Things You Can Do In Charleston South Carolina to Give Back as a Family

If you’re interested in giving back to the community, you may find it important to instill those philanthropic values in your children or grandchildren as well. Not only can working as a team help amplify your efforts, but it can strengthen your family bonds and community ties through service.

For those living in Charleston, South Carolina, there’s certainly no shortage of volunteer opportunities in our city—no matter what particular cause your family is interested in. Below we’re providing a few actionable ideas for family-friendly volunteering opportunities in Charleston.

Local Charities and Nonprofits

If you’re interested in uplifting your community members who may need some support, here are a few local charities and nonprofits to consider.

Lowcountry Food Bank

The Lowcountry Food Bank is a 501(c)(3) organization that’s put down roots in 10 coastal cities throughout South Carolina, including Charleston. What we especially love about this organization is just how much they do for the community and the many different ways volunteers can get involved. From hosting a food drive or virtual fundraiser with your school, church, or workplace to attending the Annual Chef’s Fest fundraiser, volunteering with the food bank can come in many forms.

Of course, for those who prefer to roll up their sleeves and get hands on, the organization always welcomes volunteers and advocates to help with sorting food, distribution, engaging with the community, and more.

Family members as young as 12 can get involved with the Lowcountry Food Bank, making this is an ideal option for families with kids and teens.

Charleston Animal Society

Are you and your family animal lovers at heart? Then you may feel compelled to support the Charleston Animal Society in their mission to prevent the cruelty of animals. This organization has been operating since 1874 (yes, that’s more than 150 years!), and there are no shortage of volunteer opportunities available. 

If you and your family would like to support from afar, here are just a few of the ways you can get involved:

• Organize or host a fundraiser 
• Purchase items off their “Wish List”
• Join their monthly donation program
• Attend the Applause for Paws Gala (last year they raised over $655,000!)
• Become a “Business Affiliate” (if you’re a business owner)

And of course, if your family would like to get hands-on in helping the animals, the Charleston Animal Society runs on volunteer power to keep its facilities clean and safe for the animals. From walking and socializing the dogs to doing laundry and transporting animals, there is no shortage of ways for every member of your family to get involved.

Habitat for Humanity

Habitat for Humanity is one of the largest volunteer organizations in the country, but that doesn’t mean your local Charleston chapter couldn’t use some skilled workers to help out. From assisting in the Administrative Office to running the ReStore and, of course, helping build affordable homes, there’s something for everyone to get involved (including those who may not feel comfortable with doing construction). 

Community Events and Fundraisers

Charleston is home to so many incredible events all throughout the year, many of which recur each year and welcome whole family participation. Here are a few of our favorites.

Get Running or Walking

No matter your family’s fitness level, it’s always fun to get outside and get moving (for a good cause!) with the whole family. From full marathons to fundraiser 5Ks and fun runs/walks, you’ll find Charleston hosts a number of exciting events throughout the year. 

If you have young kids or pets at home, look for family friendly fun runs. Often around the holidays, they’ll have opportunities for everyone to dress up and get involved.

And if members of your family aren’t able to participate, they may enjoy cheering you on from the sidelines, organizing raising funds for your run, or volunteering to check runners in, hands out waters, etc.

Check Upcoming Events

Charleston is a vibrant community, and there is no shortage of things to do—including community events and fundraisers. Whether your family it interested in attending a church concert, lecture series, bake sale, or other fundraiser, we recommend looking online for event directories and details. AllEvents is a great place to start, since it allows readers to filter for nonprofit-sponsored events happening in Charleston this month.

Environmental and Outdoor Activities

As a coastal city with an incredibly diverse ecosystem and wildlife population, Charleston has plenty of opportunities for environmentally focused families to get involved in keeping our city clean and beautiful.

Conservation and Cleanup Iniatives

Charleston is famous for its picturesque waterfront living, but the beauty of Charleston can’t be preserved without the help of volunteers and organizations who work together tirelessly to keep our city clean. 

Great for getting the whole family involved, there are a number of organizations focused on cleaning up the parks, marshes, waterways and roadways in Charleston.

Here are a few organizations to consider volunteering with, if this is something you’d like to do together as a family:

• Friends of Keep Charleston Beautiful
• The Great Charleston Cleanup
• Charleston Waterkeeper
• Wounded Nature

Tree Planting Events

Trees play an important, often underrated, role in preserving the well-being of Charleston’s wildlife (and residents, like you!). Not only do they add to the beauty of our city, but they provide critical infrastructure to our walking paths and downtown areas by retaining stormwater, providing shade and cooling properties, removing pollution from the air, and more.

If you’d like to participate in planting trees in the Charleston area or would like to find free trees to plant along your property, here are a few organizations to check out:

• Charleston Parks Conservancy
• Trees SC
• Street Tree Program

Educational and Skill-Based Volunteering

If you’re family values education and learning, perhaps you’d like to find opportunities to pass your knowledge onto others. Or, maybe you’re particularly interested in supporting local students and youth through mentorship and skill-building programs.

Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Lowcountry

Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Lowcountry has been operating for 120 years with the mission of “changing children’s lives by matching them with caring adults to guide them on a path to success.” If you’d like to connect one-on-one with some of Charleston’s youngest community members to help them unlock their greatest potential and thrive, you may want to consider applying to become a “Big.” If you’d rather support from the sidelines, you and your family can participate in annual fundraising events or establish ongoing charitable contributions.

The Mentoring Connector

The City of Charleston provides residents with the opportunity to mentor youth through the Mentoring Connector program. This volunteer referral service is designed to vet and connect mentors with mentorship opportunities, based on program type and area of interest.

Host a Workshop or Class

If you have particular expertise or insights—say on business or finances, computers, cooking, or other life skills—you may want to reach out to the city of Charleston about hosting a workshop or class through their Cultural Arts Department or Small Business Workshops program. Or, you can search online for coworking or conference space to host an event on your own.

Get Involved in Charleston with the Whole Family

If you’re interested in engaging your whole family in a service-oriented activity, you’ll find plenty of options in Charleston—all you have to do is look! Getting everyone involved, no matter their age, is a rewarding experience that can teach others about the importance of giving back and supporting our local community.

As you search for the right volunteer spot for you and your family, be sure to consider your family members’ interests and values. It’s important to find something that resonates with everyone involved.