MCCU Helps Supply Students

In June, Mid Carolina Credit Union (MCCU) collaborated with community partners, the Kershaw County Recreation Department, KC School District, Kershaw First Steps, and KC Library to bring about the county’s 2nd Annual 4K Elevate Event. The community event was held at the City Arena in Camden, SC, on Saturday, June 24, and hosted a variety of community agencies and entities that offered both parents and students resources to help the children prepare for the start of school in August. Students and parents entered the event moving from vendor to vendor, visiting a variety of booths that offered treats, games, healthy snacks, and resources, such as fliers, pamphlets, school supplies, and more, to help prepare them for school.

As part of MCCU’s commitment to supporting families, children, and their community, Mid Carolina Credit Union helped make going to school a little easier for pre-kindergarten families in Kershaw County by once again donating the final $1,000 needed for supplies and the event that the community grant did not cover. The credit union also donated pencils and rulers to the event and had staff volunteers set up giving out free information on financial wellness, fraud prevention & identity theft, being safe online, and how to talk to your kids about being online.

“Mid Carolina partnered with the 4K Elevate program as part of our commitment to helping students further education and being focused on the communities in which we serve,” said Tina Smith, Marketing & Community Development Coordinator for MCCU. “We know the cost of school supplies can be a financial burden, especially considering the challenges of the past several years and our current economy. Our hope is that the 4K Elevate program assists families, eliminating some financial burden and providing every student equal footing as they enter pre-kindergarten.”

The Kershaw County School District (KCSD) initiated the grant to sponsor this incredibly special county event for rising 4K students and their families. This unique program is part of the KCSD Birth to 5K Transition Plan to help first-year students start their academic experience on the right foot and offer parents a highly intensive transition opportunity. As well as a public awareness campaign for information sharing, KCSD and its partners aim to create additional support and toolkits for families as a part of Kershaw County School District’s Birth to 5K transition plan.

“We hope to continue this event and will work to improve it yearly with the help of our community partners,” said Ginger Catoe, Director of Elementary Education at Kershaw County School District. “Our goal is to help our students prepare for the transition from 4K to 5K, where children are engaged, challenged, and motivated to begin school ready to learn and then return each day to complete their first year of school. By partnering with our community agencies and entities, we desire to help families bridge the home-school connection in a positive, fun way to Elevate 4K.”

Thanks to community partners, sponsors, Mid Carolina Credit Union, Kershaw County School District, Kershaw County Recreation Department, Kershaw First Steps, and Kershaw County Public Library, all KCSD 4K students received a KinderMat rest mat (roughly a $45 value), and all attendees received a bookbag and supplies to start the school year in August.

To learn more about MCCU, visit www.midcarolinacu.com. Mid Carolina Credit Union, Our community – Our focus.