Carolina Youth Development Center Still Serves Lowcountry Families After 230 Years | News

NORTH CHARLESTON – South Carolina’s oldest non-profit organization continues to serve the needs of families in the Charleston area centuries after its founding, even in the midst of a pandemic that affected the organization’s funding.

This year marks the 230th anniversary of the Carolina Youth Development Center, established in 1790 as Charleston Orphan House. The group survived wars, floods, earthquakes, hurricanes and now faces the ongoing coronavirus, as it aims to be a haven for families in need.

“For all these reasons, our doors have remained open,” said Beverly Hardin, the center’s CEO.

The organization has continued to expand its services and today offers safe housing for children, educational support and career preparation services. The family service organization reaches more than 900 children and their families each year.

The center recently opened a new facility in North Charleston that will provide individual and family therapies, as well as community-based prevention services.

The Family Support Center, at the George Williams Building on the organization’s North Charleston campus, was fueled by the group’s desire to help restore broken families.

“This building will serve as a safe space and healing place for our community for years to come,” said Hardin.

In October, North Charleston city councilor Rhonda Jerome applauded the organization for reaching its milestone. She noted that the group’s home has a personal meaning. Jerome volunteered at the center as a Scout leader for many years.

“I know for sure you’ve been here for a long time,” said Jerome.

Part of the reason it was important for the organization to move forward with the new support center was the protests against the social unrest that unfolded in Lowcountry over the summer, Hardin said.

The demonstrations have affected many families, she said, and the center will help people deal with such burdens.

Like many nonprofits, the center saw a decline in donations after being forced to cancel fundraising due to the coronavirus.

But two “coronavirus angels” contributed large donations, of $ 150,000 and $ 90,000, to allow the organization to break even by the end of the year.

“It allowed us to take a breath,” said Hardin.

In addition, dozens of Lowe’s employees helped raise $ 50,000 in renovations to the building that would serve as the family center.

Another company, Cummins Inc., provided $ 55,000 to help establish the new facility. The company, which has a unit in North Charleston, focuses its corporate responsibilities on three priorities that it considers important for healthy communities: environment, education and equal opportunities.

CYDC and Cummins have worked together for many years. Cummins supports the center with its automotive laboratory, where young people take apart old cars and assemble them again.

“We believe that an organization like CYDC is critical to our community,” said Anthony Parrish, an employee at Cummins Inc., who serves on the center’s board.

The pandemic and the new legislation have caused a drop in the number of children housed in the North Charleston nonprofit.

The Family Prevention Services First Act will force the center to become a facility that serves children with higher needs. In addition, the forced closure of schools by COVID-19 led to a drop in the number of young people in the group’s home, as most of the organization’s referrals come from teachers.

Normally, the collective home would have about 40 young people. It now houses 24.

Those who wish to give and support the center can do so online at cydc.org.

Reach Rickey Dennis at 937-4886. Follow him on Twitter @RCDJunior.