The Cooperative Ministry

David Tucker, owner and president of Corner Pantry Inc. and Tucker Oil, presents a check for $35,425.07 to The Cooperative Ministry's CEO, Beth Irick. This generous donation is from the 3rd annual Tucker Oil/Corner Pantry golf tournament, which was recently played at The Windermere Club in Blythewood. An estimated 128 golfers participated in this year's event. Additional proceeds also benefitted Toby's Place Women's Shelter in Columbia.

A great day today at the Trinity Episcopal Cathedral annual bazaar.

The Cooperative Ministry recently hosted two groups of volunteers from Trane Technologies in Columbia. One group served on Friday morning, Oct. 18, and the second served on Monday afternoon, Oct. 21. We appreciate the great relationship we have developed with Trane and the volunteer groups they send regularly. Thank you!

Mark your calendars for the 76th Annual Trinity Bazaar of Trinity Episcopal Cathedral in Columbia, Saturday, Oct. 26, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. This year, The Cooperative Ministry will benefit from a Bazaar grant. We look forward to seeing you there!

For more than 25 years, Loretta Coleman Ministries has blessed people in need within our community. Yesterday, Ms. Coleman, with help from Richland County Sheriff Leon Lott and the Richland County Sheriff's Department, donated two large pickup trucks full of clothing to our clothing bank. The clothing came from donors who contributed to Loretta Coleman Ministries, and Ms. Coleman travels many miles to pick them up.
We are thankful for Ms. Coleman's work in our community and for Sheriff Lott and the deputies who delivered the gifts to our clothing bank.

The Genesis Sunday School Class of Shandon United Methodist Church blessed The Cooperative Ministry with an afternoon of service yesterday, Sunday, Oct. 6. Class members provided edging, trimming, and raking as part of a fall cleanup outside our building. Inside, volunteers worked in our clothing bank, preparing for the coming week's clients. It was a fantastic afternoon, and we were so blessed. Volunteers included Mary Carlisle Benson, Lawton and Daphne Blackstone, Shannon and Bill Cotham, Haley Floyd, Michael and Carla Graf, Hunter and Cathy Griffin, Shawn and Allan Haynes, Gina and Jeff Janvrin, Jeannie Metzger, Jennifer Parker, Perry and Cindy Rainey, Charlie Rountree, Laurie and Bryan Royson, Melissa Tringali, and Lori Yandle.
Thank you!

The Cooperative Ministry is one of two grateful beneficiaries of Wednesday's 3rd Annual Benefit Golf Tournament, sponsored by The Corner Pantry and Tucker Oil at The Windemere Club in Blythewood.
It was a beautiful day for golf, and an estimated 128 golfers participated. Pictured below, from left, are The Cooperative Ministry's Board Chair, Stephanie Yandle, of BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina; board member Lisa Gadson, of SouthState Bank; The Cooperative Ministry's CEO Beth Irick; board member David Tucker and owner and president of Corner Pantry Inc. and Tucker Oil; David Tucker Jr., vice president of wholesale; and Jack Tucker, vice president of commercial fuels Toby's Place Shelter in Columbia was also a beneficiary of the tournament.
Thank you again, Corner Pantry Inc. and Tucker Oil, for a great day and service to The Cooperative Ministry!
The Corner Pantry

The Cooperative Ministry welcomed the Frances Foster Circle of Trenholm Road United Methodist Church today. This delightful group periodically meets in our boardroom and then serves in our clothing bank. Those serving in the clothing bank included Jane Buie, Becky Kerr, Jeanette Walker, Joy Tucker, and Susan Adams. Thank you!

The Cooperative Ministry accepts car donations - all conditions.
Free towing is provided within 50 miles of Columbia.
Cars are sold at a Midlands auction, ensuring proceeds stay in our community and support our services to help others.
Our Car Program is managed in-house. There is no third party.
Call (803) 799-2428 or use the simple online donation form.
Thank you!
www.coopmin.org/donate-your-car.

The Cooperative Ministry's Board of Directors met today for its first meeting of the 2024-2025 Fiscal Year. Pictured, from left, are this year's board officers: Secretary Fred Manning, partner, Fisher Phillips; Chair Stephanie Yandle, customer experience manager, BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina; Vice Chair Alexa Godwin, marketing manager, Godwin Motors; CEO Beth Irick, of The Cooperative Ministry; and Treasurer Steven Hicks, CPA, Capital Markets, AgFirst.

Palmetto State Glass is a valuable corporate sponsor of The Cooperative Ministry. Last Saturday morning, the CARES Team at Palmetto State Glass served in our clothing bank, resetting racks and shelves for this week's client services. The CARES Team includes voluntary employees who strive to improve people's lives inside and outside the company. Pictured, from left, are Denee and Bob Brooks; Julia Lalik; Eric Homer; Heidi Azarias; Rocky Wilson (from Charleston); Lee and Dana Lemmon; Mary Warriner; Carl, Dennis, and Franklin Pollard; Kyle Whetstone, who also serves on The Cooperative Ministry board of directors; and, Todd Azarias.
Thank you for a great morning!

Food Donation
We especially thank Publix for its generous donation to our emergency food pantry. With this donation, we can serve more than five families with shelf-stable food. We especially appreciate new friends at the Publix Store Trenholm Plaza.
Pictured are Scott Vaughan, our director of Community Awareness, left, and Dave Peoples, director of our clothing, furniture, and food bank.

