Sumter Fireside Fund donations encourage your neighbors experiencing crisis
Recently, I found the listing printout from when we purchased our house several years ago. The photo in the listing was taken from a higher vantage point, possibly with a drone, and at a further distance than I usually see my home. It struck me that the change in perspective changed how my house looked to me.
Most of the time that I share with you, I talk about what types of assistance is being requested at the Crisis Relief Ministry. For instance, we are having multiple requests for kerosene and propane each week as people are seeking comfort in the colder temperatures. Let's talk about the type of experiences we are having with clients, however.
Recently, a lady returned to us for assistance for the first time in nearly seven years. It was brought to my attention that she had an adverse reaction to our interview on that day many years ago. I prepared myself in case the interview was not pleasant. Sometimes, the stress that a client feels in their life makes an interview feel irritating. We do our best to be engaging and full of grace, understanding that no one really wants to ask for help. Asking questions and having conversations about tough topics is necessary but sometimes challenging.
I was greatly relieved to find that the interview went smoothly. As we were evaluating the request, I was captivated by the reason she asked for help. She held a job for seven years and was recently fired after multiple surgeries in the past few months. She was absent too often and was fired. It was that job and the stability of it that helped her to be independent and not need to seek assistance. She had a true crisis that disrupted an otherwise stable household. We were able to offer a generous amount of assistance with her electric bill (she heats her home with electricity). She gleefully shared how she found a new job with another company in the same field and was physically and emotionally ready to get back to work.
When you make a donation to The Fireside Fund, you aid Sumter United Ministries to encourage people experiencing a crisis to have heat in their homes. We are truly a bridge in many cases, helping people to more promising futures while escaping present trouble. Thank you for your support!
Kevin Howell is the director of the Crisis Relief Ministry.
ABOUT THE FIRESIDE FUND
Each winter since 1969, The Sumter Item has run a fundraiser to collect money from its readers to be donated entirely to Sumter United Ministries.
The faith-based nonprofit provides emergency and life-rebuilding services ranging from food, shelter and clothing to final notice bill pay, access to educational opportunities and a medical clinic. The Sumter Item recognizes and appreciates every ministry their staff and volunteers run, but the Fireside Fund was created to focus on one area that becomes critical for the next few months: heat.
Every penny donated will directly help people who live in Sumter by preventing heating services from being turned off, allowing access to propane or other heating sources and, when enough funding is available and the need is there, funding long-term housing fixes to make homes more efficient.
IN HONOR OF
Each year, The Item's leadership team picks a person who has recently passed away to which the year's campaign will be dedicated. The person honored is someone who made a positive impact in the community, whether through service or philanthropy, business or community leadership.
If you think about the impact the Rev. William Samuel Randolph imparted in terms of civic service, entrepreneurialism, faith leadership and human rights, he checked all the boxes.
The now-late uncle of current Sumter City Councilman James B. Blassingame moved to Sumter to attend Morris College. His legacy is as a pastor of First Baptist Missionary Church for 47 years, owner and operator of Randolph General Construction Co. and city councilman from 1987 to 2008, including mayor pro tempore for 19 of those years. His civil rights legacy is the 1961 S.C. Supreme Court case that, while he was arrested 11 times in the fight for racial equality, was pivotal in charges being dropped for several civil rights activists.
Randolph died Sept. 17 at the age of 88.
New donations as of Dec. 5: Walter G. Newman, in honor of Rev. William S. Randolph, $100; Shirrie Brunson Miller, $100; Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, $250; Judge and Mrs. Howard P. King, $100; Paulette Hipps, $100; Julian Hill, $50; Bush and Nancy Hanson, $100; Immanuel Lutheran Church of Sumter/Mission Gift, $302; Andrena Ray, $100; Janette Sisk, $50; Roger Williams, $200; Jackie Olsen, in memory of Major General Tom Olsen, $100; William Q. Brunson Family, $200; Barbara Finley, $100; First Presbyterian Church/Presbyterian Women, $350; Mary M, King, in honor of Dr. William King, $150.