAT.
SOMETHING THAT NO OTHER WALK IN THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA CAN EVEN SAY THEY'VE DONE ONCE.
BECAUSE HERE IS WHERE THE PROGRESS IS.
IT'S WHY WE CONTINUE TO DO THIS AND WHY WHEN WE COME OUT TO THINGS LIKE THIS, I CAN STAND UP HERE SO CONFIDENTLY AND TELL YOU ALL THAT THIS IS WHAT WE MAKE CHANGE.
PURPLE IS AN ALL TOO COMMON FLOWER IN OUR GARDEN.
IT'S FOR FOLKS THAT HAVE LOST SOMEONE TO THIS DISEASE.
RIGHT NOW, ONE IN THREE SENIORS ARE DYING WITH ALZHEIMER'S OR OTHER DEMENTIAS.
SO YOU CAN IMAGINE HOW MUCH PURPLE IS OUT THERE IN THAT GARDEN.
WE DON'T WANT THERE TO BE ANY RIGHT? BUT THAT GOAL IS FAR AWAY.
TO GET THERE, WE HAVE TO CONTINUE TO RAISE MONEY AND AWARENESS.
SO AS THE CEREMONY GOES, THE OTHER FLOWER THAT'S NOT ON THIS SLIDE RIGHT HERE IS A WHITE FLOWER.
AND SO WE BRING OUT THE REPRESENTATIVES OF THESE FLOWERS, FOR EXAMPLE, THE ORANGE WITH SENATOR DAVIS LAST YEAR.
AND THE OTHERS HAVE FOLKS AS WELL THAT COME OUT ON THE STAGE WITH ME.
AND THEN WE BRING OUT A YOUNG PERSON, A KID WITH A WHITE FLOWER, AND THEY STAND IN FRONT OF THE FOUR OTHER REPRESENTATIVES BECAUSE THE WHITE FLOWER SYMBOLIZES THE FIRST PERSON WHO'S GONNA BEAT THIS DISEASE.
THAT'S THE GOAL, IS TO HAVE SOMEONE THAT CAN STAND UP THERE WITH THAT FLOWER WHO HAS DONE THAT.
NOT JUST A KID WHO CAN REPRESENT THE HOPE, BUT TO HAVE SOMEONE UP THERE THAT CAN PHYSICALLY DO THAT.
AND SO THAT'S THE FLOWER YOU DON'T SEE, BECAUSE RIGHT NOW WE CAN'T PUT THAT IN OUR GARDEN, BUT AS WE DO, THAT'S ONLY GONNA COME BECAUSE WE CAN RAISE MORE MONEY.
SO BECAUSE YOU WALK WAS THE THEME OF OUR WALK LAST YEAR, IT BECAME A CALL AND RESPONSE DURING THE CEREMONY, BECAUSE THAT'S HAPPENING.
WE ARE FUELING CRITICAL PROGRESS IN DEMENTIA, CH DEMENTIA SCIENCE.
WE PARTNER WITH CLINICIANS TO TRACK THE OUTCOMES OF
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THOSE CLINICAL PROJECTS THAT CONTINUE TO PUSH THIS FORWARD.AND RIGHT NOW THERE ARE MORE FDA APPROVED MEDICATIONS FOR THIS DISEASE THAN THERE EVER HAVE BEEN BEFORE.
THERE'S MULTIPLE PEOPLE HAVE OPTIONS, WHICH IS CRAZY BECAUSE A FEW YEARS AGO THERE LITERALLY WEREN'T ANY THAT WERE PROVEN TO SLOW THIS DOWN.
AT LEAST THAT'S WHAT THE RESEARCH IS TELLING US.
BECAUSE YOU WALK, WE ALSO ARE ABLE TO OFFER TREATMENTS TO A LOT OF PEOPLE.
IT'S EASIER TO GET BECAUSE IT'S MEDICAID APPROVED.
WE ALSO FIGHT FOR A FUTURE AS WE WERE TALKING ABOUT, WHERE THAT'S ACCESSIBLE TO EVERYONE AND THAT WE CAN EVENTUALLY BEAT THIS DISEASE.
OUR WALK DETAILS, THIS IS FOR THIS YEAR WHEN WE ARE TALKING ABOUT THE 2025 WALK TO END ALZHEIMER'S.
IT'S ALL WELL AND GOOD, BUT HOW CAN I GET INVOLVED RIGHT HERE? YOU CAN MARK YOUR CALENDAR.
SO WHATEVER YOU WANNA DO, IT'S OCTOBER 25TH THIS YEAR.
SO JUST A FEW MONTHS AWAY, LIKE I SAID EARLIER IS RIGHT ON THE PROMENADE.
IT'S ABOUT AS CLOSE AS WE CAN GET FROM HERE.
UH, THE REGISTRATION WILL OPEN AT 10 THAT MORNING, BUT YOU CAN PRE-REGISTER AND YOU ARE ENCOURAGED TO PRE-REGISTER IN ADVANCE.
UM, THE END OPENING CEREMONY IS ABOUT 45 MINUTES LATER, SO YOU HAVE SOME TIME TO SOCIALIZE THAT MORNING, KIND OF WAKE UP.
WE, FOR SOME REASON, KNOCK ON WOOD, ALWAYS GET AMAZINGLY LUCKY WITH BEAUTIFUL WEATHER.
OBVIOUSLY WE'RE IN A BEAUTIFUL SPOT.
WE GO RIGHT DOWN BY THE CHURCH AND THE CROSS.
AND OUR GOALS, LIKE I MENTIONED, LAST YEAR WE RAISED $98,000.
OUR GOAL THIS YEAR IS TO GET TO ONE 10.
SO WE'RE TRYING TO UP THE ANTE HERE.
WE'RE TRYING TO PUSH OURSELVES AND OUR COMMUNITY TO RAISE MORE FUNDS TO MAKE EVEN MORE OF A DIFFERENCE.
AND AN IMPACT HERE IS THAT QR CODE.
THIS IS PRETTY MUCH MY LAST SLIDE, SO I'LL LEAVE THIS UP.
UH, IF YOU WANT TO REGISTER, IT IS FREE.
WE LOVE WHEN FOLKS JUST COME OUT AND WALK TO SUPPORT THE COSTS.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO IMMEDIATELY GO IN THERE AND GIVE A BUNCH OF MONEY.
WE'RE NOT TRYING TO PRESSURE ANYONE TO DO ANYTHING THEY DON'T WANT TO DO.
BUT WHAT YOU CAN DO IS JUST GO IN THERE, SIGN UP TO COME OUT AND HAVE A WALK WITH US.
ENJOY A NICE SATURDAY MORNING IN BLUFFTON.
UM, IF YOU ALSO AREN'T ABLE TO MAKE IT AND YOU WANNA MAKE A MONETARY DONATION, YOU'RE ABLE TO DO THAT AS WELL.
YOU CAN SIMPLY GO ON THERE AND SUPPORT ONE OF THE TEAMS LIKE STARSHIP PARTY BILL, LIKE THE BLUFFTON TEAM, LIKE ANY OF THE OTHER MUNICIPALITIES.
AND THANKS YOU GUYS AGAIN FOR LISTENING.
MAYOR, IT'S GREAT TO SIT NEXT TO AN IT GUY.
UM, UH, LAST YEAR I, I WALKED THE SLIGHTLY LESS THAN A MILE WALK WITH SENATOR DAVIS AND IT'S REALLY A GREAT EVENT.
UM, I WOULD ENCOURAGE EVERYBODY, UM, TO START A TEAM FOR YOUR JURISDICTION.
ALL YOU ALL YOU HAVE TO DO, TAKE THIS QR CODE FORM A TEAM.
UH, LIKE I'VE MENTIONED, I HAVE A LUNCH CHALLENGE WITH, UH, MRS. SALKA BACK THERE.
UM, AND HER TEAM IS, I LOVE BLUFFTON.
IS THAT CORRECT? THAT'S SO TRUE.
