Animal Welfare
Paw Partners is an animal welfare organization that raises funds through the help of local businesses and the community to help save the lives of animals. Funds are used to help homeless animals and those in low income households obtain low-to-no cost spay and neuter services and other necessary medical care treatments. They are also focused on building a foster network, assisting with transport services, and providing education of humane animal treatment.
CCA is the oldest no-kill shelter in Upstate South Carolina and a 501(c)3 non-profit organization. Through their shelter operation in Simpsonville, thrift store in Greenville, and a variety of community service programs, CCA offers a second chance to neglected, stray, and abandoned animals. CCA’s outreach provides treatment, care, and a safe haven for our feline and K-9 residents until they are adopted into their forever homes. The CCA also offers a low cost spay/neuter program for the community.
Both the Animal Control Unit and the Oconee Humane Society are based at the Oconee Animal Shelter. Animal Control oversees the operations at the shelter, including vaccinating and caring for the animals. They respond to animal issues and complaints in the community. The Humane Society is responsible for the adoption and spay/neuter programs.
Pickens County Humane Society is a non-profit organization that opened in 1972. PCHS’s mission is to provide a refuge for stray and unwanted pets, to eliminate animal suffering and overpopulation through public education, and to find the most suitable forever home for each pet. Pickens County Humane Society has goals of enhancing the program by growing services and providing more resources for the community.
Child and Family Services
Collins Children’s Home is a Christian-based organization that provides care to needy children and families through residential home care, counseling, and family outreach. The Home aspires to become the model Christian-based organization for strengthening children and families throughout the state of SC.
Family Promise is a nonprofit organization committed to helping low-income families achieve lasting independence. Family Promise enables churches and volunteers to meet homeless families’ immediate needs for shelter, meals, and comprehensive support services.
Feed A Hungry Child was conceived by a small group of community adults when an educator in Pickens County, SC realized children in our school system had no food on the weekends. Once word spread, a committee was formed and students were identified at 12 of the 15 elementary schools who were also not getting the basic need of food on weekends. Feed a Hungry Child does not concern themselves with the reasons for the lack of food but ensuring that children had the food they need to thrive and survive. The program is now serving close to 600 students weekly.
Pickens County Habitat for Humanity (PCHFH) is part of a global, nonprofit housing organization operated on Christian principles that seeks to put God’s love into action by building homes, communities, and hope. PCHFH is dedicated to eliminating substandard housing locally and worldwide through constructing, rehabilitating, and preserving homes; by advocating for fair and just housing policies; and by providing training and access to resources to help families improve their shelter conditions. Habitat for Humanity was founded on the conviction that every man, woman, and child should have a simple, durable place to live in dignity and safety, and that decent shelter in decent communities should be a matter of conscience and action for all.
The mission of Helping Hands Children’s Home is to provide the children a safe place to live as well as food, clothing, access to an education, healthcare, and counseling. The Program accepts abused and/or neglected children who have been taken into care by the SC Department of Social Services. These children may be at the home as little as overnight up to over a year.
This agency provides support and education for parents who lack the ability to nurture or bond with their children because of the adverse childhood experiences they endured. Instead of perpetuating the cycle of abuse and neglect in Pickens County and our neighboring Upstate counties, The Parenting Place’s programs aim to break those cycles.
Youth Organizations
The Blue Ridge Council has provided Scouting programs to youth to Abbeville, Anderson, Greenville, Greenwood, Laurens, Newberry, Oconee, and Pickens counties for over 100 years.
The Mountains to Midlands Council helps guide, assist, and partner to all things Girl Scouts. They serve girls K5 to 12th grade in central and western South Carolina in 22 counties.
Clemson University 4-H Youth Development provides positive youth development programs relating to the areas of agriculture, community engagement and leadership, healthy living, and science.
Community Organizations
The Palmetto SC Region of the American Red Cross provides vital services to the residents of South Carolina including disaster relief, health and safety classes, blood collection for hospitals, and services to the armed forces. The Upstate SC Chapter of the American Red Cross serves the counties of Abbeville, Greenville, Spartanburg, Anderson, Laurens, Greenwood, McCormick, Oconee, Pickens, and Union.
Clemson Community Care
The CCC’s mission is to assist persons in difficult circumstances with necessities such as food, shelter, and utilities and to help them to become self-sufficient through educational programs and advocacy.
