JULY: SCHOOL SUPPLY DRIVE. We partnered with The Forgotten Initiative of Columbia, SC, a ministry dedicated to supporting the foster care community, to distribute our donated supplies to local foster youth: 2156 pencils, 198 pens, 105 markers, 1010 erasers, 79 highlighters, 134 crayons, 109 color pencils, 77 paper, 105 notebook, 108 composition notebook, 268 folders, 141 hand sanitizers, 103 post-its, 167 glue/glue sticks, 90 index cards, 35 backpacks, 103 pencil pouches, 110 pencil sharpeners, 56 binders, 63 scissors.
MAY: BBQ FOR THE BRAVE. Memorial Day weekend is intended to be a remembrance for those who made the ultimate sacrifice for our many freedoms. We can never repay that debt, but we can help homeless veterans in our community. Along with Sharkey’s Cuts for Kids-Lexington, we hosted our fifith annual Memorial Day BBQ. Selling plates of pulled pork, beans, slaw and bbq hash, we raised $5,500 for Central Midlands Transitional Retreat. Plate it forward donations provided our homeless veterans dinner that night and lunch the next day. We’ll host this event every year until there is not a single homeless veteran in our community.
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. They rely on the generosity of of volunteers, businesses, and the community to help the most vulnerable of victims. In recognition of National Child Abuse Prevention Month, we’re collecting items the center needs to continue their mission of hearing the voices and healing the hearts of child abuse victims. In total, we collected 130 books, 16 puzzles, 1 toy, 396 snacks, 128 juice boxes, 14 hand sanitizers, 29 hand soaps, 18 Clorox wipes, 24 paper towels, 150 trash bags, 2 air fresheners, 24 Lysol sprays, 66 rolls toilet paper, 10 boxes Kleenex. Additionally, we helped with a little spring cleaning around the facility by pressure washing the back deck oasis and staining a couple picnic tables and benches.