Middle school students from Gateway Baptist Church in Irmo spent part of their summer giving back during a community missions weekend known as Mission Ballentine. From Friday through Sunday in late July, students participated in six different service projects, both indoors and outdoors. One of those projects included volunteering atContinue Reading

By Rick Abercrombie Victoria McKenna, Director of Development for Ezekiel Ministries, spoke August 8 to the Optimist Club of St. Andrews-Irmo. Ezekiel enjoys financial and in-person support from more than 40 local churches. Its inspiration comes from Ezekiel 37:10; “So I prophesied as he commanded me, and breath entered them;Continue Reading

By Rick Abercrombie On August 1, St. Andrews Optimists hosted Nick Charalambous, Donor Relations Officer for Oliver Gospel Mission. Charalambous recounted the history of the Mission and outlined its current services to the Midlands. Oliver Gospel Mission traces its origin back to 1888, when Rev. Robert Oliver purchased property onContinue Reading

By Rick Abercrombie St. Andrews Optimists recently enjoyed a presentation by City Year Columbia. The speaker was Trey Glenham, Director of Development. City Year serves as the local hands and feet of AmeriCorps and is one of 30 such extensions of the parent organization. The statistical fact of life thatContinue Reading

The American Red Cross urges all donors to give blood now to keep the blood supply strong this summer. Type O blood products are most needed on hospital shelves – especially in the face of summer challenges that can quickly cause blood and platelet reserves to drop. In addition toContinue Reading

LEXINGTON, S.C. – Cancer of Many Colors (CMC), a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting cancer patients and their families, has announced the appointment of Whitnei Jeffcoat Wingard as its new chief development officer. In her new role, Wingard will lead efforts to raise awareness of CMC’s mission, coordinate events, manageContinue Reading

By Rick Abercrombie The June 24 speakers at the Optimist Club of St. Andrews-Irmo were representatives from Palmetto Foundation for Prevention and Recovery.  The Foundation focuses on the presence of opioid use and abuse in the Irmo/Chapin community. Having lost his son Chase to an accidental opioid overdose, Bruce Loveless,Continue Reading

By Thomas Grant, Jr. The Irmo Little League Major baseball team has claimed the South Carolina District Three championship, earning a spot in the upcoming state tournament on John’s Island. The team’s hard work and determination paid off as they outplayed tough competition to take the district title. Next up,Continue Reading

By Rick Abercrombie On June 13, Shari Selke, Director of Sharing God’s Love, spoke to the Optimist Club of St. Andrews-Irmo. After a brief hiatus, Selke is actually in her second stint as Director, having recognized the role as her life’s work. St. Andrews Optimist Club has donated financially toContinue Reading

COLUMBIA, S.C. – United Way of the Midlands is launching their 4th annual Ready, Set, Supply. initiative, a drive aimed at stocking the classrooms of elementary school educators throughout the Midlands. The drive focuses on schools served by United Way’s Midlands Reading Consortium (MRC), their education initiative committed to fosteringContinue Reading