Following the welcome by Senior Issues Group co-chairs, James Bennett and Vee Daniel, each panelist shared how their organization’s work impacts food security in the Upstate, specifically for seniors.
Brooke Brittain, Associate Director, Food and Nutrition Security, Clemson University, shared information on the Clemson Health Clinic in Walhalla and Clemson mobile clinics that provide breast screening through DHEC’s Best Chance Network, and cardiovascular screening and counseling through the WISEWOMAN program. Clemson worked with Ten at the Top to create an Upstate Food Access Map, as well as other resource maps found here. More information about Clemson’s food security program in Oconee County may be found here.
Jim Abbot of the Pickens County Salvation Army spoke of their part in delivering food from pantries to community centers and churches in Pickens County’s food deserts. The Salvation Army now delivers food for 15 households where the average age is 67 years.
Lesa Howard of 5 Point Church coordinates providing 20-25 pounds of food per person to hundreds of people in the area. As of last week, 274 households were served, including 581 individuals. Lesa also coordinates FoodShare deliveries twice a month with Feed & Seed.
Trish Tripp of Feed & Seed Co. is an expert in foodborne illness advocacy and communication in addition to bringing the Feed & Seed concept to fruition. Feed & Seed’s Food Innovation Hub is a multi-purpose facility in Greenville that serves the Upstate’s resident, farmers, and communities. Join Feed & Seed for their grand opening ribbon-cutting at 10:00am on April 8!
Thank you to our Senior Issues Group sponsors, Upstate Home Care Solutions and the Better Business Bureau of the Upstate, and to Tri-County Technical College in Easley for providing the venue.
The UEE heard an entrepreneurship legislative update from Luis Reyes, Senator Tim Scott’s Deputy Legislative Assistant for Small Business and each attendee had the opportunity to share their most recent wins, needs, and other pertinent information on their organizations’ work. The group also celebrated the South Carolina Small Business Development Center following a proclamation by Governor Henry McMaster designating March 16 “SBDC Day” in South Carolina.
Get ready for STEAM fun for the whole family- iMAGINE Upstate is returning to Downtown Greenville!
The iMAGINE Upstate STEAM Festival Fueled by Fluor is returning to Downtown Greenville on April 2nd.
The iMAGINE Upstate Festival is a free street festival held annually on Main Street in Greenville. The mission of iMAGINE Upstate is to create meaningful experiences that promote a culture of lifelong learning and career readiness, with an emphasis on science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics (STEAM) in pre-K through 12 education career pathways.
Over 50 exhibits from Upstate businesses and organizations will offer hands-on, educational activities for attendees of all ages. Experience the excitement of STEAM through drone races, robotics shows, explosive science experiments, 3D printing, arts and crafts, dance performances, and much more!
“Our amazing sponsors and exhibitors make STEAM accessible and fun. They help students answer the question, ‘When I grow up, I want to be…’ And it can be anything – an automotive engineer, an art therapist, a zoologist, a food scientist – you name it,” said Dallas Thomas, Program Coordinator for iMAGINE Upstate.
Key experiences will include:
Join Fluor, iMAGINE Upstate’s title sponsor and a global leader in the engineering and construction industry, to help build a better world! Grab your hard hat and join the team! Learn how Fluor designs and builds the world’s toughest projects as you get certified in Design & Planning, Environmental Stewardship and Site Safety. Then, you’ll try your hand at building as part of a Fluor construction team. Working together, you’ll learn how to deliver safe, well-executed and efficient results.
‘Break I.T. Down’ with ScanSource! Learn more about the technology solutions you use every day! Put on your thinking cap and solve puzzles using QR codes and RFID (Radio-frequency identification).
On your marks, get set, GO! Ride a stationary bike or use a handheld generator to power an RC car around a racetrack with ZF Transmissions Race Around the World! Learn how physics and electricity can make a car go faster or slower. Take an inside look an automotive transmission and crank a handle to explore L.E.D efficiency.
How does the science and technology inside your electronic devices work? How does physics help you listen to your favorite music? Explore the relationships between electricity, magnetism, power storage, and audio filtration with Kyocera-AVX!
Can you overcome the friction created by three different surfaces? Will you be able to Dodge the windmill to putt the golf ball into the hole? Which speed is optimal for a conveyor belt? STEM discoveries await you at Dodge Industrial!
The iMAGINE Upstate STEAM Festival Fueled by Fluor will be held Saturday, April 2nd, 2022 from 11:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. on Main Street in downtown Greenville. Attendees can enjoy complimentary Greenlink bus service to the festival site on festival day, thanks to Proterra! Greenlink will also be operating a free downtown trolley that will offer shuttle service from 10 AM to 7 PM on festival day. Festivalgoers can park for free at County Square and ride the trolley to and from the festival site.
There is no cost to attend, and the festival is open to the public. T-shirts, food from local food trucks, and refreshments will be available for purchase.
Mark your calendars, and join Upstate South Carolina in celebrating the joy and excitement of STEAM!
The BMW Charity Pro-Am presented by TD SYNNEX is all about raising awareness and funding for nonprofits in our community and, so far, we have given away $14.3 million dollars!!
One of the ways we raise money and awareness is through Birdies for Charity, but we need your help to make this successful.
Donating to a nonprofit or K-12 school through our Birdies for Charity Program makes your money go 25%* further. With our matching donation fund, we will match 25% of what you donate to any of the nonprofits or K-12 schools that have signed up with Birdies for Charity.
Plus, as a donor you have a chance to win the Stay and Play Package:
Foursome at Thornblade Club
Foursome at the BMW Performance Center Driving School
Two-night stay at the Greenville Marriott
Two-night stay at the Spartanburg Marriott
To win all you have to do is guess the number of birdies the professional golfers will make June 9-12, 2022, at the BMW Charity Pro-Am presented by TD SYNNEX.
Public health, education, entrepreneurship, families and youth at risk
3 programs:
Business generator BGEN
Neighborhood ambassadors – volunteers who share resources, mentor and support students in public housing, during COVD vaxed 700pp
Foodshare Cherokee, one of 19 hubs in SC providing fresh fruit and vegetables every 2 weeks, boxed (students pack) available to anyone for $15, $5 for snap holders, 1,800 boxes, 32,000 pounds of food since launch, will expand through the medical community, and delivery.
April 2 Cherokee Rock and Ride – community festival, celebrating one year Foodshare anniversary
Jonna Turner, LITCHAIN
Blockchain and crypto company
Bitcoin mining data centers
Energy
Education about crypto and blockchain technology, consult with legal on contract and work with school systems, K-12 and higher education, kids crypto camp
LITCHAIN is investing in communities and teaching financial literacy and technology.
Ribbon cutting Friday, March 11.
Brian Ziegelheafer, BGEN
Business generator founded in 2016
City owns building, KNOW2 is oversight partner, 7,000 square feet of space
Began with ARC grant, Timkin grant
See recording for video tour!
Incubator facility has bakeries, Main Street Director, coffee shops, tuxedo store, massage therapist, gym, contractor, school district partner, living room area, Peach City Brewing, Trackside Tap Room, has helped over 40 businesses learn, launch, and land wherever it is best for them.