SO, UM, AS TYLER SAID, IT, IT DOESN'T, DOESN'T COST ANYTHING.
IT, IT'S LOW PRESSURE, JUST AWARENESS OF WHAT'S GOING ON.
AND IF THEY WANT TO GO INTO THAT TEAM AND MAKE A DONATION, HELP MAYOR SULCA CATCH STARSHIP HARVILLE, UH, THAT CHALLENGE IS OPEN TO ANY JURISDICTION.
IF YOU WANT A FORM TEAM, MY LUNCH, UH, CHALLENGE STANDS.
SO HAVING SAID THAT, WOULD ANYONE FROM THE BOARD, UH, LIKE TO ASK A QUESTION OF TYLER? HOW ABOUT THE PUBLIC? NO QUESTIONS.
'CAUSE THEY'RE ALL GONNA COME OUT ON OCTOBER 25TH.
SOUNDS GREAT, TYLER, THANK YOU VERY MUCH AND GOOD LUCK.
ONE OF THE REASONS I GOT INVOLVED, BECAUSE NO DOUBT I WILL BE TAKING ONE OF THOSE OTHER COLORS BEFORE TOO MUCH LONGER.
NEXT, UM, THANKS TO MAYOR COMER AND, UH, SCOTT MARSHALL.
UM, WE HAVE, UH, THE, OUR NEXT GUEST IS, UH,
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MEGAN SILSBY, THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE LOW COUNTRY CHAPTER OF THE AMERICAN RED CROSS.MEMBERS OF THE SOUTHERN LOW COUNTRY REGIONAL BOARD.
IT'S MY HONOR TO BE HERE TODAY.
MY NAME IS MEGAN SILSBEE AND I PROUDLY SERVE AS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE AMERICAN RED CROSS FOR OUR LOW COUNTRY CHAPTER.
I HAVE THE PRIVILEGE OF OVERSEEING THE NINE COUNTIES WITHIN MY CHAPTER JURISDICTION, SO EVERYTHING DOWN TO THE LOWER, UH, LOW COUNTRY AND EVERYTHING UP TO GEORGETOWN, WILLIAMSBURG COUNTY.
THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK WITH YOU TODAY.
I'M HONORED TO SHARE HOW WE'RE SERVING THE LOW COUNTRY REGION AND TO PROVIDE A FACE WITH THE MISSION THAT WE CARRY OUT EVERY DAY.
YOU MAY RECOGNIZE THE RED CROSS BECAUSE OF OUR DISASTER RELIEF EFFORTS OR WHEN THERE'S A BLOOD DRIVE, BUT I'M HERE TO SHARE SOME OF THE INFORMATION ON WHY THE RED CROSS IS MORE THAN JUST THAT.
WE ARE YOUR NEIGHBORS, YOUR VOLUNTEERS, AND YOUR PARTNERS IN BUILDING A MORE SAFE AND RESILIENT COMMUNITY.
OUR MISSION IS SIMPLE BUT POWERFUL TO PREVI, PREVENT AND ALLEVIATE HUMAN SUFFERING IN THE FACE OF EMERGENCIES BY MOBILIZING THE POWER OF OUR VOLUNTEERS AND THE GENEROSITY OF OUR DONORS.
YOU MAY RELATE TO THE RED CROSS WITH LARGE SCALE DISASTERS, AND RIGHTFULLY SO.
WE SHOW OPEN FORCE WHEN MONUMENTAL STORMS WREAK HAVOC ACROSS THE LOW COUNTRY AND THE UNITED STATES.
BUT WE SERVE LOCALLY EVERY DAY TOO.
IN 2024 ALONE, WE RESPONDED TO OVER 300 LOCAL DISASTERS, MOST OF THEM HOME FIRES.
WE PARTNER WITH LOCAL FIRE DEPARTMENTS WHO CALL ON US WHEN ONE OF OUR NEIGHBORS EXPERIENCES A HOME FIRE SO THAT WE CAN COME TO THE SCENE AND PROVIDE OUR VICTIM SUPPORT.
HOME FIRES CLAIM SEVEN LIVES A DAY IN THE UNITED STATES, AND THAT, AND WORKING SMOKE ALARM CUTS THAT RISK IN HALF.
THAT'S WHY WE'VE INSTALLED OVER 1000 FREE SMOKE ALARMS IN THE LOW COUNTRY.
LAST YEAR ALONE SINCE 20 20 14, THIS INITIATIVE HAS SAVED OVER 140 SOUTH CAROLINIAN LIVES.
IN 2024, WE PROVIDED FOOD, SHELTER, AND FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO OUR DISASTER VICTIMS. AND WE DO THIS AT NO COST TO THOSE AFFECTED THANKS TO THE GENEROSITY OF OUR COMMUNITY AND OUR VOLUNTEERS.
JUST AS WE WORK TO PROTECT LIVES AND HOMES, WE ALSO SAVE LIVES IN HOSPITALS.
OUR NEXT LINE OF SERVICES, ONE THAT WE TOUCHES, EVERYBODY, NEARLY EVERYBODY IN THIS ROOM ARE BLOOD SERVICES.
THE RED CROSS IS THE LARGEST SUPPLIER OF BLOOD DONATIONS PROVIDING NEARLY 40% OF THE NATION'S SUPPLY IN THE LOW COUNTRY.
WE HOSTED OVER 1200 BLOOD DRIVES AND COLLECTED OVER 24,000 UNITS OF BLOOD JUST LAST YEAR ALONE.
AND THE SOUTHERN LOW COUNTRY WAS PART OF THAT.
WE WERE ROUTINELY RUN, RUN DRIVES IN YOUR COMMUNITIES.
AND EVEN NEXT, NEXT WEEK, WE HAVE ONE IN THIS VERY LOCATION ON SEPTEMBER 3RD.
SUMMER IS ESPECIALLY CRITICAL.
DEMAND RISES, BUT DONATIONS FALL AND JUST ONE DONATION CAN SAVE UP TO THREE LIVES.
OF COURSE, SAVING LIVES ISN'T JUST ABOUT WHAT WE DO, IT'S ALSO ABOUT WHAT WE EMPOWER OTHERS TO DO.
AND THAT'S WHERE OUR TRAINING SERVICES COME IN.
OVER 4,000 PEOPLE IN OUR REGION COMPLETED CPR FIRST AID AND A ED TRAINING LAST YEAR ALONE.
WE ALSO REACHED 275 STUDENTS THROUGH OUR YOUTH PREPAREDNESS PROGRAMS. AND WHILE WE SERVE THE PUBLIC, WE ALSO HAVE A DEEP COMMITMENT TO THOSE WHO SERVED OUR COUNTRY.
LAST YEAR, WE PROVIDED SUPPORT FOR OUR MILITARY MEMBERS AND THEIR FAMILIES.
AND IT'S ONE OF OUR CORNERSTONES OF OUR MISSION.
WE PROUDLY SUPPORT THEM THROUGH OUR HERO CARE NETWORK AND OFFERING EMERGENCY COMMUNICATION, FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE, AND BEHAVIORAL TO HEALTH SUPPORT.
IN 2024, WE PROVIDED OVER 1900 LOWCOUNTRY CASES TO MILITARY MEMBERS, VETERANS, AND THEIR FAMILIES.
BEHIND ALL OF THIS WORK IS 696 VOLUNTEERS.
PEOPLE JUST LIKE YOU AND ME DEDICATING THEIR TIME, THEIR RESOURCES, WHO, WHO MAKE A REAL DIFFERENCE IN OUR COMMUNITY.
WE'RE GRATEFUL TO HAVE MANY OF THEM SERVE AS VOLUNTEERS IN YOUR COMMUNITY AS WELL.
I'M HERE TO HELP YOU SEE THAT THE AMERICAN RED CROSS IS NOT JUST A NATIONAL ORGANIZATION, BUT A TRUSTED LOCAL PARTNER, AN ESSENTIAL PART OF YOUR COMMUNITY SAFETY NET.
