DECEMBER: Holiday Bingo. As a 188 unit, low-income, senior living complex in the heart of Columbia, Finlay House serves a large group of seniors in need of our kindness and compassion. For the third year, we celebrated the reason for the season with tables full of donated prizes and refreshments as well as a roomful of merriment as a local Girl Scout Troop sang Christmas carols and a girl’s softball team made ornaments that were gifted to our seniors.
DECEMBER: Share the gLOVE. Along with Pleasant Hill Middle School, White Knoll High School Student Government Association and the Center Medical Reserve Corps, we collected over 200 pairs of mittens, hats and scarves for Toby’s Place (a women and children’s shelter serving the Midlands), SisterCare (provides services and shelter for survivors of domestic violence and their children) and Transition’s Homeless Shelter.
OCTOBER: Homeless Blessing Bags. We assembled over 250 blessing bags that were distributed by Transitions Homeless Shelter in Columbia. These care kits, which include toiletries, snacks as well as a handwritten blessing card, are a simple way to provide practical help to homeless men and women.
SEPTEMBER: Wildlife Rescue. Carolina Wildlife Center is devoted to the rehabilitation of injured and orphaned wild animals in our county as well as the preservation of wildlife through education. In addition to collecting items needed to care for the over 3,000 injured and orphaned animals they care for every year, we also helped clean cages and tackled yard maintenance, such as weeding and raking, of the outdoor rehabilitation area.
JULY: Family Shelter Back-to-School Bash. For the third year, we helped kick the school year off at The Family Shelter, an emergency housing facility for children and their families. In addition to collecting school supplies to stock their homework station, we hosted a BACK TO SCHOOL BASH with face painting, corn hole, a ball toss and other games for all to enjoy.
MAY: BBQ For The Brave. We live in the land of the free because of the brave men and women who have served and continue to serve in our armed forces. Along with Sharkey’s Cuts for Kids-Lexington and Society of St. Andrew we hosted a Memorial Day BBQ, selling over 300 plates of pulled pork, beans, slaw and bbq hash to raise funds for Palmetto Patriot Project, a local organization dedicated to providing services and resources for our veterans and active military personnel.
APRIL: Child Abuse Prevention Month. Dickerson Children’s Advocacy Center provides comprehensive assessment and treatment services to physically and sexually abused children ages 0-18 years throughout the Midlands of South Carolina. Since they rely on the generosity of volunteers and community donations, we collected items the center needs in order to continue their mission of hearing the voices and healing the hearts of child abuse victims.
MARCH: Clean of Heart. We restocked supplies so Clean of Heart can continue to provide showers and laundry services to the homeless population in downtown Columbia.
FEBRUARY: Hero Night. We partnered with Pleasant Hill Elementary School to launch the first annual HERO NIGHT. Through a mix of education and activity, over 25 local non profits showcased the different ways our families can help make a positive impact on our community.