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United Way urges Bamberg schools to publicize 211, join disaster planning and consider small per‑student support
Summary
Felicia Couples of United Way told the Bamberg County Board of Trustees that the 211 information line and a United Way resource site can connect families to services, described ALICE household data for the county, and asked the district to appoint school contacts and consider modest per‑student contributions to fund services.
Felicia Couples, representing United Way, told the Bamberg County Board of Trustees on May 4 that South Carolina11 (text/phone 211) and a United Way resource site can give students and families confidential, immediate access to local services.
"211 helps us to connect our community to resources that belong to us," Couples said, explaining that users who text or call are prompted for a ZIP code or county and then receive localized referrals. She said the regional 211 system sometimes returns results that point families to shelters and services outside Bamberg County and asked the district to help correct and localize those listings.
Couples framed the request as both a communications and emergency‑planning issue. She described ALICE (asset‑limited, income‑constrained, employed) household data for Bamberg County and said households with the same jobs can have very different financial needs depending on family size. She also urged the district to name a staff contact who can distribute 211 materials to students and families, and to consider partnering with United Way on disaster planning committees—VOAD/COAD/LTRG—to improve local coordination in storms or other emergencies.
On funding, Couples presented a modest proposal to make the district a consistent partner without large requests: a pilot contribution equivalent to roughly a quarter per student (she described the calculation as a way to generate a predictable annual amount) and options for employee payroll contributions that would flow through United Way. "If you gave a quarter per student for the entire year...that is what I base it upon," she said, inviting the board to discuss options with the district finance office and to designate a school liaison for outreach.
The presentation included operational offers: providing 211 brochures and stickers for guidance offices, visiting during professional development days to brief staff and students, and helping create student‑facing social posts or materials. Couples left contact information and offered to return for follow‑up sessions.
The school board acknowledged the presentation and thanked Couples for the information; there was no formal vote on funding or partnership commitments during the meeting. The request will appear as an item for follow up during budget discussions and community outreach planning.
