United against hunger: 135 hunger ministries in S.C. 'proof positive'…

By Jessica Connor

Recent grants to 135 hunger relief ministries across South Carolina are proof positive that, at least in the Palmetto State, United Methodists are dedicated to putting a dent in hunger.

This month, the conference granted more than $97,000 to hunger relief ministries from the Upstate to the Lowcountry. Thanks to surplus funds raised from the wildly successful S.C. Hunger Project at Annual Conference in June, each district had about $8,100 to distribute in grants to those ministries requesting funds.

And distribute they did, with the conference writing 135 checks ranging from $100 to $3,200 to help church-run food banks, soup kitchens, backpack programs and more be the hands and feet of Christ to the least of these.

It was a lot more than I expected, said Conference Treasurer Tony Prestipino, who wrote more than 100 checks in one day. These ministries are alive ”there s energy. (As a conference), it shows that we re generous, and a lot of people are doing small things. When you take these small things and add them together, that s what connectionalism is all about.

Some of the ministries were direct projects of a local church, such as the McCormick UMC Food Pantry in the Greenwood District; others helped agencies connected with a church.

The Rev. Kathy James, director of Connectional Ministries, said the sheer numbers of ministries indicate South Carolina is committed to hunger relief ”and those were only the ministries that took the time to submit grant requests. There are even more hunger ministries throughout the conference, serving daily to help the food insecure.

The impact of this is a testimony to the tremendous gift we have of being a connectional church, James said. We showed the annual conference can unite around something and make a difference.

James said the opportunity helps remind us as United Methodists that we have a real commitment to care for the poor. From increased awareness about hunger, some new projects have started, such as the Greenville District s Methodist Family Partnering With Families Initiative, featured in last month s Advocate, which encourages every local church to form a relationship with a family in poverty.

Hopefully this is a beginning and not an ending, James said.

The Orangeburg District helped eight hunger ministries through the grant funds, from a snack sack project at Williston UMC, Williston, to the Shepherd Ministry food delivery at St. Andrew UMC, Orangeburg.

The reason why there are so many terrific hunger ministries in the Orangeburg District and across South Carolina is simply because we, the UMC, take this command seriously, said the Rev. Frederick Yebuah, Orangeburg District superintendent. For us, these ministries are not optional because it is the expectation of our Lord and King, Jesus.

In addition, Yebuah said, South Carolina is simply doing what Methodists do.

One of the attractiveness of the Methodist movement was her understanding that every aspect of human life was important and interrelated. And the church provided resources to bring relief to those who were in distress, Yebuah said. Sometimes we must preserve lives before we can present the Gospel. For us as United Methodists, caring for and serving the needy is as important as our worship on Sundays.

In the Charleston District, 14 ministries received grant funds. Charleston District Superintendent the Rev. Patti Parrish said hunger ministries are so important to Christians because the biblical witness makes feeding the hungry a priority; each of the four Gospels include an account of Jesus feeding the multitudes.

I think United Methodists have learned the stark truth that we grow enough food to feed the world; the flaw is in our distribution of food resources, Parrish said. Therefore, we want to be part of God s solution and share what God has so generously provided with our neighbors and with the world.

Here are the hunger ministries that received grants:

Anderson District

The Tracy Jackson Program of GIFT
United Christian Ministries of Abbeville County
Anderson Interfaith Ministries
Anderson Meals on Wheels
Golden Harvest Food Bank
Good Neighbor Cupboard
Community Food Bank
Emmanuel UMC Feed The Hungry Program, Anderson
United Way of Anderson County Backpack Program
Belton Interfaith Ministries, Association
Our Daily Bread Soup Kitchen
Society of St. Andrews
Pickens County Meals on Wheels
United Christian Ministries
PUSH Easley Charge
Gleaning House Ministries
Shine Ministries Easley
Clemson Community Care

Charleston District

New Francis Brown UMC, North Charleston
Boone Hill UMC, Summerville
Wesley UMC, Moncks Corner
Asbury-St. James UMC Outreach Committee, Charleston
Washington U
MC, North Charleston
Wesley UMC, Hollywood
Grace UMC Outreach Team, Charleston
Goose Creek UMC, Goose Creek
Greater St. Paul UMC Outreach, Cross
Hibben UMC, Mount Pleasant
Murray UMC Food Bank, Summerville
North Hope Cooperative Ministries
Cherokee Place UMC/Tricounty Family Ministries, North Charleston
Ocean Grove UMC Food Pantry, Awendaw

