Helping Out for Feb. 7, 2018

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Helping Out highlights some of the many charitable events and activities going on in the Charleston area. Submissions should be sent to [email protected].

Lowcountry AIDS Services has added a mobile HIV testing van to its services to help the organization reach rural and high-risk communities. A $50,000 grant from the Elton John AIDS Foundation funded the project.

Lowcountry AIDS Services has initiated an effort to expand its testing, outreach and prevention efforts. To that end it has partnered with Walgreens to offer free HIV and hepatitis C testing at eight locations in the tri-county area and is working with the detention centers in each county to offer testing for inmates.

The first phase of the initiative resulted in testing more than 250 individuals and disseminating prevention education materials to more than 1,000 individuals. With the addition of the mobile testing van, Lowcountry AIDS Services expects to test an additional 500 people.

Fresh Future Farm completed construction of the first crop tunnel on its 0.81-acre North Charleston urban farm on Jan. 15. The tunnel was constructed in less than a week with guidance and cost-share funding from the Natural Resource Conservation Service, and with technical support from Wilfred Pace & Associates and the Allendale Soil and Water Conservation Project.  

To christen the crop tunnel, the farm is hosting Black History in the Macon, a fundraiser for the farm, from 2 to 5 p.m. Saturday. Guests will tour the farm and learn about Chicora-Cherokee’s history of agriculture. Chef BJ Dennis will cook Gullah food using farm-raised hens, greens and herbs. Jazz singer Ann Caldwell will give a mini concert.

Tickets are $80 per person, which includes a t-shirt and complimentary beer and wine.

The Charleston RiverDogs, in partnership with Palmetto Goodwill’s new business GoodPeople Staffing, is scheduled to host two Jobs at The Joe hiring events to fill ballpark gameday positions for the 2018 season. An event for food and beverage jobs is scheduled for 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, and a general job fair for all positions is set for 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. March 3 at Joseph P. Riley Jr. Park.

All interested applicants must register in advance.

Taco Boy will host a Valentine’s Day event to benefit Pet Helpers from 11 a.m. to close Feb. 14 at its downtown location. The restaurant will donate the day’s sales of the Mexican Bulldog drink — part margarita and part Coronita — to Pet Helpers, and a representative from the no-kill animal shelter will have adoptable animals on-site from 4 to 6 p.m.

The Junior League of Charleston is set to host its 44th Whale of a Sale from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday at Founders Hall at Charles Towne Landing. Proceeds from the sale will benefit the organization’s mission of developing the potential of women and helping those in need in the community.