Families Helping families of the Lowcountry
GIVES JOY
Palmetto Project partners with Charleston County School District to support Title I Schools and students and their families experiencing homelessness.
Getting Involved
SUPPORTING LOCAL FAMILIES
HOLIDAY GIVING
Beginning in the Midlands in 1990, Palmetto Project has partnered with WIS News 10 to provide the magic of the holiday season to thousands of families, senior citizens, and adults with disabilities in need through Families Helping Families of the Midlands (FHFM).
Starting in 2025, FHF of the Lowcountry (FHFL) provides holiday assistance to hundreds of Charleston County School District students and their families experiencing homelessness.
THANK YOU for helping us make this new tradition of FHFL a success in 2025! Stay tuned to learn how you help make the holidays merry & bright for local children and families in need in 2026!
FHFL is not just a December program. Our work happens year-round. As soon as Christmas ended, we began planning for the summer Back-to-School drive (and a possible new program!) and the next holiday season.
Can you become a year-round sponsor today or help support the essential expenses of rent, phone, internet, computers, insurance, storage space for warehouse supplies, and staff time?
Please contact program manager, Anna Gray (agray@palmettoproject.org) for more information.
Education & Enrichment
In 2025, we launched Familes Helping Families of the Lowcountry (FHFL) with our Back-to-School Supply Drive with Midland Park Primary School (MPPS).
In 2026, we are serving as monthly “Lunch Buddies” with MPPS students, providing summertime enrichment activities for CCSD students experiencing homelessness, and filling the tanks of teachers who fuel our local children’s futures.
Thank you!
Adopt a Family
WHO WE SERVE
Charleston County School District Students
FHFL supports Title I schools and serves children & families experiencing homelessness in Charleston County School District for our holiday giving program.
- Must be in need (i.e., experiencing homelessness or displaced as identified by the school system/McKinney-Vento)
- Must be referred by Charleston County School District (teacher, social worker, guidance counselor, etc.)
What we do
How We Help Families Thrive
Educational enrichment
Palmetto Project believes that every child should have the tools and experiences they need to succeed in school.
Especially students at Title I schools or who are experiencing homelessness.
FHF of the Lowcountry (FHFL) is providing summer enrichment activities for CCSD students experiencing homelessness in 2026, and continuing our “lunch buddies” program at Midland Park Primary School in North Charleston.
Holiday Assistance
With your help, we will help make the season merry & bright for Lowcountry families who are most in need of holiday magic.
By partnering with the Charleston County School District, FHFL will streamline holiday giving for families with children experiencing homelessness — and empower our educators to focus on teaching.
Financial Stability
In addition to special gifts, our holiday giving efforts will help feed, clothe, and nourish our neighbors across the Lowcountry.
Our donors and sponsors will also provide our families with basic necessities like soap, shampoo, socks, underwear, and winter coats. And some families will receive giftcards to grocery stores so they can celebrate the holidays together with a hot meal.
Create hope
What Drives Us
OUR WHY
Palmetto Project believes that everyone in the Palmetto State deserves to be as happy, healthy, and prosperous as possible. And we believe that innovation is the pathway to progress.
The Families Helping Families (FHF) model innovates and transforms back-to-school and holiday assistance by centralizing the local giving outlets, family referral & adoption processes, logistics, and distribution to make it as efficient and effective for everyone.
FHF of the Lowcountry (FHFL) is building on the success of FHF of the Midlands (FHFM) that began in 1990 as a partnership between Palmetto Project and our Midlands media partner, WIS News 10, since 1990.
More Information
Frequently asked questions
Who FHFL serves
The FHFL back-to-school program serves children in Pre-K and K5 at Midland Park Primary School, and our holiday giving program serves elementary, middle, and high school children & their families in need enrolled in Charleston County School District.
Qualifications
All families with children in Charleston County School District must be experiencing homelessness or displacement for holiday assistance.
How it Works
Professionals with the Charleston County School District (i.e., teachers, guidance counselors, social workers) refer their students to FHFL, and we take care of the rest in partnership with the generous Lowcountry community.
Get Involved
We rely on the incredible generosity of resources and spirit throughout the year to power FHF.
You and your family, civic organizations, employers, churches, or other social groups can shop with your own resources for back-to-school or the holidays, or you can volunteer to support us by giving, helping with gift distribution, and more!
DATES TO REMEMBER
May 4-8: CCSD Teacher Appreciation Week
Charleston County School District (CCSD) has invited Palmetto Project to partner to fill critical gaps in parent and community support at a Title I School.
Help us fill the tanks of 110 teachers who fuel our local students’ futures!
*Note: Donations for gas cards are not tax deductible.
THANK YOU!
Thank you, Educators!
We are so grateful to partner with the Charleston County School District as we launch FHF in the Lowcountry!