Columbia District

College Place UMC Community Meal with Children s Garden, Columbia
Gilbert UMC/First Calvary Baptist Food Pantry, Gilbert
Rehoboth UMC Food Bank
Trinity UMC s Christian Assistance Bridge, Blythewood
Manna Station, Wesley UMC Outreach, Columbia
Killingsworth Inc.
Mount Hebron UMC, West Columbia
Matthew 25:35 Mount Horeb UMC, Lexington
Salem UMC
Washington Street UMC Soup Kitchen, Columbia

Florence District

FUMC Hemming Caring and Sharing Food Bank Support, Hemingway
Wilson Chapel UMC UMW Wednesday Noon Day Prayer, Greeleyville
Trinity UMC Combined Ministries Frozen Storage
Warren Chapel UMC Harvest Hope Food Pantry, Lynchburg
St. Paul UMC Harvest Hope/Wisacky Food Pantry, Bishopville
St. Paul UMC-Elliott Harvest Hope Food Pantry, Elliott
St. John UMC UMW Holiday Bags of Hope
Summerton UMC Bags of Hope, Summerton
Good Hope UMC Youth Food Drive, Hemingway
Wesley UMC Thanksgiving and Christmas Outreach, Florence
Mount Zion Timmonsville Saturday Morning Feeding Ministry, Timmonsville
Elijah UMC Older Adults, Kingstree
Asbury UMC UMM Bags of Love
St. Luke UMC Food Bank and Thanksgiving Outreach
COSS/Community Organization Service Shalom Stop Hunger Now
Wesley UMC Tuesday Feeding/Emergency Food Pantry

Greenville District

Dunean UMC Food Pantry, Greenville
Family Promise Pickens
Helping Hands Ministries Emergency Food Assistance
Trinity UMC James Monroe Mission House
John Wesley UMC Breakfast Ministry, Greenville
Lebanon UMC Meals with a Message, Honea Path
Monaghan UMC Community Dinners, Greenville
Memorial UMC Daily Bread Ministries/Soup Kitchen, Greer
Salem UMC Rachel s Cupboard, Greenville
Trinity UMC Backpack Buddies
Woodruff Area Soup Kitchen Feed The Hungry

Greenwood District

St. Paul UMC Backpack Ministry, Saluda
St. Mark UMC for support to the Greenwood Soup Kitchen, Greenwood
Trinity UMC soup kitchen, Greenwood
Trinity UMC Food Pantry, Greenwood
McCormick UMC Food Pantry, McCormick
Spann UMC Kangaroo Kids Backpack Ministry, Ward
Leesville UMC for the Batesburg-Leesville Ministry Center food pantry, Leesville
St. Mark UMC Backpack Ministry, Greenwood
St. John s UMC Voucher Program, Batesburg
St. John s for support to the Christian Ministry Center food bank and clothing provider, Batesburg
Central UMC Meals on Wheels Weekend Food Ministry
Wightman UMC We Care Ministry, Prosperity

Hartsville District

Hartsville Soup Kitchen Feed the Hungry, Wesley UMC, Hartsville
Oro UMC Food Bank, Pageland
St. John/Wesley Chapel Charge Food Ministries
Springhill UMC Food Pantry, Rembert
New Haven UMC Food Pantry, Bishopville
St. John s UMC Food Bank
St. John s UMM Samaritan House
St. John s UMC Outreach

Marion District

St. Michael UMC Jami (Jesus and Me) Children Ministry, Bennettsville
Pisgah UMC Food Pantry, Aynor
Bethel UMC Wallace Family Life Center-Food Pantry, Bennettsville
Smyrna UMC Holiday Outreach, Bennettsville
Shiloh UMC Food Pantry
St. James Visionaries Women in Ministry The SS&S
First UMC Stop Hunger Now, Loris
Leve Green Grace and Mercy Food Pantry
Surfside UMC Give-Meal-A-Month GAMAM, Surfside Beach
Centenary UMC CAP
Bennettsville-Cheraw Area Cooperative Ministry Outreach
Trinity UMC Wednesday @ Trinity
Joseph B. Bethea UMC Churches Assisting People Food Assistance Center, Conway

Orangeburg District

Williston UMC Snack Pack Ministry, Williston
Shalom Zion Mission Cottage of Bamberg After School Program
Trinity UMC Soup Kitchen and Clothing Bank
Mayes Chapel UMC Outreach Food Box Ministry, Branchville
Branchville UMC Helping Hands Food Pantry, Branchville
Bethel UMC-Pelion Charge Backpacking Ministry, Lexington
St. Andrews UMC Shepherd s Ministry, Orangeburg
Eutawville UMC Outreach, Eutawville

