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Local chamber promotes growth

You get out of life what you put into it, as the saying goes. The same can be said for membership in the Greater Greenville Chamber of Commerce. Dynamic Realty visited the organization June 25 as part of its weekly Community Connection series of events. Andrea Powell, vice president of member relations for the chamber, showed off the chamber's meeting facilities and spoke about the different ways businesses and individuals can make the most of their membership. There are opportunities for agents to participate through their brokers, but since Realtors are independent contractors, “each and every one of you is like your own small business owner,” Powell pointed out. “Our No. 1 goal is to keep our community growing and that's going to help your business grow.” Along with the chamber's well-known networking opportunities, members have access to meeting space, a voice in shaping statewide legislation, and numerous opportunities for education and community service. The chamber has approximately 2,200 members. For information, visit www.greenvillechamber.org.

Meals on Wheels serves thousands

As the Upstate population ages, there is an increasing need for services to assist them. Dynamic Realty visited Meals on Wheels June 18 as part of its weekly Community Connection gathering. On any given day, Meals on Wheels serves a hot, balanced meal to 1,250-1,500 Greenville County residents. Ninety-five percent of MOW clients are age 50 or older, but qualifications are primarily based on medical need, not age. “We have to receive a referral from a physician who is concerned their patient is not receiving adequate nutrition each day,” says Kerri Brison, outreach coordinator. There are approximately 2,500 MOW volunteers. Volunteers help deliver the meals and 80 corporate groups take turns driving routes. To find out more about volunteer opportunities, visit www.mealsonwheelsgreenville.org.

"Be Ready" Presentation

Talk about timing! Dynamic Realty held its weekly Community Connection gathering at American Red Cross headquarters in Greenville just hours before a violent storm toppled trees and knocked out power to thousands of Upstate residents. Tanya Carter, director of community preparedness, spoke to the group about how to assemble supplies needed in case of an emergency. "If there is one thing you can do to be more prepared, it is to develop a disaster supply kit," she said. While the Red Cross mostly deals with the aftermath of home fires (an average of two per day in the Upstate), Greenville County is particularly susceptible to flooding and severe storms. The local Red Cross chapter and Duke Energy Corp. are providing free emergency backpacks that can be used to store supplies as part of their Be Ready disaster preparedness project. For information, call 271-8222.