Charleston County Public Library (CCPL) has been awarded three significant grants totaling more than $125,000 to strengthen adult literacy, expand access to healthy food, and provide emergency food assistance to residents across Charleston County. The grants—awarded by the South Carolina State Library through the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA), the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), and the Coastal Community Foundation’s Care Fund—will support three separate initiatives that address critical needs in the community.
“These grants represent an extraordinary moment of investment in the wellbeing of Charleston County residents,” said Angela Craig, CCPL Executive Director. “From literacy to health to basic food access, libraries are uniquely positioned to meet people where they are. These awards empower us to expand essential services that remove barriers and help families thrive.”
The largest of these three grants came from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) who awarded CCPL $100,000 to expand its Free and Fresh food distribution and culinary literacy program. The funds will be used to add a fourth produce distribution site at Keith Summey North Charleston Library in 2026, increase access to healthy foods, and integrate cooking and nutrition education. The grant also supports partnerships with Trident Literacy Association and the Lowcountry Food Bank.
Since 2021, Free & Fresh has distributed more than 182,000 pounds of produce to residents, with more than 25,000 annual user interactions recorded in 2024.
In addition to the IMLS grant for food distribution, CCPL also received an emergency grant of $10,000 from the Coastal Community Foundation’s Care Fund to meet immediate community needs that arose during the 2025 federal government shutdown and SNAP benefit suspension, These funds will support fresh produce purchases for Free & Fresh fridges at the St. Paul’s Hollywood, Otranto Road, and John L. Dart libraries.
For more information on CCPL’s food programs and resources, visit ccpl.org/food-resources.
Finally, the library received a $15,213 Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) grant from the South Carolina State Library that will fund CCPL’s Building Pathways Adult Literacy Initiative, offering free basic reading courses, English-as-a-Second-Language classes focused on workplace terminology, and GED preparation at the Keith Summey North Charleston, John L. Dart, and Dorchester Road libraries. Programs will be delivered by Trident Literacy Association and Charleston County School District Office of Adult Education.
Although awarded separately, these three grants collectively strengthen CCPL’s commitment to addressing core community needs—education, food access, and public health. By combining literacy instruction, food distribution, health education, and emergency response efforts, CCPL continues to build a more resilient, equitable Charleston County.
“Libraries are more than buildings with books,” said Craig. “They are anchors for community wellbeing. These investments allow us to meet growing needs with creativity, compassion, and the powerful partnerships that define our work.”
For more information on CCPL’s food and literacy initiatives, as well as other library services and resources, visit ccpl.org or contact your local library location.