88 | HealthLinksSC.com HEALTHLINKS IS PROUD TO PARTNER WITH THESE CHARLESTON AREA NONPROFITS HELPING PEOPLE THROUGH PERSONAL STORMS It started as a way to help South Carolina hurricane victims overcome the devastation caused by Hurricane Hugo — and in the last 35 years, East Cooper Community Outreach in Mount Pleasant has become one of Lowcountry’s trusted and long-standing resources for needs ranging from food and medicine to simple health and well-being. “Those needs are much more pressing in this part of our state than you might think,” said Stephanie Kelley, ECCO’s executive director since 2017. “We do live in an affluent area, but we’re helping more people here than ever before just to survive every day.” In the past year alone, ECCO served 1,739 households comprised of 3,233 people — an increase of 381 additional family members from the previous year. Kelley said that while food is the number one reason people come to ECCO, financial assistance is a close second, as the average annual income of ECCO’s clients in 2023 was only $17,140. “Of all the people we help, 36% of them make no more than the federal poverty level,” Kelley said. “And 22% of them have zero income.” Clients are primarily Black (63%), women (74%), and over the age of 55 (51%). Kelley pointed out that in too many instances, she finds either single-mother households, or grandparents caring for parentless grandchildren. “Single-parent households make up one-third of the total number of families that we serve,” she said. “We currently have 400 ECCO-assisted households with at least one child, and in November 2023 alone, we saw a 26% increase in the number of orders placed at our food pantry.” In addition to the constant need for food, ECCO’s services have grown over the years to now include: • Medical Health. After seeing that many of its clients were forced to neglect simple medical care and treatment, ECCO formed its own Partners in Healthcare Medical Clinic in 2014. Along with the student-run CARES Clinic, ECCO partners not only provide regular primary care to all clients, but also a number of other services that involve patient education, women’s health, laboratory and diagnostic testing, a prescription assistance program at either reduced or no cost, and patient support for health complications such as diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol. • Financial Assistance. In FY2023, ECCO paid 414 bills directly to a rental agency, mortgage holder, or utility company on behalf of 405 local families. The total investment was over $447,000. • Dental Health. ECCO created its first dental clinic in 1990 for all clients. Through partnerships with MUSC College of Dental Medicine and Trident Technical College of Dental Hygiene, clients receive preventive and restorative care, as well as extractions. By L. C Leach III Partners in Healthcare Clinic is a one of ECCO’s main associates in helping people maintain physical health. Under the direction of Dr. Whitney Smith, right, physician assistant Samantha Estes performs a checkup on patient Frances Williams. — photo courtesy of East Cooper Community Outreach
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