Annual Fireside Fund helps families, young and old, in Sumter

As I walked through the kitchen door, returning home from school, fresh-baked cookies were on a baking sheet on the stove.

Having my mother at home during my elementary school years was a fantastic experience that has become highly unlikely in modern culture. Our society has made living without two incomes extremely difficult.

Recently, a young family visited us in need of help with an electric bill (they heat their home entirely with electricity). They were barely in their 20s and already had two young children. The father had a good-paying job, above average for most of our clients. To make ends meet, however, required more income. Even though their budget did not have any unnecessary expenses or extras, it just was not enough. The mother worked at a daycare so the kids could go with her, providing extra income and sparing the expense of childcare.

All that changed when a car accident with an uninsured driver left them with one vehicle. The father worked out of town, and the commute required the other vehicle. Subsequently, the mother lost her job, and the family budget took a big hit.

It was a reminder of how times have changed over the decades and just how difficult life for young families can be. Yet, the couple never complained and showed immense gratitude for our concern and offer to help. On these cold nights, they will have relief in knowing the electricity will be on and their home will be warm.

At the Crisis Relief Ministry, we truly see a broad spectrum of families just as diverse as our community. When you make a donation to the Fireside Fund, you bring much-needed relief to neighbors in need when they might turn to Sumter United Ministries for help. Thank you for sharing!

- 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 or business leadership.

Abe Stern checked all those boxes.

He was Sumter's only Holocaust survivor and ran a successful shoe store, Jack's Department Store, for more than 60 years, where he created a space for students to earn money and gain professional mentorship.

Despite his traumatic past in World War II, being sent to a concentration camp and arriving to the United States with $30 in his pocket, he always donned a positive attitude and love for life and Sumter.

He served in the U.S. Air Force at Shaw Air Force Base and became a philanthropic and community supporter of Temple Sinai, Sumter's only synagogue.

He died Nov. 19, 2021. He was 92.

New donations as of Nov. 22: The Finney Family, in memory of Abe Stern, $300; and in memory of General and Lattie McCants, $550.

New donations as of Nov. 29: Stateburg Literary and Musical Society, $50; Sue and Chuck Fienning, in memory of Abe Stern, $500; Jane Tisdale, $100; Dr. and Mrs. John J. Britton, in memory of Elizabeth Rose Williams, $100; Andrena Ray, in memory of Alice Ray Manville, $100; Patsy Reeves, in memory of Daniel C. Reeves, $200; and Jackie Olsen, in memory of Major General Tom Olsen, $100.