News

As the nation pauses to remember the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. this weekend, AmeriCorps members across South Carolina will be answering Dr. King's call to community service through local programs and observances.

The AmeriCorps program encourages volunteerism for everyone from youth to seniors to people with disabilities; promotes community solutions for disaster preparedness and response; and helps to strengthen and expand volunteer centers and other community-based organizations that use volunteers to accomplish their mission. Currently, the Commission funds nine programs throughout the state with grants totaling more than $1.771 million.

"These AmeriCorps members are a prime example of our goals for volunteer service in our state," said Suzanne Piper, Chair of the South Carolina Commission on National and Community Service. "By seeing MLK Day as a 'day on' instead of a 'day off,' they remind us all of the importance of giving back to their community and to all of the citizens of South Carolina."

The South Carolina Commission for National and Community Service seeks to promote and increase an ethic of service and volunteerism in the State of South Carolina; the capacity of faith-based and community organizations within the state to better compete for funding opportunities; and the collaboration among the communities and organizations that are trying to meet the greatest needs of the Palmetto State.

For more information about the South Carolina Commission on National and Community Service and the AmeriCorps program, visit www.volunteersc.org.


Project details for each AmeriCorps program follow:

Spartanburg School District One "Foothills" AmeriCorps Program: Members will prepare and serve lunch at the Spartanburg Soup Kitchen; organize, fix and clean donated items at the Hospice House Thrift Barn; and teach a CPR re-certification class at Jack Bees Day Care.

Volunteers will be at the Spartanburg Soup Kitchen on Saturday, January 16 from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and on Monday, January 18 from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

Volunteers will serve at the Hospice House Thrift Barn in Landrum on Saturday, January 16 from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. and on Monday, January 18 from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

The CPR certification class at Jack Bees Day Care in Campobello will be held on Saturday, January 16 from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.


Spartanburg School District Seven AmeriCorps: Spartanburg District Seven AmeriCorps members will partner with the City of Spartanburg, Retired Senior Volunteer Program, United Way of the Piedmont and VISTA Volunteer Program. The day will begin with a welcome to volunteers by Spartanburg Mayor Junie White at the Denny's Corporate Office at 203 East Main Street at 9:00 a.m. Intergenerational teams of volunteers will disperse to their sites at 9:30 a.m. and will work on a variety of projects until 12:00 noon.

Project sites include the SC School for the Deaf and Blind; Upstate Family Resource Center; Cross Cultural Institute 199; Charles Lea Center; Magnolia Place; Hub Bub Youth Art Project; Camp Mary Elizabeth Girls Scout Camp.


United Way of Anderson County: AmeriCorps members will join with the Anderson County African American Leadership Council to conduct a toiletry drive and blood drive to be held on Saturday, January 16 from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the United Way of Anderson County office at 907 North Main Street. The community is encouraged to participate.

Items needed for the toiletry drive include baby wipes, diapers, laundry detergent, lotion, paper towels, soap, socks, toilet paper, toothpaste and toothbrushes. Donations will be distributed among non-profit agencies in Anderson County.

Clarendon School District One "One School One Church One Community" AmeriCorps Program: The OSOCOC AmeriCorps MLK Day of Service will be held at 3:30 p.m. on Sunday, January 17 at Clarendon County Courthouse in Manning. The program will include the unveiling of the petition "Briggs vs. Elliott" (3:30 to 4:00 p.m.) and a community march to Trinity A.M.E. Church (4:00 to 4:15 p.m.) for a memorial and worship service in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. (4:15 to 6:00 p.m.).

Trinity A.M.E. Church is located at 39 West Rigby Street in Manning.

AmeriCorps members will be serving the community by assisting with the program celebrating the life and teachings of Dr. King including a time to reflect upon his legacy. The members will also participate in the worship services by performing a monologue of Dr. King's walk of life.


Claflin University "Middle School Saturday" AmeriCorps Program: Members will conduct a canned food drive to benefit the First Baptist Church of Orangeburg Soup Kitchen. AmeriCorps volunteers will collect canned goods on Monday, January 18 from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. from local grocery stores. The canned goods will be presented to the soup kitchen on Thursday, January 21 at 12:00 noon after which volunteers will serve lunch in the soup kitchen until 2:00 p.m.


Lancaster County School District B*E*S*T AmeriCorps Program: Members will help make and serve lunch at Mt. Carmel AME Zion Church in Heath Springs, South Carolina. Volunteers will report to the church at 11:00 a.m. The church will have an MLK Day program which will start at 12:00 noon. Lunch will be served following the program.

Directions to Mt. Carmel AME Zion Church: Go past McDonald Green Elementary School at 2763 Lynwood Drive in Lancaster. Make a right turn at the stop sign at the end of the road (Lynwood Drive). Make a quick left onto Mt Carmel Church Road. The church is about 3 miles down the road on the right (there is a small sign where you make the left hand turn).


Lee County School District "Building Bridges" AmeriCorps Program: Members will conduct a series of events to honor Dr. King's call to community service. The day will consist of clean-up projects, a wellness walk, and a health screening booth. Nearly 250 volunteers will participate in the project. Participants will include volunteers from Mt. Hermon Baptist Church in Bishopville, SC; Heathwood Hall Episcopal School in Columbia, SC; Lee Central High School and the community.

All events will take place at Lee Central High School at 1800 Wisacky Highway in Bishopville.

8:00 a.m.
Martin Luther King, Jr. Program

9:00 a.m.
Breakfast served

9:30 to 11:00 a.m.
Health Screenings conducted by Lee County School District Nursing Staff

10:00 to 10:30 a.m.
MLK Walk-A-Thon in Football Stadium

11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Cleanup Project conducted by Building Bridges AmeriCorps Members, Lee Central High School JROTC, Heathwood Hall Episcopal High School Students and other community volunteers.


Edgefield County Schools Management "Success by Ten" AmeriCorps Program: Members are sponsoring a canned food drive to benefit two local organizations that serve needy families. The project, entitled Meals of Love and Kindness Food Drive, is a two-week food drive concluding on Wednesday, January 20. Community members are invited to drop off food donations at Strom Thurmond High School at 1131 Columbia Road in Johnston.

The donations will be presented to the Johnston Food Bank and Edgefield County Churches Helping Others (ECCHO) on January 20 at 3:30 p.m. at Strom Thurmond High School.

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