On July 26, Julie Giglio, representing Midlands Orphan Relief (M.O.R.), spoke to the Optimist Club of St. Andrews-Irmo, shedding light on the organization’s mission to support orphans and at-risk children. Giglio explained that M.O.R. considers “any child who is left behind is effectively an orphan,” emphasizing the broad scope of their work.
M.O.R. originated from Lowcountry Orphan Relief (L.O.R.) in Charleston, which was founded in 2003 and became a formal 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization in 2007. Since its inception, L.O.R. and its Midlands counterpart have served over 41,000 children, providing essential resources to meet their basic needs.
The mission of both M.O.R. and L.O.R. is to meet the needs of children identified as at-risk or suffering from abandonment, abuse, or neglect. The organizations serve clients ranging from newborns to 18-year-olds, with the majority being in foster care. Giglio also highlighted the significant number of children living in “kinship care” with relatives, noting that these children outnumber those in formal foster care by a ten-to-one ratio.
M.O.R. primarily supplies clothing, shoes, and toiletries to children in need. Many of these children are removed from unsafe environments so quickly that they have no time to gather their belongings, making the support from M.O.R. immediate and crucial. Care Kits, tailored to each child’s specific needs, are assembled based on input from case workers and foster parents.
In addition to Care Kits, M.O.R. operates “Just in Case Closets” at 24 schools in the Midlands, ensuring that sudden clothing needs can be addressed on the spot.
Donations of clothing and other necessities are stored in warehouses located in Charleston and West Columbia. M.O.R. accepts only new or like-new clothing, with socks and underwear required to be new. Those interested in donating can visit midlandsorphanrelief.org for guidelines.
Giglio proudly shared that M.O.R. served around 600 children in its first year and 1,700 in its second year, underscoring the growing impact of the organization.
Pictured left to right are Club President Elect Gary Boyd, Giglio, Club President Kerry Powers, and speaker coordinator Steve Odom. Giglio received a copy of the Optimist Creed.
