United Way of the Lowcountry Women United

Meeting Needs with Mimi’s Closet

story by JENNIFER BROWN-CARPENTER          photos by SUSAN DELOACH

Princess Diana said, “Each person is born with very individual qualities and potential. We owe it to them to create a truly supportive environment in which they too can grow and move forward.”

United Way (UW) of the Lowcountry Women United is focused on doing just that by offering members the opportunity to be part of a dynamic, philanthropic, and fun organization of female leaders who care about their community. Their mission is “to mobilize the caring power of women together to advance the common good by focusing on education in the forgotten pockets of Beaufort and Jasper counties.” Members work together to engage, educate, and empower others to become local leaders who actively participate in the betterment of our community and help break down barriers to education.

There are over 70,000 women involved in Women United all over the country and internationally. The local group was launched in 2012, and Katie Phifer is currently serving as the steering committee chair. She explains, “United Way of the Lowcountry has different strategic initiatives, and Women United chose to focus on the education aspect and helping families to maintain access to education. We utilize different initiatives to make this possible.”

Although COVID-19 impacted United Way of the Lowcountry and Women United just like every other organization, Women United members were able to keep their service projects rolling. Operation Backpack provides students across Beaufort and Jasper County schools with much needed supplies at the beginning of each school year. All of the schools that Women United works with are Title 1 schools, where 40% of the children come from low-income families. They work directly with school social workers to meet specific student needs, including school supplies, uniforms, and backpacks. Last year, they served 15 elementary and early childhood centers through Operation Backpack, providing over 1,000 bags to students at the beginning of the 2021 school year.

About two years ago, Women United started discussing how they could meet the ongoing needs of these students throughout the school year. Marilyn Harris, who has served on the Women United steering committee for three years, suggested that the group work with schools regularly to create and stock teachers’ supply closets with goods that students might need as the school year progresses.

“I learned of the ongoing need for basic school supplies by working as a substitute teacher in nearly every elementary school north of the Broad River – one case as a long-term substitute. By the end of the first semester, the backpacks were depleted, and uniform shirts were becoming pretty worn. Teachers, counselors, nurses, and other school educators were reaching into their own pockets to fill the need. A teacher supply closet in each school that needs one provides an opportunity for Women United to help meet that need not just at the beginning of the school term but year-round,” shared Marilyn.

The other Women United members loved the idea and launched their newest initiative, Mimi’s Closet, inspired by what Marilyn’s grandchildren call her.

Mimi’s Closet will provide school supplies and uniforms for students throughout the year and basic needs, like hygiene products, to school nurses. It was recently launched at James J. Davis Early Learning Center in Whale Branch Elementary School based on requests United Way of the Lowcountry had received from the school counselors.

Women United is run by volunteers who work closely with UW staff members, including Vice President of Education Impact Bethany Marcinkowski. “We are grateful to have good working relationships with the social workers at Beaufort and Jasper County schools. They are vital at providing information to us so we can help kids who don’t have other resources,” explains Marcinkowski.

The energy of volunteers keeps Women United and Mimi’s Closet going but so do donations. Community members can give money through the United Way of the Lowcountry website and also shop for the specific needs identified by the schools. Mimi’s Closet volunteers will maintain and update Amazon Wish Lists regularly so anyone can easily order the needed items and have them shipped directly to the schools.

Women United’s biggest fundraiser is the annual Power of the Purse event. Money raised at these events go to their Breaking Barriers to Education Fund. Those dollars are administered through the United Way of the Lowcountry Helpline. This Fund can provide direct assistance to families experiencing financial barriers that prevent their children from accessing education.

Prior to COVID-19, Women United was hosting quarterly workshops to provide women networking opportunities and to learn from other female leaders. They are working to bring those workshops back in 2022.

Women United also provides scholarships to women who are enrolled at either the University of South Carolina Beaufort or the Technical College of the Lowcountry. Together, Donna Klein and Daisy White initiated the Women United Scholarship Fund to support local female students. This past year they were able to provide three $1,000 scholarships to three different women in the community.

Through their relationships with the schools and the United Way of the Lowcountry staff, Women United members identified a need and are doing what they can to uplift women and children in the Lowcountry. They will celebrate their tenth anniversary in 2022 and will celebrate in the spring with their signature Power of the Purse fundraising event, welcoming others to attend and contribute.

For more information on United Way of the Lowcountry, Women United, or Mimi’s Closet, visit www.uwlowcountry.org. or contact the group at womenunited@uwlowcountry.org.