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Connecting Health and Wellness in Community through Collective Impact
Welcome ACHP Healthy People Healthy Carolinas Coordinator, Dawn Snead
Healthy People Healthy Carolinas (HPHC), launched by The Duke Endowment in 2015, aims to improve community health in North and South Carolina by addressing chronic health issues such as obesity, diabetes, and heart disease. The initiative supports community coalitions through funding, technical assistance, and capacity-building efforts, emphasizing collective impact, health equity, achieving the highest level of health for all, and sustainable policy, systems, and environmental changes. HPHC helps coalitions implement evidence-based interventions, engage diverse stakeholders, and align efforts with community health improvement plans. By fostering collaboration among healthcare providers, public health agencies, social services, government, education, and businesses, HPHC seeks to create measurable, lasting improvements in population health while addressing root causes of health disparities.
The Healthy People Healthy Carolinas (HPHC) Coordinator fulfills the initiative's scope by engaging the coalition to promote healthier lifestyles within the local community through collective impact and health equity, achieving the highest level of health for all. The coordinator convenes and collaborates with local partners, facilitates coalition meetings, and aligns efforts with evidence-based interventions to address barriers to healthy lifestyle choices that include healthy eating and physical activity. The Coordinator manages fiscal responsibilities of the grant, develops sustainability plans, and uses data-driven methodologies to track progress and outcomes. They oversee marketing and communication efforts, create success stories, and ensure compliance with grant reporting. Additionally, they build partnerships, conduct needs assessments, and implement action plans to improve community health while fostering collaboration among diverse stakeholders. Welcome Dawn Snead!
get engaged today with these coalition working groups,
Community Listening & Engagement
This committee fosters collaboration among community members and organizations while gathering input to shape future health initiatives. It focuses on advocacy and giving residents a voice in health equity discussions.
Key Initiatives:
- Plan and execute a series of countywide listening sessions to understand community health needs.
- Participate / plan health-focused community events to build relationships and promote awareness.
- Advocate for policies and funding to support health and wellness initiatives.
- Collect and analyze data to measure the impact of coalition efforts and guide future projects.
Who Should Join:
Faith-based organizations, civic groups, community leaders, local government representatives, media representatives, advocacy organizations, individuals with lived experiences in Allendale County. Would you like to be a part of this working group? Connect here,
Healthy Food Access in Allendale County
This committee focuses on addressing food and nutrition insecurity, increasing access to healthy, local, and affordable food in Allendale County while supporting local farmers and stewarding food resources. Members will work on innovative food access and policy solutions, educational programs, and resource sharing.
Key Initiatives:
- Enhance Farmers Market opportunities in Allendale County, supporting infrastructure, vendor recruitment, and food assistance programs (e.g., SNAP, Healthy Bucks, WIC, Senior Vouchers).
- Promoting food rescue and gleaning initiatives to reduce food loss.
- Create a plan to address food deserts and identify new community food access points.
- Host food demonstrations, cooking classes, and healthy eating workshops.
- Pilot Food is Medicine (FiM) using locally grown healthy foods
Who Should Join:
Local farmers, producers, and retailers, market organizers, SNAP coordinators, community garden representatives, regional food bank team members, food distribution organizations, food pantry volunteers, health educators. Would you like to be a part of this working group? Connect here,
Resource Hub Development
This committee aims to connect residents to essential health and wellness resources while building a more resilient community through collaboration, communication, and innovation.
Key Initiatives:
- Develop and maintain an online community resource hub, including health, food, and wellness services. (@allendale.health)
- Create physical resource kiosks at libraries, markets, and community centers. (Allendale County Library)
- Partner with local organizations to provide pop-up and mobile resource units in underserved areas.
- Develop innovative new opportunities to share resources within the community.
Who Should Join:
Library staff, healthcare providers, local government representatives, faith-based organizations, community center staff, civic and mission-driven organizations. Would you like to be a part of this working group? Connect here,
Youth Wellness
This committee is dedicated to improving the overall well-being of young people in Allendale County by focusing on physical health, nutrition, mental and behavioral health, and personal development. It aims to provide education, resources, and support systems for youth and their caregivers to thrive holistically.
Key Initiatives:
- Provide hands-on nutrition education workshops for youth.
- Collaborate with schools for gardening programs and wellness curricula.
- Collaborate with schools and community programs to incorporate mental health and wellness education.
- Work with coalition organizations to offer accessible resources for youth and their families.
Who Should Join:
Educators, youth program leaders, school wellness coordinators, after-school program directors, library staff, Clemson SNAP ed, Healthy Learners, Welvista SMILES, First Steps. Would you like to be a part of this working group? Connect here,
Our Action Teams and coalition leadership teams are working together to answer,
"How can we make a measurable reduction in obesity and diet-related chronic disease in Allendale County through healthy eating and active living using collective impact in a community-based coalition?"