We've created a shopping list on Amazon to support our small emergency food pantry, which is dependent on community donations. The list attached here contains shelf-stable items we routinely stock in our pantry. Thank you!
www.coopmin.org/food

Check out my list on Amazon

The Cooperative Ministry participated in last week's two-day Non-Profit Fair sponsored by Trane Technologies at the company's Columbia plant. The fair's purpose was to inform staff members about services and volunteer opportunities. Pictured are Scott Vaughan, our Director of Community Awareness, and Trane's Kristie Jordan, who was instrumental in organizing the fair and who coordinates Trane's volunteerism at The Cooperative Ministry.

This smiling group of volunteers served this past Saturday in our clothing bank, helping sort, tag, and rack clothing, organize household donations, and reset the clothing bank for weekday service. The group was organized by Pastor Beth McConnell of Kathwood Baptist Church with help from Antioch Baptist Church- Ridgeway and Pastor Flavian DeWayne Coleman. Thank you so much for your eagerness to help love all those who come to our doors.

Friday volunteer teams are very important to The Cooperative Ministry's clothing bank. These volunteers help "reset" the clothing bank so clients can shop next week for free clothing needed for work and school. We especially appreciate these interns and staff members from Elliott Davis in Columbia and the regular volunteer teams that come over from Elliott Davis. Pictured, from left, are Andy Lisinski, Nick Annan, Jackson Ashley, Drew McKay, Andrew Bender, Caroline Smith, Jada Richardson, and Kya Edwards.
Also, a special thanks to Kathleen Stevens, community relations specialist at Elliott Davis, for her work in coordinating volunteer groups at The Cooperative Ministry.
Thank you!

Summer interns at Eastminster Presbyterian Church served today in The Cooperative Ministry's clothing and furniture. These young people provided valuable assistance in sorting and racking clothing for clients who need free clothing for work and school. The summer interns are helping with Eastminster's mission partners, going on a mission trip, serving at Vacation Bible School, and job shadowing at the church. Pictured, from left, are Laura Hudson, the church's adult intern 'shepherd,' Nia Burton, Luke Williams, Grey Abramson, Zachary Beitz, and Meredith Speedy. Meredith has also served in our office for a day this summer.
Thank you!

Francis Burns United Methodist Church partners with The Cooperative Ministry to serve the people of the Midlands.
In June, the church's Missions Ministry Team sponsored a Food & Hygiene Drive, which was very successful and well-supported by church members. The Missions Ministry Team prepared family grocery bags, homeless snack packs, and hygiene kits for homeless individuals and families seeking support through The Cooperative Ministry. Pictured, from left, are Henry Peterson, Judith Dorrah, Lynnette Robinson, Roberta Brooker, Priscilla Staley, Ava Doby, and Rev. Geneva Stafford (Pastor).
Mrs. Robinson and Mrs. Brooker are also faithful volunteers at The Cooperative Ministry.
Thank you!

The Cooperative Ministry was blessed today with the donation of new throws, blankets, and quilts gathered by the people of St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Columbia. Pictured are Barbara and Jim Kirk of the church. The Cooperative Ministry was one of four nonprofits receiving these gifts. The donations will be distributed through our clothing and furniture bank. St. Paul's Lutheran Church is one of The Cooperative Ministry's great church partners.

More than 120 clients, volunteers, church and business partners, staff, and board members attended The Cooperative Ministry's annual Year-End Celebration Luncheon today at First Baptist Church Columbia, SC. First Baptist Church was an original founding congregation of The Cooperative Ministry in 1982.
The Cooperative Ministry's CEO, Beth Irick, facilitated the luncheon program. The program included a welcome and prayer by First Baptist Pastor Wes Church and a testimonial from clothing bank and tax volunteer Sue Haddock of Shandon United Methodist Church. Ms. Codell Tillman was celebrated as one who has completed The Cooperative Ministry's Financial Empowerment Program. With her Financial Health Coach, Russ Bell, Ms. Tillman testified to her journey toward being more financially secure.
Board Chair Davis Buchanan of Buchanan Construction Services concluded today's event with final remarks.
(Captions are with photographs)

A big THANK YOU to Damon McLeod, pictured in the center, owner of Home Team Landscaping in Lexington. Damon and his coworkers Robert and Wilson volunteered a day of fresh landscaping today at our building on West Beltline Blvd. These men edged our sidewalks, spruced up our shrubbery, cleaned up flower beds, and spread fresh pinestraw donated for the project by the Pinestraw Place Landscape Supply in Lexington. We so appreciate these great corporate friends.

The Cooperative Ministry was blessed today with volunteers from Elliott Davis in Columbia. This group included both staff and interns. Elliott Davis sends its summer interns into the community each Friday to serve for a few hours. From left, Jeffrey Belovich, Director Nick Annan, Riley McVittie, Sophia Abney, Maggie Amick, Jacki Matthews, Erica Jenkins, and Jonathan Dittmar.
We so appreciate this valuable help in our clothing bank.

We welcomed this great group of volunteers from City Year Columbia this week. The group served in our clothing bank, sorting and racking clothing for clients. Meet Amara, Joana, CeeCee, Kyana, Justise, Tyrese, Ivy, and Kayla.
City Year Columbia is a nonprofit organization that partners with educators to support, mentor, and lift up students in need.
Thank you!

Sandhills Community Church is one of our valuable church partners. Every third Friday, the church sends a group of volunteers to help organize our clothing bank and prepare it for visiting clients the following week. This is a valuable service, and we appreciate these monthly volunteers very much.