WE'RE HERE BEFORE, DURING, AND AFTER EMERGENCIES, STANDING ALONGSIDE THE PEOPLE THAT WE SERVE, BUT WE CAN'T DO IT ALONE.
THE STRENGTH OF THE RED CROSS REALLY COMES FROM THE, THE COMMUNITIES THAT WE SERVE.
THAT'S WHY I'M EAGER TO WORK WITH EACH OF YOU TO BETTER UNDERSTAND THE UNIQUE NEEDS OF YOUR COMMUNITIES TO RESPOND TO WITH PROGRAMS THAT MAKE A REAL DIFFERENCE.
MY GOAL TODAY IS SIMPLE TO GIVE YOU A CLEAR PICTURE OF WHAT WE DO, SO THAT WHEN YOUR COMMUNITY NEEDS HELP, YOU KNOW WHO TO CALL.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME, YOUR LEADERSHIP, AND YOUR PARTNERSHIP, AND I'D BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
UH, DO WE HAVE ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS FROM THE BOARD? YES, MEGAN, I BELIEVE YOU KNOW, WE LIVE.
JOSH, PLEASE GET TO THE MICROPHONE.
UH, MEGAN, GIVEN THAT WE LIVE IN A, UH, AREA THAT'S PRONE TO BEING IMPACTED BY STORMS AND OTHER EVENTS, WHAT ROLE DOES THE RED CROSS PLAY WITH STANDING UP SHELTERS POST A STORM EVENT? WE PARTNER
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VERY CLOSELY WITH OUR STATE OFFICIALS.SO WE HAVE A VERY CLOSE RELATIONSHIP WITH THE EMERGENCY MANAGERS AT THE STATE LEVEL AND AT THE MUNICIPAL LEVEL.
SO OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS, WE WORK CLOSELY WITH THE EMERGENCY MANAGERS.
MY ROLE DURING DISASTERS IS TO MEET WITH ALL OF YOU AND MAKE SURE THAT YOU HAVE A DIRECT LINE OF COMMUNICATION TO THE RED CROSS.
SO I AM HOPEFULLY GET GETTING MEETING SCHEDULED WITH, MY FIRST MEETING WAS WITH MAYOR KROMER, AND WE TALKED ABOUT HOW, WHAT WE DO IN TIMES OF DISASTER, RIGHT? SO WE, THE EMERGENCY MANAGERS IDENTIFY WHERE THE SHELTERS WILL BE LOCATED.
THE RED CROSS COMES IN AND SUPPORTS.
WE MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE PREPARED WITH VOLUNTEERS.
SO RIGHT NOW WE'RE REALLY FOCUSING ON BUILDING UP OUR LOCAL VOLUNTEER PIPELINE SO THAT WE ARE PREPARED TO STAND UP SHELTERS.
WE REALLY NEED MORE SHELTER VOLUNTEERS.
UM, SO THAT'S, THAT'S OUR ROLE.
AND I'M HAPPY TO TALK MORE IN DEPTH WITH YOU.
I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE WAS A NEED FOR MORE VOLUNTEERS TO HELP SUPPORT THOSE CENTERS.
AND SO PLEASE FEEL FREE TO REACH OUT TO US TO HELP YOU FIND THOSE FOLKS BECAUSE IT'S GONNA BE CRITICAL TO HAVE THEM AVAILABLE IF AND WHEN THAT NEED SHOULD ARISE.
YEAH, THAT, THAT WOULD BE GREAT.
AND I, I'D HAPPY TO BE REACH OUT TO ALL OF YOU.
ONE OF THE UNIQUE PARTNERSHIPS THAT WE'RE DOING IS WE'RE GOING AROUND TO COMMUNITY GROUPS.
LIKE FOR EXAMPLE, THE CITADEL.
THEY'RE HOSTING A SHELTER BOOTCAMP NEXT WEEK.
AND 40 CADETS ARE SIGNED UP TO BE TRAINED AS SHELTER VOLUNTEERS.
AND SO THAT'S A MODEL THAT WE CAN REPLICATE WITH BUSINESSES IN YOUR COMMUNITY, WITH YOUR TOWN.
SO IF YOU HAVE TOWN STAFF THAT YOU FEEL LIKE WOULD BENEFIT FROM BEING TRAINED IN SHELTER VOLUNTEERS OR IF YOU KNOW A BUSINESS THAT IS INTERESTED IN DISASTER RELIEF EFFORT, PLEASE REACH OUT AND LET ME KNOW.
AND I'M HAPPY TO MAKE THAT, UM, PARTNERSHIP.
ANY OTHER, ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FROM THE BOARD? ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS FROM THE PUBLIC? YES, PLEASE GO TO THE MICROPHONE.
IS IT TURNED ON? YOU CAN PULL IT DOWN.
UM, ALL THERE THAT THE BLOOD MOBILE IS A HUGE THING.
WHERE IS A CALENDAR OF SOMETHING SO THAT PEOPLE CAN KNOW THE LOCATION SO THEY CAN PREPARE AHEAD? YEAH, THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.
SO YOU CAN GO ONLINE TO RED CROSS BLOOD.ORG AND TYPE IN YOUR ZIP CODE AND A WHOLE LIST OF BLOOD DRIVES IN THE LOCAL COMMUNITY WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR YOU TO SEE.
ANYONE ELSE FROM THE PUBLIC? MEGAN, COULD YOU PLEASE, UM, MAKE SURE THAT CARRIE HAS ANY INFORMATION SUCH AS QR CODES OR, OR PHONE NUMBERS AND WE'LL MAKE SURE WE GET IT OUT TO THE BOARD? YES, OF COURSE.
NEXT, UH, FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO DON'T KNOW, THERE IS A NEW YMCA, UH, BEING BUILT IN, IN THE CITY OF HARDY MILL.
UM, AND THEY'RE OUR NEXT PRESENTERS.
AND THIS IS, UH, I BELIEVE AN IMPORTANT REGIONAL, UM, FACILITY THAT'S GONE UP.
'CAUSE IT'S SO CENTRALLY LOCATED IN ACCESS, EVEN THOUGH IT'S IN THE CITY OF HARVILLE, IT WILL SERVE THE ENTIRE REGION.
SO I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE, BECAUSE IT'S REALLY GONE UP PRETTY FAST, IT WOULD BE BENEFICIAL TO EVERYONE HERE TO KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON.
UH, WITH THE YMCA, PARTICULARLY ONE OF THE ASPECTS.
AND THEY'LL GO INTO, WE HAVE A SUBCOMMITTEE WORKING ON CHILDCARE AS WE ALL KNOW.
AND THIS WILL BE A NEW FACILITY TO SERVICE THAT NEED THAT WE HAVE IN THE LOW COUNTRY.
SO I'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE, UM, OUR TWO PRESENTERS.
MR. MIKE BOSWICK, WHO IS THE CEO OF THE BEFORD.
AND MS. JULIE KUHNS S UP FRONT.
I INTRODUCED YOU BOTH, SO YOU BOTH HAVE TO GO UP THERE.
WELL, I'M GONNA GIVE OUT SOME INFORMATION TO EVERYBODY.
THAT WAY YOU CAN FOLLOW ALONG.
MICHAEL BOSWICK WITH THE YMCA OF THE LOAF COUNTRY.
WE ARE, UH, EXCITED ABOUT THIS PROJECT.
WE SERVICE BEAUFORT COUNTY, JASPER COUNTY, AND HAMPTON COUNTY.
THAT'S OUR SERVICE AREA FOR OUR ASSOCIATION, AND WE'RE EXCITED TO BE ABLE TO SERVE RIGHT NOW.
UM, WE DO MOSTLY, MOST OF OUR SERVICES ARE OUR NORTH OF THE BROAD AND BEAUFORT PORT ROYAL, AND WE'RE EXCITED TO BE ABLE TO DO MORE THINGS.
AND THE JASPER BLUFFTON, UH, BEAUFORT COUNTY REGION.
