Staying Connected Celebrates 5 Years of Success!
STAYING CONNECTED is a non-profit organization
whose volunteers, all Sun City Hilton Head residents,
provide assistance to their neighbors within the community’s
gates. Commonly referred to as a “Village”, Staying
Connected helps neighbors remain in their homes as long
as it is safe to do so. In 2020, they are celebrating their 5th
year of service to their community.
Their Mission: “We are committed to enhance Sun City
Hilton Head residents’ ability to remain engaged within
our community to ensure they have access to information,
support, and services which provide them with a lifestyle
consistent with the vision of an active adult community.”
The mission is supported by dedicated volunteers who
provide qualified members with transportation to medical
appointments and grocery shopping, home companionship
visits, caregiver relief visits, minor home maintenance
and daily reassuring calls. Staying Connected’s
Resource Hub is the center of the organization’s operations.
It is centrally located in the Yemassee Craft Center
and is available to all Sun City residents Monday-Friday
from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.. Residents who visit the Hub
are greeted by helpful volunteers, ready to help them understand
what LowCountry agencies, support groups and
service providers are available to assist them.
In 2020, Staying Connected is celebrating its 5th Anniversary!
In February, 2015, the volunteer organization
began providing services to its first 20 Members with 47
Volunteers. The goal of lending a helping hand to neighbors
in Sun City hasn’t changed, but their commitment to
the mission has resulted in Staying Connected becoming
one of the most successful “village” programs in the U.S.
The organization now helps 500+ Members through the
efforts of nearly 400 Volunteers. In five years, Volunteers
have logged nearly 80,000 hours of services and driven “to
the moon” – over 283,000 miles! They have provided almost
12,000 transportations, over 3,800 home visits, 1,300
minor home repairs and made 115,000 daily calls to check
on residents. In June 2019, Staying Connected hired its
first employee, Sandy Milliken, as Executive Director to
ensure its sustainability in the years ahead. Sandy is now
a resident of Sun City as well. She integrates the needs of
Members and the willingness of Volunteers to serve with
an understanding of the community to ensure the continued
fulfillment of the group’s mission.
Staying Connected Volunteers continue to say “I can’t
tell you how much volunteering has changed my life; I get
so much more from the members I help than I give to
them. I’m proud, and thankful to contribute my time to
help my neighbors!”.
How I can help?: If you are a Sun City resident, you can visit the
Resource Hub and explore the many opportunities to make a
difference by becoming a Staying Connected volunteer.
Or if you would like to offer financial support, corporate, club and
individual donations are gratefully accepted. You can find out more
about Staying Connected at www.StayingConnectedSCHH.org,
18 or by calling 843-705-2259.
/www.StayingConnectedSCHH.org