“Hearing their voices; healing their hearts.” So goes the message of hope that the Dickerson Children’s Advocacy Center gives its clients. On June 14, Haley Shealy, Development and Special Events Coordinator for the Center, presented that message in detail to St. Andrews Optimists. The Dickerson Center serves children ages zeroContinue Reading

On June 7, the St. Andrews Optimists welcomed Jay Kilmartin, the S.C. House Representative for state District 85, as their guest speaker. Kilmartin, who is nearing the end of his first term and is currently campaigning for reelection, provided insights into his experiences and priorities as a state legislator. KilmartinContinue Reading

Columbia, SC – The Mental Illness Recovery Center, Inc. (MIRCI), a local nonprofit dedicated to supporting individuals with severe mental illness and housing instability, has announced a major consolidation of its facilities. The organization has now centralized all its services at a new location, 2750 Laurel Street, marking a significantContinue Reading

On May 12 at Union UMC, members of the St. Andrews Woman’s Club presented a donation to Michelle Cochcroft, coordinator of the Snack Pack project. The project provides weekend food packs for 117 children attending Harbison West Elementary School. Pictured from left to right: Michelle Cochcroft, coordinator; Gail Elfert, AnnContinue Reading

Honoring a Quarter-Century Commitment to Literacy in Central South Carolina Turning Pages SC, a nonprofit literacy council dedicated to teaching adults to read for free, has bestowed its prestigious Lifetime Member Award upon Jerry Bellune in recognition of his unwavering dedication to literacy in central South Carolina. At 88 yearsContinue Reading

The Optimist Club of St. Andrews-Irmo recently had the privilege of hosting representatives from the Girl Scouts of South Carolina-Mountains to Midlands Council, shedding light on the organization’s contributions to the community. Lisa Brown, Community Development Manager, and Halfie King, Property and Guest Coordinator, shared insights into the Girl ScoutsContinue Reading

Residents at Coopers Trace in Irmo received boxes filled with edible, non-perishable food items from the Irmo Police Department. This initiative is part of Serve & Connect, a Columbia-based non-profit organization working to strengthen positive relationships between police officers and the communities they serve. The program, known as Greg’s Groceries,Continue Reading

The St. Andrews Optimists were enlightened by a presentation from Jason Hill and Alex Zelling about the Second Saturday organization. This initiative, rooted in evangelism, extends assistance to households in need of home repairs, focusing on widows, orphans, single-parent households, disabled individuals, and the elderly. Named after its monthly activityContinue Reading

In an effort to support the community and strengthen police-community relationships, the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) recently hosted over 70 law enforcement partners for the third annual Greg’s Groceries food box packing day. Greg’s Groceries is an initiative by Serve & Connect, a Columbia-based non-profit organization dedicated toContinue Reading