Red Bank Nonprofit: Catalyst for Community Support and Educational Excellence
In Red Bank, South Carolina, four years ago, a group of concerned educators and community members gathered around a common goal: creating positive change in their community. Out of these discussions, a nonprofit entity known as S.E.A. Place was born. Derived from the tenets of support, education, and advisement, the organization offers free opportunities for community members
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Building On Local Connections
An initiative of this magnitude, reveals Kaylie D’Eredita, CEO of S.E.A. Place, is largely dependent on thriving relationships within the local community. Indeed, all services offered by S.E.A. Place including GED classes, financial literacy seminars and an array of outreach programs, are sustained through the generous efforts of local churches, businesses, and individual donations. D’Eredita, who assumed the role of CEO in 2023, has been instrumental in augmenting these local affiliations, demonstrating her commitment to the cause through her hands-on approach, including looking to assist the local homeless population in the most secluded of areas.
A Helping Hand for the Unhoused
Red Bank’s sprawling forestry presents a haven for the area’s homeless community, a fact that D’Eredita is intimately acquainted with, given her past experience with homelessness. D’Eredita’s perseverance and dedication to her mission of service are evident through her efforts to locate and assist those in need within the community. She is particularly aware of the challenges faced by this section of the population, chiefly the lack of proper transportation facilities and limited access to educational opportunities.
Serving the Community
The nonprofit simultaneously manages other initiatives too, like the food pantry at Lifesprings Church, operating purely out of community donations. It caters to nearly 30 families each week, a figure that is continually increasing. An additional peanut butter and jelly drive offers further assistance to families who may not be able to visit the pantry directly.
Friday nights see S.E.A. Place volunteers taking to the streets for outreach, fostering connections of trust with vulnerable families through personal interaction. Along with this, S.E.A. Place also offers youth mentoring programs where potentially at-risk students are exposed to positive adult relationships through weekly meetings and field trips.
Summer Camps and Learning Opportunities
For the summer, S.E.A. Place is also running free camps where teenagers have an opportunity to develop vital life skills while engaging in exciting activities, such as attending games at the Lexington Blowfish stadium. Special tutoring services are also available from a White Knoll math teacher, fortifying the organization’s commitment to education.
Success Stories and Growing Trust
D’Eredita maintains a firm belief in the power of ongoing support, or as she refers to it, “wraparound” services, allowing them to keep a check on individuals even after their immediate needs have been met. S.E.A. Place has enjoyed various success stories over the years, with effective rehabilitation and housing of eight individuals from the local community. Her passionate drive to serve the disadvantaged and homeless individuals reflects S.E.A. Place’s ethos: “We see people as who they are and meet people where they are.”
Joining Hands With S.E.A. Place
Those who wish to join in S.E.A. Place’s noble cause are always welcome. Notably, bilingual support can be particularly helpful. Further information is available on their official website, seaplacelearning.org, and anyone requiring assistance can reach out to the organization directly at 803-317-0152.
