United Way of Pickens County

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United Way of Pickens County Mobilizing people and resources to improve early literacy and promote financial security in our community.

If you need help, visit https://www.uwpickens.org/get-help or call 2-1-1.

Last week, Matt Smith, our Director of Financial Security, was invited to facilitate an ALICE Simulation with Leadership...
10/13/2026

Last week, Matt Smith, our Director of Financial Security, was invited to facilitate an ALICE Simulation with Leadership Pickens County. Through this session, participants were challenged to create a monthly budget on a very limited income, reflecting on the difficult realities many ALICE households in Pickens County face every day.

The simulation offered a firsthand look at the tough- and sometimes impossible- choices families make when income simply doesn't cover basic needs.

Following the simulation, local community agencies shared their real-world experiences and the work they are doing to support ALICE households and strengthen our community.

We are grateful to Leadership Pickens County for the opportunity, and to everyone for their thoughtful participation.

You can learn more about ALICE on our website: https://www.uwpickens.org/alice.

With Hurricane Isaias approaching the Gulf Coast, Upstate South Carolina could experience heavy rainfall, gusty winds, l...
10/09/2026

With Hurricane Isaias approaching the Gulf Coast, Upstate South Carolina could experience heavy rainfall, gusty winds, localized flooding, and possible power outages this weekend, with impacts expected primarily Saturday into Sunday.

While our area is not in the hurricane's direct path, it's a good time to take a few simple steps to prepare and help keep our families and neighbors safe.

A few things you can do today:
✅Check your emergency supplies. Have water, nonperishable food, medications, flashlights, and batteries readily available.
✅ Prepare for possible power outages. Charge phones, medical devices, and portable power banks. Sign up for outage alerts through your electric utility.
✅ Have a family communication plan. Keep important contact numbers accessible and check on older adults, neighbors, and anyone who may need extra assistance.
✅ Be mindful of flooding. Secure outdoor items, monitor local conditions, and never drive through flooded roadways.
✅ Practice electrical safety. Stay away from downed power lines and always assume they are energized. If using a generator, operate it outdoors, well away from windows, doors, and garages.
✅ Stay informed. Follow trusted weather sources and local emergency officials as conditions develop.

Helpful resources:
👉 National Weather Service – Greenville-Spartanburg: https://www.weather.gov/gsp
👉 Duke Energy Storm Center (outage information and reporting): https://www.duke-energy.com/outages
👉 Duke Energy Storm Safety & Preparedness: https://www.duke-energy.com/safety-and-preparedness/storm-safety

We've also included our Emergency Go Bag Checklist, developed by United Way of Pickens County's Long-Term Recovery Group, to help you and your family prepare not just for this weekend, but for any unexpected emergency.

Preparedness isn't about fear. It's about looking out for ourselves, our families, and one another.

Stay safe, Pickens County! 💙

This year, your impact on education in Pickens County looked like a little boy who whispered his name on the first day o...
10/08/2026

This year, your impact on education in Pickens County looked like a little boy who whispered his name on the first day of camp and was raising his hand to read out loud by the last one.

Like a pediatrician handing a book to a baby at a well visit, because reading starts long before school does.

Like 570 children at Camp iRock, every one of them going home with ten books of their own.

The 2026 Education Impact Report is a look at what your generosity built this year.

👉Read it now at https://www.uwpickens.org/education-report

📖 Little readers, big growth, and families leading the way!When you give to United Way of Pickens County, you help momen...
10/01/2026

📖 Little readers, big growth, and families leading the way!

When you give to United Way of Pickens County, you help moments like this happen at kitchen tables and bedtimes all across our county. Thank you for believing in our kids. 💙

Together, we read. Together, we rise.

09/14/2026

We share United Way of Central Florida's appreciation for our local Publix stores! Thank you, Publix Super Market at Gateway Village and Publix Super Market at Center Point, for your support of Pickens County!

Kindness. Multiplied.

