Allendale has been identified as one of the most economically-deprived counties in the nation.  The Missions Committee of CBFSC partners with First Baptist Church in Allendale and other community organizations to offer assistance to people in need.  CBFSC is working to establish a permanent ministry in Allendale County (the poorest county in South Carolina), to include placement of rural ministers to the community.  Some significant statistics:

September 2009 unemployment rate:
South Carolina - 11.6%
Allendale - 22.5% (highest in SC)

Residents with income below the poverty level:
South Carolina - 15.0%
Allendale - 43.8%

Children living below poverty level:
South Carolina - 20.6%
Allendale - 62%

* In science testing (PACT), 72.7% of students of Allendale students are “Below Basic."
* Allendale County had an ER rate of 257 per 10,000 children under the age of 5 in 2007, compared to SC’s 116 per 10,000 children.
* While SC has an average of 5% of teachers with emergency/provisional certificates, 20.9% of Allendale’s teachers are on emergency/provisional certificates, four times the state average.
* South Carolina has an average of 4.5% of its 1st graders above the usual age for grade one, but in Allendale that percentage is 8.5%.

Allendale compared to South Carolina state average:
#1 in diabetes mortality in South Carolina.
Median household income significantly below state average.
Median house value significantly below state average.

Allendale has been identified as one of the most economically-deprived counties in the nation.  The Missions Committee of CBFSC partners with First Baptist Church in Allendale and other community organizations to offer assistance to people in need.  CBFSC is working to establish a permanent ministry in Allendale County (the poorest county in South Carolina), to include placement of rural ministers to the community.  Some significant statistics:

September 2009 unemployment rate:
South Carolina - 11.6%
Allendale - 22.5% (highest in SC)

Residents with income below the poverty level:
South Carolina - 15.0%
Allendale - 43.8%

Children living below poverty level:
South Carolina - 20.6%
Allendale - 62%

* In science testing (PACT), 72.7% of students of Allendale students are “Below Basic."
* Allendale County had an ER rate of 257 per 10,000 children under the age of 5 in 2007, compared to SC’s 116 per 10,000 children.
* While SC has an average of 5% of teachers with emergency/provisional certificates, 20.9% of Allendale’s teachers are on emergency/provisional certificates, four times the state average.
* South Carolina has an average of 4.5% of its 1st graders above the usual age for grade one, but in Allendale that percentage is 8.5%.

Allendale compared to South Carolina state average:
#1 in diabetes mortality in South Carolina.
Median household income significantly below state average.
Median house value significantly below state average.