Rock Hill District

Bethel UMC Soup Kitchen
Chester Circuit Chester County Ministerial Association Food Bank
Epworth UMC Dream Center Food Pantry, Rock Hill
Fort Lawn UMC Food Pantry, Fort Lawn
Friendship UMC Back Pack Buddies, Rock Hill
Lynnwood UMC The Bridge Food Bank, Lancaster
Mount Harmony UMC Clover Parish/Mount Harmony Food Pantry, Clover
St. Luke-Salem Back Pack Buddies, Lancaster
Trinity UMC Bag Lunch Program, York
Wesley UMC Grace and Mercy, York
Zion UMC Free Community Meal, Lancaster

Spartanburg District

Duncan Acres Food Pantry
Bethel UMC Food Bank, Union
Cannon s Camp Ground UMC Food Pantry, Spartanburg
Landrum UMC Community Meals and Food Pantry, Landrum
Pleasant View UMC with UMW Mission on Main, Cowpens
Buford Street UMC Heart Line, Gaffney
Duncan-Startex-Loree Open Hearts Open Hands, Duncan
Silver Hill Memorial UMC Center of Hope, Spartanburg

Walterboro District

Cottageville UMC Loaves and Fishes Food Bank, Cottageville
Bluffton UMC Missions Committee Back Pack Buddies, Bluffton
Port Royal UMC UMW Phoebe s Closet, Port Royal
St. Stephen UMC Outreach Program, Ridgeland
Bethel UMC Missions Committee Food Pantry, Walterboro
Springtown UMC Reach-in Refrigerator, Smoaks

Example: Emmanuel UMC Feed The Hungry Program, Anderson

The Feed the Hungry ministry was the idea of a few members here at Emmanuel UMC. They saw there was a need, and they planted the seed.

We pick up people by using King David Baptist Church van, since we don t own one, from one of the soup kitchens on Saturday morning about once a quarter here in Anderson. We bring them to Emmanuel, where they are given clothes, a word from God and a hot home-cooked meal prepared by the members.

We thought it would be a blessing for them, but it has been a blessing to the members. It warms our hearts and fill our souls because they are all so appreciative of what God is doing.

” Patricia Jackson

<p
class="contentpane">Example: Hartsville Soup Kitchen Feed the Hungry, Wesley UMC, Hartsville

The Wesley Soup Kitchen has been in operation more than 15 years and serves an average of 65 persons every day, Monday through Friday. Twenty-one churches in the Hartsville area support the soup kitchen with volunteers, preparing and serving the meals daily.

Greg Rogers, member of Prospect UMC in Hartsville, is the soup kitchen director and does a phenomenal job of coordinating volunteers, maintaining food inventory, fundraising and overseeing the daily operation of the mission.

The Hartsville community has embraced the mission that is located in the heart of Hartsville on the Wesley UMC campus. The persons we serve make their way to the soup kitchen every day and are a delight to see and spend time with as we break bread together. We are especially grateful to be able to open the soup kitchen on Thanksgiving and Christmas and to share these special days with our brothers and sisters.

I guess the most humbling part of the mission is when the servants hear the words "thank you" when they serve a plate to someone who is hungry, and the servant replies, "No, thank YOU for the privilege of being able to serve you."

We are most grateful to be recipients of the generous gift from the S.C. Annual Conference to make it possible to do even more this year to help feed hungry people, and to feed all of our souls with the love of Christ.

”The Rev. Fran Elrod

Example: St. Stephen UMC Outreach Program, Ridgeland, Walterboro District

With barely more than a dozen members, St. Stephen UMC isn t the size of most churches managing a successful food outreach program, let alone one that does it twice a week, year-round.

But week after week they do it, the tiny church feeding thousands each month.

An all-volunteer staff with Helen Shuler at the helm and supported by pastor the Rev. Rufus Snowden, the St. Stephen program works nonstop to meet the needs of the community, many from the extremely low-income neighborhood surrounding the church.

Recipients line up in droves beginning early in the morning on Mondays and Thursdays, plus some holidays ”pregnant mothers with toddlers in tow, laborers who can t find enough work to support their family, seniors inching along from Social Security check to Social Security check.

Food, along with clothing, toys and other donated items, are set up yard sale style behind the church.

Nobody is ever turned away unless we don t have something, Shuler said.

Share your hunger ministry s story

Did your hunger ministry receive a conference grant? The Advocate invites you to share your story. Email [email protected] by Nov. 10 with the name of your ministry, the church associated, the city, what your ministry does and your personal feelings about why you are called to help your neighbor in this way. Submissions should be 300 words maximum.