SO JUST WHAT I CALL KIND OF THE OET AREA.
OUR NEW LOCATION WILL BE, UH, TOWARDS THE, WILL BE THE, UH, RIGHT ACROSS FROM OLDFIELD AT THAT NEW LIGHT INTERSECTION OFF OF ONE 70.
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SO IT'S CALLED EAST AR AND WE'RE EXCITED, UH, UH, THAT WE COULD BE ABLE TO PROVIDE SERVICES TO THAT, THAT COMMUNITY AND THE, THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES.UM, IF I CAN GET, JULIE, WHY DON'T YOU START OFF BY GOING THROUGH, THERE'S A SLIDESHOW AND THEN I HAVE A PRESENTATION OF THE ACTUAL VIDEO OF THE, WHAT THE NEW Y WILL LOOK LIKE IF ANYBODY'S INTERESTED.
I'M OUT THERE ALMOST EVERY DAY.
WE HAVE A LITTLE MODULE YOU CAN STOP BY AND I CAN TAKE YOU FOR A TOUR IN PERSON TOO IF YOU WOULD LIKE.
JUST SOME TIPS IF YOU COME OUT, WEAR THE RIGHT KIND OF SHOES AND KNOW WE HAVE A LOT OF FROGS RIGHT NOW, WE'RE KIND OF INFESTED.
UM, THANK YOU GUYS FOR INVITING US TO BE HERE AND FOR THE, UM, ALZHEIMER'S WALK AND THE AMERICAN RED CROSS, YOU SHOULD KNOW THAT WE DEAL WITH A LOT OF SENIORS AT THE Y AND WE RELY HEAVILY ON THE RED CROSS TO CERTIFY US.
SO WE CAN'T THANK BOTH OF YOU GUYS ENOUGH FOR WHAT YOU'RE DOING IN OUR COMMUNITIES.
THAT BEING SAID, WE DO HAVE A NEW WHY COMING.
I APPARENTLY DUNNO HOW TO WORK A POWERPOINT.
SO WE DO WANNA THANK EVERYBODY WHO HAS HELPED US OUT SO FAR.
AS YOU CAN SEE, THE CITY OF HARVILLE HAS BEEN VERY INSTRUMENTAL AS WELL AS OTHER CONGRESSMEN AND LEGISLATORS.
WE'VE HAD A LOT OF COMMUNITY SUPPORT THROUGH OUR FOUNDATIONS AS WELL AS PRIVATE INDIVIDUALS.
WE ARE THE FIRST BUILDING THAT'S GOING IN RIGHT NOW IN THAT DEVELOPMENT.
SO IF YOU CALL IN OFF ONE 70, YOU GO TO THE RIGHT END OF THE FIRST ENTRY, YOU'RE GONNA SEE US RIGHT THERE.
YOU CAN'T MISS, THIS IS THE LAYOUT INTERIOR.
THE REASON THAT I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE TALK ABOUT THIS A LITTLE BIT IS THAT THIS IS A DIRECT RESULT OF A FEASIBILITY STUDY THAT WAS DONE IN 2017, I BELIEVE, THAT TOLD US WHAT OUR CAPACITY LIMITS WERE GONNA NEED TO BE.
THERE WAS A LOT OF NEED IN THE REGION AND WE NEEDED TO BE ABLE TO ACCOMMODATE THAT TO WHATEVER DEGREE THAT WE COULD.
AND THAT'S HOW WE DECIDED ON SQUARE FOOTAGE, CHILDCARE ROOMS AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE.
SO THIS WAS BUILT FOR THE COMMUNITY.
THIS IS WHERE WE'RE AT RIGHT NOW.
EVERY WEEK, JAY DUNN, GMC, SENDS US PICTURES OF WHERE WE'RE AT AND THEY ARE MOVING RIGHT ALONG.
FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO ATTENDED OUR BEAM CEREMONY, WE ARE BEYOND THAT NOW.
WE'VE GOT WALLS, ROOF, THEY'RE GETTING READY TO START DOING THINGS INSIDE.
THIS IS WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE OVERHEAD.
WE'RE LUCKY TO HAVE A DRAIN, A DRONE THAT COMES AND CHECKS IN ON US EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE, AS WELL AS OUR BALD EAGLES THAT ARE LIVING OUT THERE.
UM, THIS IS SOME PICTURES FROM OUR EVENTS, FROM OUR BEAM CEREMONY AND OUR RIBBON CUTTING WITH A GREAT TIME.
AND THANK YOU ALL FOR WHO CAME OUT HERE.
THE BUILDING ITSELF DOESN'T MATTER EXCEPT FOR WHAT'S GOING IN IT, RIGHT? IT'S WHAT WE'RE DOING INSIDE AND WE HAVE A LOT COMING TO YOUR REGION.
FIRST THING THAT WE HAVE COMING IS YOUTH SPORTS.
WE'RE GONNA HAVE IT RIGHT NOW.
ONE OF THE BIGGEST CONCERNS THAT THE Y HAS, AND WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IT REGULARLY, IS THAT WHILE WE HAVE CHILDCARE ISSUES FOR OUR KIDS, WE NEED SOMETHING FOR OUR TEENS.
WE NEED TO STRUCTURE THINGS FOR THEM DURING THE SUMMER WHEN MOM AND DAD'S WORKING, WE SEE JUVENILE DETENTION RATES GOING UP AND WE WORK EVERY DAY OKAY.
TO TRY TO FIGURE THAT OUT FOR OUR PARENTS AND FOR OUR KIDS.
UM, Y'ALL HAVE THIS STUFF IN YOUR PACKET, SO I'M NOT GONNA GO TOO MUCH INTO DETAIL ON THAT.
SHOWING YOU GUYS FOR THE ADULTS.
I WANTED TO POINT SOMETHING OUT HERE.
PARENTS NIGHT OUT, WHO DOES THAT? WE ONCE A MONTH, I BELIEVE, RIGHT ON FRIDAYS.
UM, PROVIDE CHILDCARE IN THE EVENING SO THAT PARENTS CAN GO ON A DATE, GO OUT WITH THEIR FRIENDS, BE A PART OF THE COMMUNITY.
WE'RE PACKED TO THE GILLS AT OUR PORT ROYAL SITE AND WE ANTICIPATE HAVING THAT IN HARDY MILL AS WELL FOR THE COMMUNITY.
WE HAVE A LOT GOING ON COMMUNITY EVENTS.
WE HAVE A LOT OF VOLUNTEER PROGRAMS AND WE DO OFFER SCHOLARSHIPS BECAUSE WE DON'T WANT TO LEAVE ANYBODY BEHIND AND AFFORDABILITY SHOULD NOT BE A REASON.
THAT BEING SAID, THIS IS OUR TERRITORY.
THIS IS A 10 MILE RADIUS AROUND OUR LOCATION.
IT REACHES UP IN THE RICHMOND, COVERS A GOOD PORTION OF BLUFFTON ALL THE WAY OUT TO OUR RIVER.
AND THEN OBVIOUSLY DOWN IN THE VILLE.
THAT'S A 10 MILE RADIUS AROUND THE Y THAT'S SERVING A LOT OF PEOPLE AND WE ANTICIPATE UP TO 10,000 MEMBERS.
WHERE'S BLUFFTON? WE GOT CHILDCARE COMING.
WE KNOW BLUFFTON HAS BEEN TALKING A LOT ABOUT CHILDCARE.
WE KNOW THE BAY AT PARTY BILL'S BEEN TALKING A LOT ABOUT CHILDCARE AND WE'VE BEEN LISTENING.
CHILDCARE IS ONLY AS GOOD AS WHAT THE PARENTS CAN AFFORD.
AND RIGHT NOW MARKET RATES ARE ABOUT $1,200 A MONTH FOR FULL-TIME CARE.
PARENTS ARE WORKING TO PAY CHILDCARE.
OUR RATES AT THEIR MAX ARE $800 A MONTH.
