HealthLinksSC.com | 89 “Last year, we provided more than $300,000 worth of dental care to nearly 340 neighbors,” Kelley said. “And 100% of every dollar donated to ECCO goes directly to the organization’s impact.” All of which is a far cry from how and why ECCO began. In the wake of Hurricane Hugo in 1989, Monsignor James A. Carter and his colleague Sister de Lourdes of Christ Our King Catholic Church, saw that the damage was much greater in impoverished communities than other areas. “This alerted them to the need for a future sustained outreach to the poverty-stricken areas of our community,” Kelley said. ECCO’s first shoestring budget amounted to $252,460 — less than the total amount paid out in dental care to families in 2023 alone. Now its annual budget is $2.6 million — with money coming primarily from community donations, grants, and foundations. Weekly relief efforts are reinforced by the support of more than 200 volunteers who work in the medical and dental clinics, the front desk, the food pantry, and the clothing closet. “Interestingly, it was only in 2006 that we had grown to the point of being able to hire a fourth paid employee,” Kelley said. “Now we are at 21 paid staff members and four contract employees.” And that growth shows no signs of slowing anytime soon. Consider the real-life recent example of Beth, a 43-year-old, divorced, Caucasian single mother of three teenage girls. Beth was facing several health issues and accumulating a lot of medical debt. An unexpected major car repair left her unable to get to work. A friend referred her to ECCO. Beth was not only approved for financial assistance to pay for her rent so she could pay for her car repair, but also for food and medical assistance. After placing her first food order, Beth sent an email that read: “Thank you so much for everything you’ve done for my family! I actually did the online shopping yesterday and stopped by on my way home from work to pick up the groceries. My kids were ecstatic. I’m not kidding, my 16-year-old said, ‘I feel like crying.’ You all made our month, we are just so grateful for you guys and what you do.” ECCO is now recognized as the Lowcountry’s best nonprofit. “We are honored because there are a lot of amazing organizations in our area doing good work,” Kelley said. “People trust us to use the donations they give us to make our community stronger. It also means that our neighbors who need help trust us to understand the challenges they are facing. And every day, we try our best to live up to that trust.” HEALTHLINKS IS PROUD TO PARTNER WITH THESE CHARLESTON AREA NONPROFITS 24/7 HELPLINE 800.272.3900 We’re here around the clock, offering reliable information and support for those facing any type of dementia. alz.org/sc Ensuring that all patients get proper oral care, ECCO dental care coordinator Tina Foreman checks a patient for cavities and gum disease before performing a routine cleaning. — photo courtesy of East Cooper Community Outreach 1145 Six Mile Road Mount Pleasant, SC 29466 (843) 849-9220 | eccocharleston.org
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