East Cooper Community Outreach

Winner of the Outstanding Socially Progressive Business Award, SCORE Awards 2009

East Cooper Community Outreach (ECCO) was initially conceived in 1989 by Monsignor James A. Carter, pastor of Christ Our King Catholic Church, in response to the devastation caused by Hurricane Hugo. The destruction caused by this major storm exposed needs that many leaders in the community had not previously identified. Poverty, substandard housing, lack of access to health and dental care, hunger, and the threat of homelessness challenged a prospering community.

This challenge was answered by the creation of ECCO to offer a permanent source of help to those in need. Incorporated as a 501(c)(3) organization in 1990, ECCO has fostered effective grassroots collaborations between neighbors in need of help and the neighbors who want to help them.

ECCO is a faith-based ecumenical organization dedicated to improving the quality of life for neighbors in need. All programs and services guide clients out of situational or generational poverty toward self-sufficiency. ECCO's ministry of "Neighbors Helping Neighbors" improves the quality of life in a compassionate manner that respects the dignity and worth of every person.

In 2007, ECCO turned to Coastal SCORE to help grow services. Volunteer experts from SCORE helped ECCO analyze its computer servers and made recommendations to upgrade the hardware, significantly improving ECCO’s performance. SCORE also offered strategic planning support and gave advice on ECCO’s micro-loan initiative. In 2008, ECCO provided at least one basic need service to more than 5,000 clients.