THAT'S A SIGNIFICANT REDUCTION AND MAKES IT VERY AFFORDABLE FOR FAMILIES.
BUT 'CAUSE WE HAVE A SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM, WE CAN REDUCE THAT RATE TO BY HALF.
[00:30:01]
AND WE HAVE MANY PARENTS THAT PAY $400 A MONTH FOR OUR FULL-TIME CARE.THIS COVERS A WIDE BREADTH OF PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY IN TERMS OF AFFORDABILITY.
WE DON'T JUST HAVE AFFORDABLE CARE THOUGH.
WE HAVE VERY QUALITY ORIENTED CARE.
ALL OF OUR CHILDCARE IS LICENSED, WHICH MEANS IT MEETS STATE STANDARDS AND ALL OF OUR STAFF THEN CERTIFIED, WHICH IS WHY WE RELY HEAVILY ON THE RED CROSS FOR CPR AND FOR STATE.
UM, ALL OF OUR TEACHERS GET EDUCATED AND WE PARTNER WITH THE SCHOOL SYSTEMS TO CREATE OUR CURRICULUM SO THAT WE CAN DO THINGS LIKE STEM ACTIVITIES AND HOMEWORK ASSISTANCE.
EVERY ONE OF OUR PRE CARES 100% KINDERGARTEN READY, WHICH WE'RE VERY, VERY, VERY PROUD OF.
ONE THING THAT WE DO THAT NO OTHER CHILDCARE DOES AROUND HERE IS WE CREATE A WATER SAFETY CURRICULUM BECAUSE WE HAVE A POOL, WE'RE THE CHILDCARE WITH A POOL.
AND SO WE'RE VERY, VERY BIG ON WATER SAFETY HERE.
WE BELIEVE AT APROPOS FOR OUR REGION.
AND IT, IT'S A PART OF OUR EVERYDAY CHILDCARE OPTIONS.
UM, THIS IS MEETING MAJOR CRITICAL NEED.
BY THE TIME THIS IS SAID AND DONE, WE'LL BE TAKING ON A SIGNIFICANT PERCENTAGE OF THE CHILDCARE IN THIS REGION.
THAT BEING SAID, THIS IS AN $18 MILLION INVESTMENT THAT THE YMCA IS PUTTING INTO YOUR COMMUNITIES.
IT'S A SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENT FOR 15 MILLION OF THAT.
WE'VE GOTTEN SOME HELP FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES THAT THE CITY OF PARTY BILLS GIVEN US SIX FIGURES RIGHT NOW.
AND THEY'RE BIG, BIG ADVOCATES FOR US COMING.
WE HAVE OTHER SUPPORTERS, BUT WE STILL HAVE MONEY LEFT TO RAISE.
WE HAVE ABOUT ONE AND A HALF MILLION WE HAVE TO RAISE, AND WE DO NEED THIS REGION SUPPORT.
WE NEED YOUR MUNICIPALITY SUPPORT.
OKAY? IT'S JUST A FACT OF THE MATTER.
WE ARE PROVIDING SERVICES AND COMMUNITY RECREATION FOR A GREAT MANY OF YOU, AND WE DON'T WANT ANYBODY LEFT BEHIND.
THAT BEING SAID, AS YOU CAN SEE, WE HAVE A LOT OF NAMING OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE IN YOUR PACKETS.
YOU HAVE ALL OF THIS INFORMATION AS A W AS AS WELL AS A WAY TO GET INVOLVED.
UM, EVEN IF AS A MUNICIPALITY YOU CAN'T GET INVOLVED FINANCIALLY, WE KNOW YOU HAVE BIGGER COMMUNICATION CHANNELS THAN US, AND WE ARE ASKING THAT YOU USE IT TO SPREAD THE WORDS TO OUR FAMILIES, TO OUR PARENTS, AS WELL AS OUR SENIORS OUT THERE LETTING THEM KNOW THAT THESE FACILITIES ARE COMING FOR THEM.
THAT BEING SAID, WE'RE GONNA TURN IT BACK OVER TO MIKE AND HE'S GONNA SHOW YOU WHAT THIS BUILDING LOOKS LIKE.
CAN YOU HELP HIM OUT?
I DON'T HAVE MY TECH GUY WITH ME.
ONE IS NOT SPECIFIC FOR THE CHILDCARE.
SO THE CHILDRE WILL HAVE ITS OWN SEPARATE ENTRY AND YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO GET IN WITHOUT SCANNING IN, UH, TO THE FACILITY.
SO IT WILL BE A SECURE, UH, BUILDING LIKE A SCHOOL.
SO YOU'LL HAVE, UH, ACCESS TO BOTH GOING IN THE MAIN Y OR INTO THE CHILDCARE CENTER.
THAT'S THE FRONT LOBBY WALL CHECK IN AREA.
THERE'LL ALSO BE A LITTLE BAR AREA FOR COFFEE, DRINKS, THINGS LIKE THAT.
UM, THAT'S KIND AN ENTRY TO THE POOL AREA.
SO WE'LL HAVE A ZERO DEPTH WALK-IN ENTRY TO THE POOL.
SO FOR THOSE THAT HAVE TROUBLE WITH STAIRS, WE STILL JUST WALK RIGHT INTO THE POOL WITHOUT HAVING TO DEAL WITH STAIRS OF ANY SORT, WHICH IS A BIG, UH, PLUS FOR US.
WE DEAL WITH A LOT OF PHYSICAL THERAPY PATIENTS, A LOT OF SENIORS.
AND SO HAVING EASY ACCESS IS VERY IMPORTANT.
UH, FITNESS GYM WILL BE WIDE OPEN WHERE YOU CAN WORK OUT EXERCISE, STATE OF THE ART EQUIPMENT.
I'M LEAVING TOMORROW TO GO TO, UH, WISCONSIN TO MEET WITH MATRIX WHO DID HARDY MILLS EQUIPMENT TO LOOK AT ALL THEIR NEW UPDATED, UH, EQUIPMENT THAT WE'RE GONNA BE, UH, PURCHASING FOR THE NEW WIFE.
SO WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT THAT COMING UP AS WELL.
WE'LL HAVE A SEPARATE SPIN ROOM, UH, A SEPARATE AEROBICS STUDIO ROOM, AND THERE'S THE AEROBICS ROOM.
WE'LL HAVE A NUTRITIONIST, MASSAGE THERAPIST ON STAFF THAT WILL BE PROVIDING SERVICES TO THE COMMUNITY AS WELL.
THAT'S THE ENTRANCE TO THE CHILDCARE CENTER.
SO THEY'LL HAVE AN ENTRY, THERE'LL BE A SCAN TO COME IN, YOU'LL SEE DOUBLE DOORS.
THEY'LL HAVE TO BE SCANNED IN, COME INTO THE DOOR.
UM, AND THEN YOU'LL HAVE, UH, THE SEPARATE ROOMS BASED OFF OF AGE GROUPS.
WE'RE GONNA BE PROVIDING TWO THROUGH 5-YEAR-OLD PREKC PROGRAM AND WILL BE EDUCATIONAL BASED.
SO ALL KIDS WILL BE COMING OUT READY TO GO INTO KINDERGARTEN AND GO TO SCHOOL.
SO THAT GIVES YOU A GREAT VIEW OF THE Y OVERALL.
[00:35:01]
YMCA, THAT'S JUST THE FIRST PHASE OF THE Y.WE DO HAVE LAND TO THE RIGHT OF IT, WHICH WOULD BE THE SECOND PHASE THAT WE PLAN ON, HOPEFULLY IN THE NOT SO FAR FUTURE BEING ABLE TO EXPAND.
ANY QUESTIONS ON THE PROJECT OR ANYTHING THAT YOU SAW THAT I CAN ANSWER? SURE.
NOBODY, ANYONE FROM THE BOARD? ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS? YEAH, I DON'T KNOW IF, IF YOU WANT TO ANSWER OR SHE DOES, BUT, UM, I WAS JUST CURIOUS WITH YOUR SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM.
