Compiled by Kinnidy Thoreson, staff writer
The Woodruff Times reached out to the local area nonprofits asking them what their biggest need was as we go into the holiday season.
Helping Hands Ministry of Woodruff Area
206 Chamblin St., Woodruff
864-476-2401
Helping Hands Ministries of Woodruff is a local food pantry that serves an average of 100 families weekly in the Woodruff, Enoree and Cross Anchor areas. “The holiday season always brings new challenges to Helping Hands Ministries. This year we have seen a severe decline in food donations and volunteers due largely to the COVID -19 pandemic. We currently need donations of canned green beans, corn, Chef Boyardee (for the children), rice, mayo, and vegetable oil to restock our food pantry. We need volunteers Monday through Friday to pick up donated items from Bi-Lo and Food Lion. A large SUV or covered truck is helpful but not required and volunteers to give out food. We covet your prayers as we minister to our neighbors in need,” said director Sandi Turner.
Agape Care Center
200 E. Peachtree St., Woodruff
864-670-9999
Agape Care Center is an all-male, faith based homeless rescue mission in Woodruff. “We’ll soon celebrate our fifth anniversary as a 501(c)3 nonprofit charity in South Carolina. We have been extremely blessed over the past five years with financial support from so many but as you might imagine, the coronavirus pandemic has caused many individuals that supported us monetary cutback and even stop their once regular monthly donations. We ask if families and individuals to please pray about giving towards our homeless ministry with a one-time gift or becoming a care partner with regular monthly designated amounts. All gifts are 100% tax-deductible,” said Les Caldwell, co-founder of the Agape Care Center.
Stone Soup Animal Rescue
Woodruff
allen@stonesoupanimalrescue.org
The Stone Soup Animal Resuce provides a safe haven for a variety of stray and displaced animals including dogs, cats, ferrets and even an occasional goat. Our team is committed to keeping animals in our care to receive love, nurturing, comfort, and medical care for the days, weeks, months, or longer, until they are placed with a loving permanent home. “Medical care is our top priority and our biggest need for donations – not only during the holidays but also year-round. We spend at a minimum $200 per animal but that’s just for those that are in our care for a short time and who are perfectly healthy other than needing spay/neuter procedures and vaccines. Many of them have other medical issues including heartworms, infections, parasites, blockages, and injuries that can cost in the hundreds to thousands of dollars. We want to give each of these sweet creatures a chance at a better life and that starts with good health,” said executive director Allen Poole. (For clarification, Stone Soup Animal Rescue and Stone Soup Storytelling are separate organizations and not affiliated with each other.)
Woodruff Community Center
116 S. Main St., Woodruff
864-476-2256
“Each year during the Christmas season, the Woodruff Community Center sponsors the Giving Tree Program that provides Christmas gifts for children from disadvantaged families. We encourage those who sponsor to reach out to the families in the hopes of getting to know them, make a connection, and possibly build a lasting relationship. Another Christmas tradition for the Woodruff Community Center has been to give to our senior citizens through the Gifts-in-Kind program,” said director Fran Burgess. The community can participate by making a monetary donation for to help the center purchase items, or you can donate items such as lap blankets, gloves, hats, socks, lotions, sugar-free candy, fruit, etc., or come help us pack and deliver.
Stone Soup Storytelling Institute
134 S. Main St., Woodruff
864-706-5532
The Stone Soup Storytelling Institute has been hosting the annual storytelling festival in Woodruff since the mid-1980s. The organization had to cancel the 2020 festival due to COVID-19 concerns protecting the health of our community. “Funding was dropped or postponed, and support from governmental and other dependable supporters has failed to appear. Stone Soup is hosting virtual events November through March to support storytellers. Any contributions donated to the organization will go towards the artists, lodging, and travel if performances may be conducted in-person,” said President Karyn Page-Davies. Contact Page-Davis for information on to become a sponsor, to make a donation, or to volunteer.
The upcoming virtual events include honoring veterans in November, family traditions in December, new beginnings in January, and history programs in February and March.
Stone Soup Storytelling Festival, a three day festival in April. Page-Davies hopes that they will be able to host the April Stone Soup Storytelling festival in-person next year.
Woodruff Area Soup Kitchen
340 McArthur St., Woodruff
864-476-3589
The Woodruff Area Soup Kitchen prepares and serves a mid-day meal to anyone in need in the Woodruff area. The nonprofit’s greatest need this holiday season is a head cook for Thursdays, said director Beth Grant. However, donations are also needed at this time and can be delivered to the soup kitchen Monday-Friday between 9 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. Donations needed are baked beans, pork and beans, tiny whole potatoes, mixed vegetables, peas, evaporated milk, cream of mushroom soup, cream of chicken soup, cream of celery soup, beans (green, kidney, black, cannelloni), tomatoes, canned chicken, fruit cocktail, pineapple, pasta sauce, and broth.
Project Hope Foundation
751 E. Georgia St., Woodruff
Project Hope Foundation’s mission is to provide a range of autism services. Its Woodruff campus offers a variety of services, including ABA therapy, autism-specific classrooms, adult services and the Printed by Hope business. Monetary donations to help fund Project HOPE Foundation’s life-changing autism services can be made online at projecthopesc.org/give. The nonprofit also needs volunteers to help clean up the courtyard at HOPE’s Woodruff campus after 5 p.m. on weekdays or on a weekend. Those interested can email lisahill@projecthopesc.org. To further support, people can order custom made t-shirts from Printed by HOPE. The workshop in Woodruff employs adults on the spectrum and teaches them jobs skills that help gain independence. Complete the interest form online and someone will contact you about fulfilling your order (projecthopesc.org/printed-by-hope).
Author: Tracy Sanders
There’s a need at our public schools. Not for the little kids, bc at most nonprofits the cut off age is 12. High school underprivileged kids want to have Christmas presents too. They’re still children.