GOOD NEWS:  Small grants available to spark your great idea

Staff reports  |  Lowcountry On the Table, the community-wide discussion held at hundreds of locations across the region on Oct .4, will offer “Spark Grants” of up to $500 to people who want a little help to get a great idea going.

And it’s pretty darned easy to apply.  Instead of being burdened with a bunch of bureaucratic mumbo jumbo, all you have to do is make a short video on your cell phone of what you want to do and send it to the fine folks at Lowcountry On the Table.

But you can’t submit it until Oct. 4.  And you’re really supposed to only do it if you are participating in one of the discussions around the community on that date.

As the folks at Lowcountry On the Table will tell you, applications need “no paper or stamps – just a quick shot of your tablemates talking about how they will make a difference in our community.”  (See – you’re supposed to attend to get a shot at the money.)

The Spark Grant program is being funded by the S.C. Federal Credit Union to help “spark” some good, simple ideas that need just a little bit of money to make a difference. Videos of the Spark Grant finalists will be available online and on social media.

• To learn more about how to send your Spark Grant video (on Oct. 4!) to Lowcountry On the Table, visit this web page: https://www.lowcountryonthetable.org/spark
• To learn how to host a table or join a discussion, click here.

In other Good News:

Helping hands.  A host of Lowcountry mayors have formed a Hurricane Florence Disaster Relief Fund in coordination with the Coastal Community Foundation.  Hats off to mayors from (in alphabetical order): Charleston, Folly Beach, Goose Creek, Harleyville, Isle of Palms, James Island, Kiawah Island, McClellanville, Mount Pleasant, North Charleston, Reevesville, St. George, Sullivan’s Island and Summerville.  To make a donation, click here.

Year of Women.  The College of Charleston will celebrate 100 years of women on campus since 13 women joined the school in the fall of 1918.  Throughout the current academic year, the college will host a series of events, speakers, seminars and more to mark the centennial.  “The College of Charleston is proud and fortunate to have had countless women leave their mark not only on our remarkable university, but this country and the world,” said Interim President Steve Osborne. To learn about all of the events for the year-long celebration, click here.

Blood needed.  The American Red Cross has put out a call for blood donations after more than 200 blood drives were forced to cancel because of the potential impact of Hurricane Florence in the Charleston area.  Donors of all blood types are urged to make an appointment to give blood or platelets and replenish the blood supply. Appointments can be made by using the Blood Donor App, visiting RedCrossBlood.org or calling 1-800-RED CROSS  (1-800-733-2767).