Wholespire is excited to announce the awarding of 15 HEAL Mini-Grants to community partners dedicated to driving meaningful policy, systems, and environmental (PSE) change. These mini-grants, totaling more than $80,000, are designed to empower communities in advancing health equity, reducing health disparities, and fostering sustainable improvements in community well-being.
The grant recipients span rural and urban communities, and communities below the federal poverty line, each bringing unique strengths and innovative approaches to promote lasting change. Through these funds, communities will implement projects such as enhancing local food systems, improving the school environment, increasing access to physical activity and outdoor time, and many other areas related to community health improvement.
“We are proud to support these initiatives and the leaders driving them. Their work is essential in building healthier environments for all and in creating systems that support long-term health and wellness,” said Kelsey Sanders, MPH, MCHES, Community Relations Manager. “We look forward to the positive impact these projects will bring and to supporting our community partners every step of the way.”
2024-25 HEAL Mini-Grant Recipients
Lowcountry
Hunters Helping Hands https://hhhlc.org/
Located in Dorchester County, Hunters Helping Hands is a non-profit organization that provides free processed venison protein primarily to low-income families. They primarily focus on Hispanic families in North Charleston through a partnership with Community Impact Ministry. Wholespire support will cover the costs of a commercial-grade freezer to centralize and improve storage and distribution and processing fees for 600 pounds of venison. Read more about this innovative project.
Aspire2Inspire Initiative, Inc
A non-profit organization of concerned citizens in Colleton County, Aspire2Inspire focuses on bringing quality life, pride and ownership back to Ruffin, South Carolina by renovating the old high school and baseball field. Since 2012, the community’s center of activity has fallen into ruins. With support from Wholespire, the organization will transform the baseball field into a multipurpose sports complex, providing the community with a central hub for recreational activities, community events and sports leagues. Mini-grant funding will be used to repair the playing surface of the field, give the dugout and concessions stand a face lift and purchase various sports equipment and security measures.
Midlands
Barnwell County Government
Barnwell County Government, along with its recreation department and the City of Barnwell, are teaming up to provide individuals and families of all skill levels a kayak rental system at Lake Edgar Brown. This project is part of an ongoing effort of community leaders to address health disparities and increase community engagement. The SC Department of Natural Resources is providing assistance with ensuring the rental system aligns with environmental conservation standards. Mini-grant funds, in addition to contributions from the City of Barnwell, Southern Palmetto Foundation, and other sources, are covering the cost of kayaks, safety equipment and storage facilities.
City of West Columbia
Building on community feedback regarding the previous installation of six bike racks, the City of West Columbia seeks to increase cycling as a healthy and sustainable mode of transportation and expand bicycle parking availability by installing additional bike racks at ten strategic locations identified by community members. The city partnered with the Active & Accessible Community Transit Coalition on resident surveys and walk audits to help choose the ten locations with the highest demand for new bike racks. Wholespire support will assist the city with their strong focus on creating a safe and accessible network for pedestrians and cyclists by purchasing bike racks.
Pathways Community Center
Over the years, the 50-yard walkway between Pathways Community Center and Manna House Pantry in Rock Hill has become a safety hazard, especially for older adults and those with limited mobility. Uneven surfaces and poor lighting, for example, have led to personal injuries, difficulties accessing services and concerns of the community center clients, who are mostly low-income individuals and families. The community center aims to enhance safety and accessibility, by preventing injuries and promoting a safe environment for daily activities and exercise. Mini-grant funds will cover the cost of a contractor and materials required to make the walkway safe.
Upper Midlands Rural Health Network
Since 2020, the Winnsboro Community Garden at Prisma Health Family Medicine-Winnsboro in Fairfield County has maintained a community garden for their patients and community members to increase access to fresh produce. While the garden has been a free and sustainable resource, community engagement with and awareness of the garden continues to be low for many people. To resolve this issue, organizers want to install quality signs and interactive message boards to collect feedback and increase awareness and use of SNAP, FoodShare, the local food bank and other valuable community resources. In addition to signs and bulletin boards, Wholespire support will assist with purchasing gardening tools, shade structure and seating.
Knights Hill Historic Preservation Board Inc.