Leadership & Core Team Bios
Lottie Lewis, Coalition Co-Chair
Erica Robinson, Co-Chair Ex Officio
Angela Rainwater, Coalition Co-Chair
Lottie is a graduate of the historic C.V. Bing High School in Allendale and Riley Fellow of Furman University. She has coordinated multiple mission teams and agencies to move Allendale forward, including Palmetto Palace, a health initiative to provide accessibility for healthy lifestyles in local community and served on the Allendale Town
Lottie is a graduate of the historic C.V. Bing High School in Allendale and Riley Fellow of Furman University. She has coordinated multiple mission teams and agencies to move Allendale forward, including Palmetto Palace, a health initiative to provide accessibility for healthy lifestyles in local community and served on the Allendale Town Council for 12 years and 4 years as Mayor Pro Tempore. She is the founder of Emma’s Helping Hands House, a non-profit supporting local youth and elderly and is Chair of the Allendale County Arts Council, member of the Allendale County Historical Society, board member of the Southern Palmetto Regional Chamber and former co-chair of Allendale County Humanities Festival, which was instrumental in Allendale County hosting the Smithsonian’s 2022 traveling exhibit. She serves on the Allendale-Fairfax Education Foundation, is a member of the Thoroughbred County tourism board and is Diversity Coordinator for Simpson United Methodist Church. An awardee by the National Racial Justice Network, she continues to be recognized for her insights and dedication to her community which include the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority “Distinguished Community Service” award, Southern Palmetto's Allendale County Leader in Business Award and most recently the Drum Major for Justice Award.
Angela Rainwater, Coalition Co-Chair
Erica Robinson, Co-Chair Ex Officio
Angela Rainwater, Coalition Co-Chair
Angela is presently serving a fellowship in Palmetto Leadership for the Environment, Agriculture and Forestry (PLEAF) through Clemson University. She is a member of Food is Medicine SC, the National Produce Prescription Collaborative, the American College of Lifestyle Medicine, South Carolina Community Health Workers Association, Associat
Angela is presently serving a fellowship in Palmetto Leadership for the Environment, Agriculture and Forestry (PLEAF) through Clemson University. She is a member of Food is Medicine SC, the National Produce Prescription Collaborative, the American College of Lifestyle Medicine, South Carolina Community Health Workers Association, Association of Clinicians for the Underserved, the South Carolina Specialty Crop Growers Association and Palmetto Agribusinss Council. In 2024 she was selected by the Sisters of Charity South Carolina to serve on the South Carolina Poverty Study Advisory Council, and currently serves as Secretary of the Southern Palmetto Regional Chamber Board of Directors. She grew up on a local family farm, Coosaw Farms, in Allendale County. With a servant's heart, she was led to found Growers for Grace, a purpose-driven Public Benefit Corporation (PBC) in 2020 and The Good Fruit Foundation in 2025, inspired to support and cultivate the seeds for sustainable good, here at home in Allendale County.
Erica Robinson, Co-Chair Ex Officio
Erica Robinson, Co-Chair Ex Officio
Erica Robinson, Co-Chair Ex Officio
Erica is a Community Health Coordinator for Clemson SNAP-ed. She is a Spartanburg, SC native. Erica graduated From Coastal Carolina University, earning her bachelor's degree in Exercise and Sport Science. Shortly after graduating, she worked at Spartanburg Health Department, where she found her love for public health. In 2022, Erica acce
Erica is a Community Health Coordinator for Clemson SNAP-ed. She is a Spartanburg, SC native. Erica graduated From Coastal Carolina University, earning her bachelor's degree in Exercise and Sport Science. Shortly after graduating, she worked at Spartanburg Health Department, where she found her love for public health. In 2022, Erica accepted a Health Educator role for Clemson SNAP-ed, where she focused on providing nutrition and physical education for all age groups. In 2023, she received a new position within Clemson SNAP-ed as a Community Health Coordinator. In this role, Erica helps organizations, communities, and state representatives make impactful Policy, Systems, and Environmental (PSE) changes that tackle health concerns head-on.
Kywana Ritter, Coalition Vice Chair
Erica Robinson, Co-Chair Ex Officio
Erica Robinson, Co-Chair Ex Officio
Kywana serves as Community Health Advocate and Marketing Liaison for Low Country Health Care System. Their mission is to provide accessible and quality primary and preventive health care services in a patient-centered manner to the communities of Allendale, Barnwell, Bamberg , Aiken and surrounding counties. LCHCS is a non-profit, 501(c
Kywana serves as Community Health Advocate and Marketing Liaison for Low Country Health Care System. Their mission is to provide accessible and quality primary and preventive health care services in a patient-centered manner to the communities of Allendale, Barnwell, Bamberg , Aiken and surrounding counties. LCHCS is a non-profit, 501(c)3, primary health care organization that has provided health care services for over 40 years in Allendale County and currently cares for approximately 19,000+ patients. The practice services all patients regardless of ability to pay. Discounts for essential services and medications purchased at one of their pharmacies are offered on a sliding fee scale, based on family size and income in relation to the federal poverty guidelines.
Kywana calls Allendale County home and is returning after working for MUSC in Orangeburg. We are delighted she's back home, where she is so quickly making a great impact!
Nominations open for Coalition Secretary
Nominations open for Coalition Secretary
Nominations open for Coalition Secretary
Allendale County Healing Partners is currently accepting nominations for the open position of Secretary. Please email info@allendale.health for nominations. The position will be voted upon and filled in the June 2025 Coalition Meeting. Send your nominations today!
Bob Snead, Coalition Treasurer
Nominations open for Coalition Secretary
Nominations open for Coalition Secretary
Bob Snead is the President and CEO of the Southern Palmetto Chamber & Foundation in Barnwell, SC. Since 2021, he has been a part of their work in the region to develop support for rural entrepreneurs and creatives at the Palmetto Innovation Center. He is a native of Charleston, SC, where he graduated Cum Laude from the College of Charlest
Bob Snead is the President and CEO of the Southern Palmetto Chamber & Foundation in Barnwell, SC. Since 2021, he has been a part of their work in the region to develop support for rural entrepreneurs and creatives at the Palmetto Innovation Center. He is a native of Charleston, SC, where he graduated Cum Laude from the College of Charleston in 2002. Bob also received a MFA at Yale University School of Art and has worked in communities throughout the South from New Orleans to Barnwell.