The Community Foundation of Greater Clemson works to provide philanthropy and establish long-term sources of funds for local needs, such as charitable nonprofit organizations in the Clemson area.
Meals on Wheels volunteer drivers have five routes with six or more recipients who are unable to prepare a well-balanced diet for themselves. Anyone living within the Clemson city limits may apply for help from Clemson Meals on Wheels.
Pickens County Meals on Wheels is a volunteer organization that serves hot, weekday meals to over 260 homebound clients in Pickens County daily.
PlaySafe works to educate, promote, support and foster healthy lifestyles, wellness and safe athletic participation in active youth, young adults and the community at large.
Rebuild Upstate’s approach to affordable housing focuses solely on home preservation and repair as means to keep residents in their own home so a family may remain comfortably in place for years to come.
The Salvation Army exists to meet human needs wherever, whenever, and however they can. They work to assess the needs of each community, build programs to alleviate these needs and struggles, then invest in the community by offering programs to the local community.
The mission of the United Way is to coordinate and develop resources to identify, evaluate, and efficiently serve the needs of the community. The United Way is made up primarily of volunteers who work to support a broad range of agencies and human services in the local community. They plan for future community needs and allocate funds raised through a systematic review process conducted by volunteers.
Wild Hearts Equine Therapeutic Center, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) non-profit company that cultivates powerful connections between people and horses through innovative and customized equine-assisted learning and therapeutic riding programs based on Hippotherapy and Equine Assisted Growth and Learning Association (EAGALA) principles. The program offers low or no-cost assistance to those with physical disabilities, people dealing with emotional trauma, behavioral or social issues, at-risk youth and victims of abuse, as well as Active Duty Military personnel and Veterans.
Women’s Organizations
The CU Woman’s Club is a long standing organization for women with any connection to Clemson University. They host a variety of programs and interest groups to allow learning and socializing with old friends and new. Each month, they host a luncheon at Occasion’s at Wedgefield. Visit the website for the most up to date contact information, events, and interest groups and to download a membership application.
La Leche League Encouragement for Nursing Mothers
LLL USA encourages, informs, educates, supports, and promotes the use of human milk and the intimate relationship and development that comes from nursing a child for as long as mutually desired.
Advocacy Groups
Addiction Center strives to provide quality information and assistance in the struggle with addiction. Their ultimate mission is to ensure that people looking for help have the tools and information to find it
Alcohol Help
Alcohol Help is an informational resource geared towards reducing the harm caused by alcohol. These high quality, well researched webpages surround the implications of alcohol use and how to seek treatment and a path forward to a healthy life.
The Upstate Intergroup of Alcoholics Anonymous exists to aid area groups in support of those in recovery.
There are 108 South Carolina Alcohol and Drug Rehabilitation Centers and Facilities for drug and alcohol addiction treatment. Find the right one today.
The mission of Help.org is to provide support for people who are dealing with substance abuse and addiction through comprehensive resources and guides and connecting people with the right treatment programs.
The mission of NAMI Greenville is to improve the quality of life and treatment for those who live with mental health conditions and their family members through education, support, and advocacy.
There is a significant risk for today’s generation because of fentanyl. It is a deadly hidden threat. Fentanyl-laced drugs are extremely dangerous, and the average person is unaware their drugs are laced with fentanyl. Parents, guardians, educators, and anyone responsible for children must rely on drug prevention education to safeguard children and teens from this growing threat. This guide discusses how to talk to your children about fentanyl and other drug use.
Pickens County Advocacy Center provides immediate 24 hour response at no charge to sexual assault victims and their families as well as training for medical personnel, social service agencies, and law enforcement on the dynamics of sexual assault and trauma informed care. Services are confidential.
The Guardian ad Litem program volunteers advocate for abused and neglected children in the Family Court system to empower them and give them a voice to find safe, permanent, loving homes as quickly as possible.
The Indigenous women of America are suffering from abuse, trauma, drug addiction, and mental illness at disparaging rates. This guide focuses on native lands and people to provide the access and support they need to overcome obstacles their ancestors never asked for.
Safe Harbor is a private, 501(c)3 non-profit organization dedicated to helping victims of domestic violence in the upstate of South Carolina. They offer a continuum of services, providing safe emergency shelter, counseling, assistance with orders of protection, and transitional housing, as well as teen dating violence education and community outreach in Greenville, Pickens, Anderson, and Oconee counties.