HOW DOES THAT WORK? HOW IS THAT? YOU KNOW, WHERE IT SAID 12 8, 400 AND ALSO IN THE SAME THING WHEN YOU'RE TALKING LIKE, HOW MANY KIDS ARE YOU GONNA BE ABLE TO HANDLE? OKAY.
SO TO START, JUST, SO AN EXAMPLE AT OUR CURRENT Y WE GIVE OUT, UH, $320,000 IN SCHOLARSHIP LAST YEAR.
THAT'S FOR CHILDCARE LICENSE, CHILDCARE, THAT'S FOR AFTER SCHOOL, THAT'S FOR SUMMER CAMP.
SO YOU CAN GET SCHOLARSHIP FOR ANY OF THE PROGRAMS. WE OFFER YOUTH SPORTS SWIM LESSONS.
WE GIVE AWAY, UH, CLOSE TO A THOUSAND FREE SWIM LESSONS.
SO THAT'S ALL OF OUR, UM, PROGRAMS THAT WE OFFER.
UH, TYPICALLY, UH, CHILDCARE, WE SEE ABOUT 50 TO 60% OF OUR CLIENTS ARE ON SOME SORT OF SCHOLARSHIP.
AND OUR SCHOLARSHIP WORKS BASED OFF THE POVERTY SCALE, GOVERNMENT POVERTY SCALE BASED OFF OF YOUR INCOME AND NUMBER OF PEOPLE IN YOUR HOUSEHOLD IS WHAT DETERMINES YOUR SCHOLARSHIP PERCENTAGE.
OKAY? SO WE, WE HAVE THREE CLASSROOMS. THERE'LL BE A, A TWO, 3-YEAR-OLD, THREE TO FOUR, AND A FOUR TO 5-YEAR-OLD CLASSROOMS. AND WE EXPECT, DEPENDING ON LICENSING, BUT TYPICALLY BASED OFF OF WHAT WE HAVE NOW, WE EXPECT THERE TO BE ABOUT, UH, 60 TO 70 SPOTS COMBINED.
SO IT COULD BE MORE THAN THAT DEPENDING ON, ON HOW LICENSING, UH, TELLS US.
THEY DETERMINE THAT BASED OFF SQUARE FOOTAGE.
WE, WE ARE SUPER THANKFUL FOR HARDY BILL AND THEIR SUPPORT OF THIS PROJECT.
WE COULDN'T BE DOING THIS WITHOUT THEM.
UM, FISHER FAMILY, JEFF COGAN, THEY DONATED THE LAND, SO THAT WAS A BIG DONATION.
THEY ALSO MADE A CASH, UH, DONATION AS WELL TOWARDS THE PROJECT, WHICH HAS REALLY HELPED.
WE HOPE THAT TOWN OF BLUFFTON, BEAUFORT COUNTY WOULD LOOK AT SUPPORTING THIS PROGRAM SINCE WE'RE GONNA BE PROVIDING SO MANY SERVICES TO YOUR, TO YOUR, TO YOUR PEOPLE IN YOUR, YOUR LOCAL AREA.
SO PLEASE, UM, COME SEE US AND COME BY IF YOU WANT TO TOUR IN PERSON, I'D BE GLAD TO SHOW YOU AROUND AND GO OVER EVERYTHING WE'RE DOING.
OUR ANTICIPATION IS, UH, MARCH, THAT WILL BE OPENING.
UH, NOW WE HAVEN'T GOTTEN THROUGH HURRICANE SEASON, SO THAT COULD CHANGE THINGS, BUT OUR HOPE IS THAT, UH, MARCH WE'LL BE HAVING OUR GRAND OPENING.
AND I APPRECIATE ALL THOSE THAT CAME OUT.
WE HAD A LITTLE BIT SIGN BEAMING EVENT, UH, ABOUT A MONTH AGO, AND I APPRECIATE ALL THOSE THAT CAME OUT AND SUPPORTED US FOR THAT.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? MIKE? COULD YOU PUT UP THE, UM, THE SLIDE THAT HAS TECH GUY,
SO JUST GO, GO BACKWARDS AND PUT UP THE SLIDES OF THE VARIOUS, UM, DONATION POSSIBILITIES.
YES, THERE ARE DIFFERENT LEVELS.
SO THERE'S NAMING RIGHTS, UM, WITHIN THE, UH, SEE IF I GOT THIS.
ALLEN, I THINK YOU NEED YOUR HELP.
JUST GIVE ME, I KNOW ALL THAT GREAT AT THIS.
I'M NOT USED TO BEING THE ONE THAT HAS IT.
ONE THING AND THEN YOU'RE ON THE HOOK FOREVER.
SO WE DO HAVE NAMING OPPORTUNITIES.
SO IF, UM, YOU DO DONATE, YOU CAN HAVE SOME NAMING RIGHTS WITHIN THE BUILDING FOR YOUR AREA THAT YOU'RE SUPPORTING.
SO, YOU KNOW, UH, CITY OF BLUFFTON WANTED TO HAVE CHILDCARE NAMING RIGHTS.
THEY COULD PUT THEIR NAME ON THE, THE, THE BUILDING IF THEY WOULD LIKE TO.
MAYOR HARRY TOLD ME I WAS, I NEED TO STAY WITHIN CERTAIN TIME LIMITS.
WELL, WAIT A MINUTE, WAIT A MINUTE.
WE, WE, I HAVE AN OFFER TO THE PUBLIC, YET ANYONE FROM THE PUBLIC LIKE TO ASK THE QUESTION, MAKE ANY COMMENTS.
YOU AGAIN, JULIE, YOU'RE NOT ALLOWED TO
YES, WE'RE GONNA HAVE PICKLE BALL.
YEAH, WE, WE DEFINITELY WILL HAVE PICKLE BALL.
UH, AS PART OF IT, WE, WE'VE LEARNED YOU HAVE TO HAVE THAT.
WE'RE DEALING WITH THAT IN PART OIL AND WE'RE TRYING TO OFFER MORE OF THAT IN OUR CURRENT LOCATION.
AND WE KNOW THAT WE'LL BE PART OF AS WE EXPAND AND AS WE START IN OUR NEW SITE AS WELL.
UM, WE DO HAVE A, THE FIRST PART OF THE, THE PICTURES THAT YOU SAW WAS ABOUT THE FIRST 10 ACRES.
WE HAVE 10 OTHER ACRES, UH, PART OF THAT, UH, PART OF THAT PROJECT TO DO OTHER PROJECTS LIKE MORE PICKLEBALL, COURTS AND, UH, A GYMNASIUM, THINGS LIKE THAT.
[00:40:01]
TODD, GIVEN THE DEMOGRAPHICS OF BEAUFORT COUNTY, THE, UM, NAMING OF THE OUTDOOR PICKLEBALL COURT, THE BEAUFORT COUNTY PICKLEBALL COURT WOULD BE, I, I THINK TOTALLY APPROPRIATE, DON'T YOU? OH YEAH, I THINK THAT'D BE GREAT.WHAT DO YOU SAY ABOUT THAT, MIKE? MIKE, WHAT DO YOU THINK, MIKE? YOU PUT THAT FORWARD TO THE COUNCIL? I SAY I HAVE PICKLEBALL THAT ALREADY
YEAH, IT'S, IT'S DEFINITELY A GROWING FUN SPORT.
SO WE'RE, WE, WE, WE ANTICIPATE A LOT OF SENIORS, SO WE KNOW WE'RE GONNA HAVE, UH, WATER AEROBICS, PICKLEBALL, THINGS LIKE THAT.
SPECIAL SENIOR CLASSES THAT, UH, FOR THOSE 55, 16 UP TYPE OF CLASSES.
ANYTHING ELSE I CAN ANSWER? AGAIN, PLEASE STOP BY THE SITE.
