Local Utilities Supply More Than 125 Students with Backpacks and Supplies
Columbia, SC — [September 5, 2024] — South Carolina Water Utilities, Inc. (SCWU) and its member companies, Blue Granite Water, Palmetto Utilities, and Kiawah Island Utilities, recently concluded a statewide school supply drive to help children across the state as they return to school. The drive, organized and supported by employees from SCWU utilities, provided much-needed supplies to students in service territory regions.
In the Upstate, Blue Granite employees filled 12 backpacks with essential items, including composition notebooks, pocket folders, and graphing paper. These backpacks and a surplus of loose supplies were delivered to Bryson Middle School in Simpsonville, benefiting students in the local community.
In the Midlands, employees from Palmetto Utilities’ corporate and customer service offices collected two large barrels of school supplies. These items were used to fill backpacks for approximately 100 students, with the Salvation Army facilitating the delivery. The Salvation Army of the Midlands, which serves eight counties and offers after-school programs for youth, ensured that the supplies reached the students who needed them most.
On the coast, Kiawah Island Utilities partnered with Lowcountry Orphan Relief to host a school supply drive. Local employees collected supplies and provided backpacks for at least 25 students. Lowcountry Orphan Relief is dedicated to supporting children in the Lowcountry of South Carolina who are identified as at-risk or are suffering from abandonment, abuse, or neglect.
The donations collected were part of SCWU’s annual statewide school supply drive, reflecting the company’s deep commitment to community service. As the state’s largest private, regulated water and wastewater utility, South Carolina Water Utilities engages in several charitable projects throughout the year. Company policy encourages each employee to participate in at least eight hours of community service during working hours annually, resulting in nearly 1,000 hours of volunteer work benefiting area non-profits annually.
“We’re honored to contribute to the success of students in the Columbia area through our school supply drive,” said SCWU President Craig Sorensen. “Our employees are passionate about giving back; this drive is just one of the many ways we strive to support the communities we serve.”
For more information about South Carolina Water Utilities and their community initiatives, please visit www.swwc.com.
About South Carolina Water Utilities
South Carolina Water Utilities, Inc. (SCWU) is the state’s largest private, regulated water and wastewater utility company, with systems located across the state. The company has over 65,000 connections and 120 employees and manages over $365 million in assets. Some of the brands include Kiawah Island Utility, Palmetto Utilities, Callawassie Utility Company, Synergy Utilities, and Blue Granite. Headquartered in Columbia, South Carolina, SCWU works to provide excellent customer service and to produce or reclaim clean water every day. The utility is regulated by the South Carolina Public Service Commission. For more information, visit South Carolina Water Utilities’ website, Facebook and LinkedIn.
