Community Services

Women's service group (WIRE)

The power of cooperatives comes from the power of human connections.

From sponsoring education programs to coordinating outreach programs, Berkeley Electric Cooperative and its employees have been involved in the Lowcountry community since its incorporation. Sharing our time and talent is all a part of our commitment to bring technology, encourage economic development, increase community awareness and promote environmental stewardship in ways that enhance the lives and ensure the future of our neighbors and their communities. That means being there for our members in good times and bad. If you find that you need help in paying your bill, please review your options and then call your local district office.

Berkeley Electric Cooperative plays an active role in its communities, including acting as a liaison between members in need and local assistance agencies. On average, Berkeley Electric Cooperative aids its members in securing close to $1 million in assistance each year. Please contact your local district office for more information.

  • Please Note: Any/All Agencies are required to fax a notification stating they are going to assist the individual and the amount that is going to be pledged towards the bill. BEC will not accept pledges called in via phone.
  • South Carolina Office of Economic Opportunity
  • Catholic Assistant Program: (843) 761-1097
  • ECCO (East Cooper Community Outreach) (843) 849-9220 *Must be a client of ECCO before applying for assistance*
  • Help of Summerville: (serves lower Dorchester) PO Box 1871 Summerville, SC 29464 (843) 871-0182 *By referral only
  • Our Lady of Mercy: (services James, Johns, & Wadmalaw Island) (843) 559-4109 Contact: Ryan Vrba: Clients required to take Budgeting Class
  • Palmetto Community Action Partnership (formerly Charleston County Human Services) www.palmettocap.org 1069 King St Charleston, SC 29403  Main Office: (843) 724-6760 Schedule an Appointment: 843-614-3275
  • Salvation Army: (843) 747-5271 / Charleston, Hanahan, Goose Creek: ext. 65901 / Dorchester & Upper Berkeley: ext. 65930
  • St Benedict De Paul: Helpline: (843) 727-1883
  • Trident United Way: 
    • Berkeley Resource Connection Center: 325 E Main St Moncks Corner, SC 29461 • (843) 761-6033
    • Dorchester Resource Connection Center: 133 East 1st North St, Suite 3, Summerville, SC 29483 • (843) 566-7040
      • 211 Hotline: To find out the most current contact information for each non-profit you can simply dial "211" to link to vital services in your community. Available in multiple languages.

Berkeley Electric Cooperative partners with a wide variety of agencies, programs and events throughout its communities to try and improve the quality of life in Berkeley, Charleston and Dorchester counties. Berkeley Electric and its employees have a stake in the communities we serve. Our poles, wires and trucks are the most visible sign of our presence. However, it’s our hands-on participation in local community activities that has the most enduring impact.

Throughout our service areas, our employees work with community agencies to improve local environments, provide food and shelter for the underprivileged and enhance educational and recreational opportunities. Our management and staff are actively involved in projects that will help improve the quality of life for all of our members. Cooperative employees serve on local school boards, as youth baseball and softball coaches, with local scouting activities as well as in civic clubs and churches. We are always looking out for you.

Lunch Buddies

This is a mentoring program that pairs employee volunteers from Berkeley Electric Cooperative with a student selected by the school guidance department. The volunteer and student have lunch together at the school each month for the length of the school term where they discuss a wide variety of topics from school work to the student’s favorite past times. Each student must have their parent's or guardian’s permission to participate in the program.

Junior Achievement 

Help prepare young people for the real world by showing them how to generate wealth and effectively manage it, how to create jobs which make their communities more robust, and how to apply entrepreneurial thinking to the workplace. Students put these lessons into action and learn the value of contributing to their communities.

Reading Partners

The Reading Partners program is a proven, evidence-based national model for engaging community volunteers to support classroom instruction by providing effective, one-on-one tutoring for students who have fallen behind in reading. The program brings together community volunteers, AmeriCorps, school and private resources to provide students in need with one-on-one reading instruction that is more affordable for schools to implement than other typical literacy interventions.