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Clemson food
pantry hosts water conservation workshop
By Janelle Montgomery
A lack of rain is leaving those
with home gardens high and dry.
Food pantries like Clemson
Community Care are affected in times of drought because some of
their clients depend on home gardens to fill their dinner tables.
Without rain for their gardens, those clients depend more heavily on
food pantries to provide meals.
“Anything that affects our
clients, affects us,” said Denise Kennard, executive director of CCC.
“Our clients are always looking for ways to conserve water and save
money on their bills.”
Drought conditions can bring
higher water bills that can strain some home budgets, too, Kennard
said. CCC hosted a Water Conservation Workshop June 30, free to the
public, to provide tips on cutting back on water use.
“We’ve done a couple of other
workshops in the past with topics like home improvement and energy
efficiency. The water conservation workshop was a natural
progression,” Kennard said.
Speakers for the workshop
included Steve Johnson of Clemson University who presented ways to
conserve water and save money on water bills. Representatives of
Home Depot of Anderson also provided water-saving tips.
CCC’s next community event will
be a free back-to school workshop for parents of school children in
Clemson, Central and Pendleton. On Aug. 12 at 6:30 p.m. at the
Central Community Center, representatives from local schools will
present information about what’s in store for the coming school
year. Attendees will receive free school supplies, much of which is
donated by the Clemson Rotary Club. For details on the workshop,
call CCC at 653-4460.
CCC helps people apply for food
stamps or provides meals. It is supported by a number of agencies,
along with 24 area churches. In 2007, the organization distributed
74,893 pounds of food to those in need in the community. Its mission
is “to assist persons in difficult circumstances with necessities
such as food, shelter and utilities, and to help them to become
self-sufficient through educational programs and advocacy.”
The Upstate counties of
Anderson, Pickens and Oconee are in severe drought status, according
to the South Carolina State Climatology Office. So far, the counties
and towns in this area are recommending voluntary water
restrictions, rather than mandatory restrictions on water use.
“Severe droughts can mean
reduced water available for home use. Using less water means people
must change habits and patterns of water use, which sometimes means
inconveniences,” the Climatology Office says. “People are also
affected when reduced water quality restricts use of lakes and
streams for fishing, boating and other water-related activities.”
The S.C. Department of Natural
Resources recommends the following for those interested in
conserving water:
• Repair all leaky faucets and
be sure they are turned off tightly when not in use. Don’t forget
outside faucets!
• Install water-saving devices
in the home such as flow-reducing faucet heads, faucet aerators,
toilet dams and pressure regulator valves.
• Take short showers and do not
overfill bathtubs.
• Turn water off and on as
needed when shaving, brushing teeth or hand washing clothes and
dishes.
• Flush toilets less often.
• Wash only full loads of
clothes and dishes.
• Water gardens and lawns only
as necessary between 7 and 10 a.m. to prevent evaporation.
• Keep cold drinking water in
the refrigerator instead of running cold water from the tap.
• Wash cars only when necessary,
and preferably at a commercial car wash with recirculating
facilities.
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