West Ashley Connect’s Teresa Tidestrom urges us to join efforts to create a more caring community
by Joan Perry | Contributing Writer
The West Ashley Wanderer can’t wander far without bumping into Teresa Mellis Tidestrom.
My photo storage albums are randomly full of pictures of Teresa at Litter Clean-Up events, Farmer’s Market opening day, the Longest Table Neighborhood Dining event, fundraising for the Ukraine, Community Day at the Citadel Mall, etc.
I knew there was more she was involved in. I walked up the West Ashley Bikeway to share a coffee at Wildflour Bakery and to learn how we might support her efforts to improve our neighborhood.
You wouldn’t know it by what she accomplishes, but our neighborhood do-gooder has had her wings clipped with a series of health issues. Since 2014, she has dealt with skin, vocal cord, and breast cancer, now neck and spinal issues related to the lifesaving treatment, and faces possible upcoming surgery.
My thinking is that if we knew of some of the projects ahead of time, we might do better at lending a hand in 2025.
Teresa’s efforts have not gone unnoticed. She has been awarded the Jefferson Award, Spotlight Award, Southeast Chamber Community Award, West Ashley Day recognition, and the prestigious Westie — West Of’s golden Cow Award. Her background working with MUSC Medicare & Emergency Management, followed by working in Long Term Care, left her with an appreciation of human needs and how we all depend on each other.
West Ashley neighbors have always been good about lending a hand to neighbors. “Everyone has a place, and something they can do. Mine is grassroots. I need to be with the community. I can rally people like no tomorrow.”
Two of the main charitable projects support HALOS (www.charlestonhalos.org) — an organization supporting families caring for children taken out of homes in emergency situations.
Towards the end of summer, July to early August, consider joining the School Supplies Drive hosted by Office Depot West Ashley. The supplies are given to Guidance Counselors in all of our elementary schools and distributed to needy children. Both supplies and fund donations are welcome.
During the holiday season, West Ashley neighbors have adopted entire fostering families. Working with a needs list from both the children and caregivers, Teresa reports we’ve been able to take good care of 4 – 6 family units with gifts as well as ingredients for a holiday meal. The families are selected by HALOS. Contributions are welcomed during the last two weeks in December and delivered directly to the families.
Litter Clean-up is high on Teresa’s list. She keeps orange bags and grabbers in her car. Upcoming Clean-Up days are planned for the Northbridge/Orange Grove area, Sam Rittenberg around Ashley Hall, and the Bikeway. The Keep Charleston & Keep SC Beautiful organizations have been supportive with supplies and can be a resource for Neighborhood Associations planning clean-up days.
Upcoming Projects:
Teresa hopes to reactivate the West Ashley SC Art Rocks painted rock project. Decoratively painted rocks are tucked away in hiding places to be found, appreciated, documented on social media, and rehomed.
A neighborhood beautification sign project is underway for Savannah Highway and Wateree Drive.
Teresa is an Administrator of the West Ashley Connects Facebook group, sharing helpful announcements about our infrastructure and emergency and supportive neighborly announcements. The site has 9,200 members, and this is a great way to keep up with current events and upcoming projects.
Hopefully, this information will encourage us all to play a part in improving our community.
Stay healthy my friends and wave at me as I wander. Send ideas for upcoming columns to: westashleywanderer@gmail.com.
