Easley, South Carolina · 501(c)(3)

You can change the life of one child today.

C.A.N. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit in Easley seeking to uplift and guide our youth into a prosperous future — with mentoring, school supplies, scholarships, a hot Thanksgiving meal and new shoes at Christmas.

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Together… Yes We C.A.N.

Three students standing against a brick wall wearing their new C.A.N. book bags

A volunteer carrying wrapped Christmas gift boxes at the C.A.N. extravaganza

Children crowded along a bead-covered table threading their own bracelets at a C.A.N. event

Two C.A.N. volunteers behind the Caring And Nurturing table at a community event

Book bags, Christmas gifts, a bracelet workshop and community days — photographed at C.A.N. events in Easley.

100+

Families served at one Thanksgiving dinner

Programs running through the year

$1,000

Largest single scholarship awarded

Organizations sponsoring the work

A mother and her two young children at a C.A.N. event

Together…
Yes We C.A.N.

Our mission

Coach and develop our youth into successful colleagues.

Caring and Nurturing encourages the need to stay in school by offering mentoring programs focused on resume writing, budgeting, how to dress for success, and overall self-motivation. We seek to empower our young people by promoting education.

Mentoring
Resume writing, budgeting, how to dress for success, and the self-motivation to keep going. Practical skills, taught early.
School essentials
Book bags, paper and pens put directly into the hands of students who would otherwise start the year without them.
Clothing ministry
Clothes for families who need them, offered with dignity and without a means test.
Scholarships
Direct funding for graduating seniors heading to college, awarded on merit and community service.

A full hall of families seated for the free C.A.N. Thanksgiving dinner — Thanksgiving dinner, The Dream Center, Easley.
Over 100 families served

What we run

Four programs, one year, one community.

Each one meets a family at a moment where a little help changes the whole season — the first day of school, Thanksgiving, Christmas morning, graduation.

Back to school

Book Bag Give-A-Way

Every student starts the year with a bag on their back and something in it.

Ahead of the first day of school, C.A.N. hands out book bags loaded with the paper, pens and supplies a student needs to walk in ready. The give-away runs as a community day — food, games and neighbors — so that picking up a bag never feels like taking a hand-out.

What we give: Book bags, paper, pens, school supplies
Past partner: Staples Back to School

More about Book Bag Give-A-Way

November

Thanksgiving Dinner

A free, sit-down Thanksgiving for families living below the South Carolina poverty level.

C.A.N. volunteers cook and serve a full Thanksgiving dinner at no cost, geared toward uplifting families currently living below the South Carolina state poverty level. Guests are seated and served — not handed a tray in a line.

Families served: Over 100
Host site: The Dream Center, Easley SC
Cost to guests: Free

More about Thanksgiving Dinner

A girl holding the Christmas gift box she received from C.A.N.

December

Santa's Feet

Brand new shoes for youth in need at Christmas.

Santa's Feet is C.A.N.'s Christmas extravaganza. The organization collects and gives brand new shoes to young people in DSS custody, in boys' and girls' homes, and in families living below the South Carolina state level — fitted in person, so every child leaves in shoes that actually fit.

What we give: Brand new shoes, fitted in person
Who it reaches: Youth in DSS custody, boys/girls homes, families below state level

More about Santa's Feet

A mentor working through a book with a young student

Graduation

Scholarship Give-A-Way

Direct funding for graduating seniors on their way to college.

C.A.N. awards a scholarship to a graduating senior each year, funded entirely by donations and sponsorships. The goal is to grow it to five seniors at $1,000 or more.

Award range: $300 – $1,000
Awarded: One graduating senior per year
The goal: Five seniors at $1,000+

Scholarship details & criteria

Young entrepreneur

Loved by Jewell

Our young entrepreneur runs her own business, and every bracelet in it is made by hand. She is on this page because the quickest way to tell a young person what is possible is to show them someone their own age already doing it.

The Confidence Collection

The Confidence Collection was created to spread confidence and kindness through handmade items with encouraging messages. Every bracelet is a constant reminder that you're brave, strong, kind, confident, and enough, especially on the days you need it most.

Brave
Strong
Kind
Confident
Enough

If you can dream it — you can achieve it!

The young founder of Loved by Jewell beside her table of beads and finished bracelets — Her table at a C.A.N. community event in Easley.

Five handmade bracelets spelling BRAVE, STRONG, KIND, CONFIDENT and ENOUGH in letter beads

Did you know

Why this work exists.

South Carolina graduates fewer of its students than almost any neighboring state. These are the numbers our programs are aimed at.

South Carolina high school graduation rate — the 2nd lowest compared to our neighboring states.

Roughly one in five South Carolina students does not finish high school. Mentoring, supplies and scholarships are how we move that number.

How the state scores, category by category

Scored out of 100. Letter grades as published.

Standards, assessments & accountability
94.4Grade A
Chance for success
72.6Grade C
K–12 achievement
62.6Grade D

And pay went the wrong way

Change in average classroom teacher salary, 1999–2000 to 2012–2013.

National average: -1.3%
South Carolina: -2.8%

Source: Ballotpedia — Public Education in South Carolina.

See how you can help

Our sponsors are our partners

Sponsors fund the bags, the dinners, the shoes and the scholarships. Join at the Platinum Level and your organization and website are featured here, alongside the other perks that come with becoming a partner.

Become a sponsor