Sports Bar in Dorchester, SC

Summerville, SC – Hundreds of families across Dorchester County received Thanksgiving food assistance Saturday morning as the Dorchester County Sheriff’s Office hosted a large holiday distribution event bringing together local volunteers, nonprofits, and community partners.

According to the Sheriff’s Office, the Nov. 22 event was organized to support residents facing food insecurity ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday. The agency said more than 300 families were provided meals through the coordinated effort, which emphasized unity, service, and seasonal giving.

The sheriff’s office said the distribution was made possible through significant contributions from community organizations including Katie’s Crops, Seacoast Church, Cannan United Methodist Church, The Net, Southern Soul Massage, Food Lion, Publix, Harris Teeter, Lowes Foods, Lidl, and Marshalls. Volunteers from across Dorchester County arrived early Saturday to help with packaging, organizing, and distributing food to residents.

Officials noted that the event reflects the department’s mission to support the community beyond traditional public safety responsibilities. “We are most thankful for the opportunity to serve, not just through public safety, but through compassion, unity, and service to others,” the Sheriff’s Office said in the announcement.

The annual event comes as many households across South Carolina continue to feel the impact of rising food costs ahead of the holidays. Local leaders say community partnerships remain essential in ensuring that vulnerable families have access to meals during the Thanksgiving season.

Residents who received assistance Saturday expressed gratitude for the support, while organizers say they hope to expand the program in future years.

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Summerville, SC – Families across Dorchester County can receive free food assistance this weekend as the Dorchester County Sheriff’s Office prepares to host a community food distribution on Saturday, November 22, 2025, from 10 AM to 1 PM at 212 Deming Way in Summerville.

According to the Sheriff’s Office, the event is designed to support households facing heightened financial strain as the holiday season approaches. Deputies said food will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis and will continue while supplies last.

The line will open at 9:30 AM, and organizers emphasize that no early birds will be permitted. For safety and traffic flow, families are asked to remain in their vehicles and follow on-site instructions. Each vehicle may receive assistance for up to two families, according to officials.

The Sheriff’s Office noted that the distribution is made possible through partnerships with local community organizations and donors. The department is also accepting non-perishable food items at its Summerville headquarters through the close of business on Friday, encouraging residents to contribute if they are able.

The upcoming event is part of a broader effort to bolster community support ahead of Thanksgiving, a period when local agencies often see increased demand for basic necessities. Officials said they hope the distribution will help ease the burden on residents who may be struggling with rising costs or unexpected hardships.

Dorchester County residents who plan to attend should expect moderate traffic around Deming Way late Saturday morning and early afternoon. Deputies will be on-site to assist with traffic management and ensure an orderly line.

Community members seeking updates can follow the Dorchester County Sheriff’s Office through its official channels.

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Lowcountry Land Trust, a landscape and waterway preservation nonprofit, has added another 266 acres to its long-standing Brosnan Forest conservation goal.

Knight Tract, a 266-acre piece of land in Dorchester County, will be added to the Land Trust’s portfolio, according to a news release. The land will contribute to the nonprofit’s goal of connecting over 13,000 acres of Brosnan Forest and 12,300 acres surrounding Audubon South Carolina’s Beidler Forest.

“Brosnan Forest and Lowcountry Land Trust share a deep commitment to protecting the natural systems that make the Lowcountry so special,” Joel Wells, Brosnan Forest facilities director, said in the release. “From our ongoing work to restore Coldwater Branch and surrounding watersheds to supporting the protection of the Knight Tract, we’re proud to help strengthen the ecological connection that sustains wildlife, water quality, and community resilience across this landscape.”

The land stretches towards Four Hole Swamp and will benefit habitat connectivity, guard water sources and maintain the natural Lowcountry landscape, according to the release. Knight Tract also has portions of Walnut and Coldwater branches, two rivers that flow into the Edisto River.

“This project demonstrates how conservation can serve both nature and people,” Matt Williams, president and CEO of Lowcountry Land Trust, said in the release. “By protecting the Knight Tract, we’re expanding one of the most important wildlife corridors in the Southeast while creating a new opportunity for residents to connect with the outdoors in northern Dorchester County.”

Once Lowcountry Land Trust places a conservation easement on the land, ownership will be transferred to Dorchester County to be used as a public park with recreational community access, the release said.

Funding for the acquisition came from the South Carolina Conservation Bank, Dorchester County’s Greenbelt Program, Audubon South Carolina and Brosnan Forest, according to the release.

“This is a rare opportunity to connect South Carolinians with one of the Lowcountry’s most ecologically significant landscapes,” Raleigh West, South Carolina Conservation Bank director, said in the release. “By securing a publicly accessible place near the protected lands of Brosnan Forest and Beidler Forest, we’re ensuring future generations can experience the natural beauty of this region while safeguarding its ecological integrity.”

SUMMERVILLE, S.C. (WCSC) - The Dorchester County Adult Education Center is hosting a free community resource fair to connect residents with essential services and support.

Attendees will have access to over 20 vendors and agencies, all in one convenient location, providing education and services across various sectors.

A variety of county and statewide organizations are planning to participate.

Vendors will offer resources on employment, health, housing and other vital community needs.

Wramie Spafford, the director of Dorchester County Adult Education, emphasizes that the fair aims to raise awareness of available resources that the community might not know about.

“I think there’s a great need to know what resources and to allocate those resources for the betterment of our community,” Spafford says. “I think that when people are going through hard times, whatever that may be, I think it’s nice to know, ‘I can call this, there’s a contact and there’s somebody out there that can assist with me with whatever my or my family needs at that time.’”

She describes it as a “wrap-around service type resource fair,” offering more than just educational opportunities.

“It’s not just aimed at education. That’s what we would like for people to know what we do as a program. But there are a lot of workforce, financial, medical, and a lot of resources out there for people,” Spafford says.

Most of the resources available will be based out of Dorchester County, but anyone is invited to come out, according to Spafford.

Tents will be lined up along the Adult Education Center offering these resources.

Some of the agencies expected at the event include:

It will start at 10 a.m. Friday and run until 11:30 a.m. at the facility located at 115 Devon Road in Summerville, right behind Knightsville Elementary School.