AND, UM, WE'D LOVE TO SEE YOU AND COME BY AND KIND OF GIVE YOU A TOUR AND, AND WE CAN KIND OF GO THROUGH ALL THE, UH, THINGS THAT WE WILL BE OFFERING.
MIKE, DID YOU GO TO THE MEMBERSHIP COST FOR, FOR PEOPLE, JUST SO THEY KNOW? YEAH, TYPICALLY MEMBERSHIP'S AROUND 50 BUCKS FOR AN INDIVIDUAL, 85 FOR A FAMILY.
UM, DIFFERENT LEVELS IS A LITTLE BIT LESS FOR SENIORS AND FOR MILITARY.
UH, BUT WE DO HAVE SCHOLARSHIPS.
SO, UH, I THINK JULIE TALKED A LITTLE BIT.
WE'RE NOT GONNA TURN ANYBODY AWAY.
IF THEY NEED HELP AND THEY WANT TO BE A PARTICIPATE IN OUR PROGRAMS OR BE A MEMBER, WE CAN OFFER THEM SCHOLARSHIP AS WELL.
BUT THAT'S ABOUT WHAT THE RATES WILL BE, SAME AS THEY ARE IN PORT ROYAL.
IS THAT PER MONTH OR PER YEAR? PER MONTH, YEAH.
AND I FOUND OUT THAT THE BEAM SIGNING THAT, UH, MAYOR PHILLIPS IS, UH, ON THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS.
IS THAT A CORRECT MAYOR? YES, SIR.
WE HAVE A GOOD PORT WORLD REPRESENTATION.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? STEVEN? EXCUSE JUST OUTTA CURIOSITY, YOU'RE PLANNING ON DOING YOUR OWN ATHLETICS? WE, WE WILL BE DOING YOUTH SPORTS.
UH, WE USUALLY START AROUND AGE THREE TO 12 AS OUR RANGE FOR THE YOUTH SPORTS.
MY HOPE IS TO PARTNER WITH HARDY BILL AND JASPER TO, UM, PARTNER WITH THEM TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE SOME, UH, MORE SERVICES FOR THEM AS WELL.
BUT YES, WE'LL BE PROVIDING SOME PROGRAMS FOR THOSE, THOSE AGENCIES OPEN.
JUST MEMBERS OR ANYBODY IN THE COUNTY, ANYBODY.
SO YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE A MEMBER TO PARTICIPATE IN ANY OF OUR PROGRAMS. WE DO HAVE NON-MEMBER RATES OR WAYS TO BE ABLE TO PARTICIPATE.
SO LIKE SWIMMING, YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE A MEMBER.
YOU CAN PAY A DIFFERENT RATE, SEPARATE RATE FOR THAT.
ANY, ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? VERY GOOD QUESTIONS.
ANY, ANYBODY ELSE? THANK YOU, MIKE.
JUST TO NOTE, SINCE CHILDCARE CAME UP, UM, I KNOW WE HAVE A COUPLE OF JURISDICTIONS, UM, BRINGING FORWARD THE RESOLUTION TO THEIR COUNCILS, UH, IN SEPTEMBER.
UH, I JUST TO LET YOU KNOW, I'VE BEEN WORKING WITH ONE OF JASPER'S LOBBYIST AND I'LL BE WORKING WITH THE MASC, UH, TO HELP, ONCE WE HAVE EVERYONE WHO WANTS TO BE PART OF IT, HELP US.
AND IN TERMS OF WHAT STEPS WE CAN TAKE TO GET THIS ON THE AGENDA, THIS CHILD TRI SHARE AGENDA, UM, UP IN COLUMBIA FOR THE NEXT BUDGET SEASON.
UM, I'M TOLD THAT GETTING, UM, GETTING IT ON THE SPEAKER'S RADAR IS ESSENTIAL IF WE'RE GONNA BE ABLE TO GET, UM, TO GET SOMETHING GOING FROM THE STATE TO PARTICIPATE IN THE TRI SHARE PROGRAM.
SO AS SOON AS EVERYBODY GETS TOGETHER, UH, I'LL BE WORKING ON HOW DO WE GET IT UP TO THE STATE LEVEL AS WELL.
AND IF ANYBODY HAS ANY SUGGESTIONS ABOUT THAT, PLEASE, YOU KNOW, LET ME KNOW.
UH, THIS IS, THIS COULD, THE Y COULD POTENTIALLY BE A GREAT TEST AREA FOR TRI SHARE, UH, AS, AS WELL AS THE OTHER PROGRAMS THAT THEY HAVE.
HAVE YOU RECEIVED ALL OF THE RESOLUTIONS FROM ALL THE BODIES AT THIS POINT? OR THERE STILL SOME OUTSTANDING, YOUR HONOR, I THINK HILTON HAD HAS THANK YOU, MR. TECH
[00:45:01]
A NEW NICKNAME.OH, YOU KNOW, IT'S THAT JERSEY HUMOR.
IT GETS ME IN TROUBLE ALL THE TIME.
I, HILTON HAD, AND JASPER, I AND BUFORD, I BELIEVE ARE, THEY'RE GONNA HAVE IT ON THEIR SEPTEMBER AGENDAS.
UM, WHO, WHO ELSE I KNOW HARDY, BILL, BLUFFTON AND BEAUFORT HAVE PASSED IT.
UH, MAYOR PHILLIPS, UH, THAT PORT ROYAL DISCUSSED IT YET.
I FORGOT WHO WAS IN AND WHO NOT.
I, I'LL HAVE TO CHECK WITH THE MSC.
UH, I THINK THEY MIGHT HAVE IT ON THEIR SEPTEMBER AGENDA AS WELL.
SO WE HAVE A, UH, A FEW MORE SHOULD BE WRAPPED UP SEPTEMBER.
I'M GOING IN OCTOBER TO, UH, A-M-S-C-M-A-S-C ADVOCACY MEETING.
SO, UH, WE'LL TRY TO GET THE NEXT STEPS ONCE WE KNOW WHO'S IN.
WE NEED TO DISCUSS THE SEPTEMBER AGENDA, WHICH WILL BE HOSTED BY OUR BEST IT GUY, ONE OF THE MAYORS, UH, MAYOR PERRY HAS TAKEN A WE
SO AS I'M PROVING WHY ALZHEIMER'S IS SO IMPORTANT TO ME,
AND THERE WAS ALSO ANOTHER SUGGESTION THAT WE CREATE A DIRECTORY OF ALL THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROGRAMS THAT EACH JURISDICTION HAS GOING ON.
TWO REASONS FOR THAT, NUMBER ONE, SO THAT WE KNOW WHAT'S HAPPENED, BUT ALSO PERHAPS SOME OF US COULD GET IDEAS FROM OUR FELLOW JURISDICTIONS ON WHAT? SO AS A PART A OF THAT PRESENTATION, IT WOULD BE, UH, A, A BRIEF PART OF IT WOULD BE WHAT, UH, AFFORDABLE HOUSING ATTAINABLE HOUSING, UH, PROGRAMS THAT YOU HAVE IN YOUR JURISDICTION.
SO THAT'S THE, THAT WAS THE PROPOSAL THAT WAS PUT FORWARD.
I'D LIKE TO HEAR FROM THE BOARD WHETHER WHAT YOU'D LIKE TO SEE ON THE SEPTEMBER AGENDA SO I CAN GET THAT DONE BEFORE I LEAVE SEPTEMBER 7TH FOR MY TRIP.
EXCUSE ME, MAYOR WILLIAMS. I HAD EMAILED ABOUT A SUGGESTION ABOUT USCB COMING TO MAKE A PRESENTATION ABOUT, AND I THINK WE HAD TALKED ABOUT SEPTEMBER POTENTIALLY.
I DIDN'T KNOW IF WE WE COULD DO THAT OR WE COULD DO THAT OCTOBER.
I MEAN, UH, I'LL LEAVE IT UP TO THE COMMITTEE.
I JUST, IT'LL BE, THAT'S ANOTHER SUGGESTION.
