Join AARP South Carolina on Martin Luther King Jr. Day for a free film series at the Nickelodeon Theater in downtown Columbia. Experience three powerful films that explore civil rights, courage and the ongoing fight for equality. Registration is required; AARP membership is not.
As we wrap up 2025, AARP South Carolina is proud to reflect on the work we’ve done together with members, volunteers, and partners across the Palmetto State.
Scammers Increasingly Using Cryptocurrency ATMs in South Carolina
The kiosks—often located in gas stations, groceries or convenience stores—convert cash into difficult-to-trace digital currency. Growth in such scams has led to calls for legislation to better protect South Carolina consumers.
The South Carolina Public Service Commission (PSC) is reviewing settlements reached between Duke Energy Progress (DEP) and Duke Energy Carolinas (DEC) regarding their separate proposals to increase electric rates across the state.
As of November 1, 2025, millions of Americans—including many older Georgians—may not receive their monthly food benefits through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) due to the ongoing federal government shutdown. This disruption affects individuals living on fixed incomes, many of whom rely on SNAP to afford groceries and maintain their health.
Gayle Brown Olson, a volunteer at the nonprofit Bri's Lodge in Waite Park, helps comfort people dealing with the death of loved ones. The 74-year-old draws on the memories of her own experience after her husband and stepson died in a hunting accident in 1996. Olson received AARP's 2025 Andrus Award for Community Service.
Shirley Sgouros, 63, of Baltimore, is AARP Maryland’s winner of the Andrus Award for Community Service, based on her dedication to her Upper Fells Point neighborhood and its residents. From picking up trash and planting flowers, to organizing culturally rich events, she brings neighbors together to celebrate the community.
AARP Pennsylvania is pressing state lawmakers to enact a state-facilitated “auto IRA” program for private-sector workers without access to employer-sponsored retirement savings accounts.
AARP Vermont in 2026 will advocate for a tax credit for the state’s 70,000 family caregivers, as well as focus on cryptocurrency kiosk-related fraud to see whether lawmakers extend a moratorium on new crypto ATMs.
The AARP Community Challenge grant program funds quick-action projects for nonprofits, local governments and community groups to make neighborhoods more livable for people of all ages. In 2025, the program gave $4.2 million for 383 projects nationwide, including projects in Florida, Louisiana and South Carolina.