The Knights Hill historic neighborhood in Kershaw County continues to work on the natural walking trail at the neighborhood park. Since the trail opened last year, residents have identified safety concerns related to the commercial-grade, uneven mulch surface. Monthly maintenance has turned into a challenge with the bush, vines and wild grasses impeding the ability of seniors to use the trail. The Knights Hill Historic Preservation Board wants to create a permanent, smooth surface to improve safety and reduce the amount of time required for maintenance. With Wholespire support, the walking trail at Knights Hill Park will get a face lift and seniors will have a better experience.
NoMa STEAM
NoMa STEAM is a non-profit organization in Columbia whose mission is to increase opportunities in STEAM for underserved children and families in the North Main Street area. Wholespire is supporting their community garden project to increase access to fresh produce for families who live in the low-income food desert and to give youth a STEAM learning experience related to composting, planting and harvesting techniques, and other gardening and distribution processes. NoMa STEAM partners with locals farms, Girls Scouts troops, youth and adult volunteers, and family members of participating youth to build and sustain the garden. Funds will be used to purchase building supplies for additional raised garden beds and gardening tools and supplies.
Pee Dee
The Manna House
The Manna House of Florence changed their food pantry model to client choice earlier this year, giving clients fresh produce choices and a grocery store shopping experience. This new model has given their clients more dignity, self-esteem, and the opportunity to prepare food their families will enjoy. To sustain the client choice model, the organization identified a need for a commercial-grade refrigerator and additional shelving. Wholespire support will fund the needed items and help The Manna House continue making a positive impact on their community
The Village Group
The Plantersville community is among the most economically and educationally disadvantaged areas in Georgetown County. The Village Group strives to build a sustainable community through a holistic approach focusing on youth and family support through college and career readiness programs, cultural education and economic development. With support from Wholespire, The Village Group will be able to install bike racks at the Plantersville Cultural Complex and expand existing trails to accommodate bicycles.
PAL: Play. Advocate. Live Well.
Part of a sustainable and equitable food system in Spartanburg County, the PAL Food Hub provide a centralized process that allows buyers to purchase more locally grown food from various farmers. The food hub was established based on the Spartanburg County Food System Assessment identification of a need to increase demand for and access to local, nutritious food. Now, PAL wants to increase that access even further by piloting a Healthy Bucks-based incentive program model for SNAP recipients. Support from Wholespire will help purchase the EBT machine need to process SNAP purchases, fees associated with machine set-up and operations capacity, and signage promoting the incentive program.
Berea Middle School
Community feedback is an important piece of the HEAL Mini-Grant application and Berea Middle School in Greenville County School District is a fantastic example. They surveyed students about school improvement to find out what the students wanted and needed. Students overwhelmingly replied that the outdoor/recess area was most important to them and what they think is important to other students. With a HEAL Mini-Grant, all students will have access to new ADA-accessible playground equipment, shade sails, games and many other fun outdoor activities.
Hickory Tavern Elementary & Middle School
Getting kids active on the playground requires some amenities like shade and places to rest. At Hickory Tavern Elementary and Middle School in Laurens County School District 55, the School Improvement Committee, teachers, parents and staff all agreed that adding shade sails and benches to the playgrounds is a priority. By adding these amenities through a HEAL Mini-Grant, all students and teachers will be able to use the playground during peak sun exposure times, increase physical activity and spend more time outdoors.
Gray Court Owings Elementary & Middle School
Simple and easy upgrades to school playgrounds can, sometimes, be the only things needed to make recess safer during times of peak sun exposure. At Gray Court Owings Elementary & Middle School in Laurens County School District 55, district and school stakeholders completed a needs assessment addressing the facility and instructional environment. Shade structures for students was an important addition to the playground. With support from Wholespire, the students at Gray Court Owings Elementary and Middle School will have a safer experience during hot weather days.
Fellowship Camp and Conference Center
Guests and visitors of Fellowship Camp and Conference Center, located on Lake Greenwood in Laurens County, have indicated the need for amenities that encourage outdoor recreation time. Some of those amenities, like any park or playground, provide resting areas, shade and event opportunities for an outdoor classroom or gathering. With Wholespire support, the camp be able to install tables and shade sails, making changes to the built environment along the waterfront that encourage everyone visiting the site to engage in physical activity and spend time outdoors.