UH, AS WE ALL KNOW, USCB HAS, UM, A PROPOSAL FOR A NEW CONVOCATION CENTER AND, UH, ALSO FOR ATHLETIC FIELDS.
AND, UH, THEY DID HAVE A, A PROGRAM UP AT THE SCHOOL ABOUT A MONTH AGO, UM, WHERE THEY PRESENTED IT.
PERU, UH, WOULD LIKE TO COME AND PRESENT THAT, UH, AS WELL AS THE CHAIR OF THE BOARD IS, UH, DICK STEWART.
SO, UH, THAT'S ANOTHER POTENTIAL, UH, AGENDA ITEM.
DO YOU WANT TO DO THAT IN SEPTEMBER AND DO THE, UH, JURISDICTIONAL UPDATES LATER? UH, ANY, ANY THOUGHTS? PROBABLY COULD DO BOTH.
COULD WE? WELL, THE, THE JURISDICTIONAL UPDATES, SINCE WE HAVE EIGHT JURISDICTIONS, PROBABLY TAKE TWO EACH EACH MONTH.
UM, HARDY, UH, AT THE LAST MEETING, UM, YOU KNOW, VOLUNTEERED TO, TO GO FIRST, BUT THERE WOULDN'T, I WOULD NEED ANOTHER VOLUNTEER, ANOTHER JURISDICTION TO GO WITH IT BECAUSE TO FILL THE HOUR.
WHAT, WHAT IF WE DID, UM, WE DID THE, THE, THE WORKFORCE HOUSING AFFORDABLE.
PICK IT BY THE FACE IF WE DID.
UM, IF WE, IF WE SAVE THE JURIS JURISDICTIONAL UPDATES LATER.
BUT DID THE, THE, THE HOUSING AND USCB, I THINK THAT THOSE WHO COULD PROBABLY FIT AT THE SAME TIME.
WHAT DO Y'ALL THINK ABOUT THAT,
[00:50:02]
MAYOR? UH, THE HOUSING THING WOULD REALLY BE JURISDICTION BY JURISDICTION.SO, UH, I DON'T KNOW IF WE COULD FIT ALL EIGHT JURISDICTIONS IN ONE.
UNLESS YOU WANT TO HOLD A TWO HOUR MEETING? NO, NO, NO.
THE COMEDY SHOW'S GOING ON THE ROAD SOMETIMES
UM, ANY OTHER THOUGHTS FROM THE BOARD? I, I WOULD, I WOULD PROBABLY THEN SAY THAT USCB, UM, BEING THAT, THAT THAT IS OF EMINENT KIND OF NATURE, AND ONCE THEY GET THROUGH WITH THAT, THEN THEY'RE GONNA BE LOOKING AT ADDITIONAL HOUSING, UH, STUDENT HOUSING, HOPEFULLY ON HILTON HEAD.
UM, SO I'LL MAKE THE RECOMMENDATION THAT WE, WE GO WITH USCB.
UM, WE COULD PROBABLY DO, IT'S GONNA BE IN HARDY V, SO WE COULD PROBABLY DO USCB AND HAVE, UH, HARDY READY TO GO AND, AND TO FILL THE HOUR IF NECESSARY.
IS THAT OKAY? AND THEN FOR OCTOBER, ALAN AT, TO, YOU'LL HAVE TO SET OCTOBER'S AGENDA, RIGHT? GET TWO VOLUNTEERS FOR OCTOBER.
HOW LONG THESE PRESENTATIONS? UH, WE TRY TO KEEP THESE MEETINGS TO AN HOUR OR SO.
IF WE HAVE TWO, UM, GENERALLY THEY'RE, YOU KNOW, 25 MINUTES AND THAT ALLOWS FOR QUESTIONING IN THERE.
AND THEN, YOU KNOW, THE REST OF THE TIME WE SET THE AGENDA FOR THE NEXT MEETING.
SO, UH, MAYOR, WE WILL, I'LL GET THE AGENDA TOGETHER.
HE'LL, HE'LL BE PREPARED TO GIVE AN UPDATE ON HARDY BILL.
HAVING SAID THAT, THANK YOU ALL FOR COMING.
DOES ANYBODY FROM THE PUBLIC HAVE ANY COMMENTS OR, OR QUESTIONS, SUGGESTIONS? OH, JODY, COME ON UP.
JUST A QUICK NOTE FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT HAVE TRI SHARE ON YOUR AGENDAS FOR THE MONTH OF SEPTEMBER.
ON THURSDAY, AUGUST 21ST, THE WALL STREET JOURNAL HAD AN ARTICLE CALLING HOW TO FIX OUR BROKEN CHILDCARE SYSTEM.
AND TRI SHARE WAS ONE OF THE SUGGESTIONS PLACED IN THIS ARTICLE.
SO IT'S NOT, UM, SOMETHING THAT'S NEW AND DIFFERENT, IT'S JUST NOT HERE, AND WE NEED TO GET IN FRONT OF THE
SO, UM, JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU TO ALL OF THOSE WHO HAVE PASSED.
IT LET YOU KNOW THAT OUR COMMITTEE IS READY AND WILLING TO COME SPEAK TO WHATEVER JURISDICTION, UM, WOULD LIKE MORE INFORMATION.
UM, WE'RE GOING TO BUFORT COUNTY I THINK NEXT WEEK.
ALRIGHT, YOU JODY, ANYONE ELSE FROM THE PUBLIC? UH, JUST BEFORE I CLOSE, I, I DO WANT TO, UH, SAY THANK YOU TO JOCELYN FOR, UH, HAVING A, A WONDERFUL, UH, SURVEY THAT, AND, UH, GIVEN THE RESULTS OF THAT LAST WEEK, IT WAS VERY INFORMATIVE.
I WANNA THANK THE REAL REAL ESTATE ASSOCIATION FOR GETTING THAT GRANT AND, AND DOING THAT, THAT POLL.
ON THAT NOTE, THANK YOU FOR COMING EVERYONE.
FIVE MINUTES EARLY, ENJOY WEEK.
YOU'RE WATCHING BEAUFORT COUNTY TV.
I REMEMBER CAMPBELL, AND THIS IS BEAUFORD COUNTY MOMENTS.
WANT TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT FOOD TODAY? THE FOOD HAS BEEN A GREAT
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PART OF OUR LIFE IN TERMS OF GATHERING FOOD AND PREPARING THEM.OUR FOOD IS BASED ON THE LAND AND THE SEA.
THE LAND FOOD HAS ALWAYS BEEN RICE.
WE DON'T FEEL WE HAVE EATEN DINNER UNLESS WE'VE HAD RICE.
RICE WAS MIXED WITH VARIOUS ITEMS FROM THE SEA, LIKE OYSTERS OR SHRIMP.
AND WHEN THEY'RE COOKED WITH RICE IN ONE POT, WE CALL IT A RICE OR SHRIMP OR AN OYSTER PERLOW.
AND THEN WE HAVE THE WATERMELONS AND THE SWEET POTATOES.
SWEET POTATOES WAS ALWAYS EATEN WITH FISH AND FRESH FISH WITH GRAVY AND A SWEET POTATO.
OKRA HAS ALWAYS BEEN A VERY IMPORTANT PART OF OUR FOOD WAYS.
WE, WE, WE RAISED THEM AS WELL AS WE PREPARE THEM WITH SHRIMP AND TOMATOES.
AND SOME PEOPLE WOULD CALL THAT A GUMBO.
AND THAT'S WHAT EXACTLY WHAT IT IS.
AND SO ENJOY THE FOOD OF THE LOW COUNTRY BECAUSE IT'S BEEN VERY MUCH A PART OF OUR HISTORY.
THIS HAS BEEN YO BEFORD COUNTY MOMENT.
TO SEE MORE BEAUFORT COUNTY MOMENTS GO TO THE BEAUFORT COUNTY LIBRARY HOMEPAGE AND CLICK ON THE LOCAL HISTORY TAB.