What a day! The United in Action Celebration was an amazing display of how this community shows up for each other. It wa...
09/03/2026

What a day! The United in Action Celebration was an amazing display of how this community shows up for each other. It was an honor to recognize several individuals and groups that went above and beyond this year in service to Pickens County:
⭐Community Partner of the Year: KeyMark, LLC
⭐Volunteer of the Year: David Coyle
⭐Young Volunteer of the Year: Nicole Reich
⭐Philanthropists of the Year: Scott and Fran Hughes
⭐Community Service Appreciation Award: David Dixon
⭐Community Service Appreciation Award: Cullen Fulkner

The year-in-review highlighted the impact this community made in the past year in Education, Financial Security and Mental Well-Being, and especially our work in Community Resilience.

We heard from one local veteran and his wife, Richard and Gwen, who were dealing with the long-term effects of Hurricane Helene- damage that was not initially noticeable, but became incredibly problematic over time. Richard and Gwen shared how the United Way of Pickens County Long-Term Recovery Group was able to coordinate services and provide roof and gutter repairs.

Josh Hawkins, President-Elect of the SC Emergency Management Association, delivered a thoughtful and powerful keynote address that emphasized the importance of pulling together in times of crisis, and always.

We want to once again thank our amazing sponsors who made this celebration possible:

⭐Gold Sponsors: AnMed Cannon & Tri-County Technical College
⭐Silver Sponsors: Pinnacle Financial Partners, Spero Financial , The Movement Doctors
⭐Bronze Sponsors: Elaine Thena, Elevate Audiology- Hearing & Tinnitus Center, Tax Pro Accounting

We are excited to share that the United Way of Pickens County Education Council has awarded McKissick Academy of Science...
09/02/2026

We are excited to share that the United Way of Pickens County Education Council has awarded McKissick Academy of Science and Technology an Education Impact Grant to fund Read and Rise in Partnership, a family-centered early literacy program.

Through this program, McKissick will work primarily with 2nd grade students with an emphasis on phonemic awareness and phonics, particularly for multilingual learners. Read and Rise in Partnership will strengthen the connection between classroom instruction and literacy learning at home through monthly hands-on family literacy workshops, take-home books and literacy materials, and targeted support for students with identified literacy needs.

We are thrilled to support McKissick Academy in this work which empowers families to play an active role in their children's reading development.

That’s a wrap on our 2026 Disaster Preparedness Workshop Series! 💙On August 25th, we gathered in Easley for our third an...
08/31/2026

That’s a wrap on our 2026 Disaster Preparedness Workshop Series! 💙

On August 25th, we gathered in Easley for our third and final workshop - another morning of conversation, learning, reflection and practical tools designed to help our community become better prepared before the next disaster ever happens.

Throughout this series, we’ve talked about more than emergency supplies and response plans. We’ve talked about resilience, long-term recovery, personal wellness, partnerships, and the role each of us can play in helping our communities recover well.

A huge thank-you to our presenters, community partners, and everyone who gave their time to attend, participate and ask thoughtful questions. Prepared communities are built long before the storm arrives - through relationships, knowledge and people willing to get involved.

We were also happy to send a little Long-Term Recovery spirit home with our participants! 💙

Thank you to everyone who joined us throughout this three-workshop series in Clemson, Pickens and Easley. We are grateful to be doing this work alongside you.

Preparedness starts with all of us. Resilience grows when we work together. 💪

We are thrilled to share that Tri-County Technical College has joined us as a GOLD sponsor of our United in Action Celeb...
08/28/2026

We are thrilled to share that Tri-County Technical College has joined us as a GOLD sponsor of our United in Action Celebration! Tri-County Technical College works to transform lives and build strong communities one student at a time. It provides an exceptional, affordable education and prepares the skilled workforce our region needs. We are grateful to gather for the celebration at the Easley Campus, and to have TCTC as a Gold Sponsor.

We are excited to share that the United Way of Pickens County Education Council has awarded East End Elementary School ...
08/26/2026

We are excited to share that the United Way of Pickens County Education Council has awarded East End Elementary School an Education Impact Grant to fund Read and Rise in Partnership, a family-centered early literacy program.

Through this program, East End Elementary will work primarily with K-2nd grade students to address needs such as phonics, word recognition and fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension. Read and Rise in Partnership will strengthen the connection between classroom instruction and literacy learning at home through monthly hands-on family literacy workshops, take-home books and literacy materials, and targeted support for students with identified literacy needs.

We are thrilled to support East End Elementary in this work which empowers families to play an active role in their children's reading development.

Address

201 S 5th Street Ste 212
Easley, SC
29640

Telephone

+18648507094

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