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

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 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

By Rick Abercrombie In a past visit to the Optimist Club of St. Andrews-Irmo, Dr. Alonzo Johnson spoke to the Club about the mission and work of his Church’s Universal Life STEAM Academy (ULSA). Johnson serves as Director of ULSA. On June 6, Dr. Johnson visited the Club again, over twoContinue Reading

A trio representing South Carolina Youth Challenge Academy (SCYCA) spoke recently to the Optimist Club of St. Andrews-Irmo at its breakfast meeting. SCYCA is a program supported by the National Guard and uses several elements of a military level training in order to launch young people on a path toContinue Reading

On April 11, the St. Andrews Optimist Club welcomed Heather Pagan, Survivor Support Director for Lighthouse for Life, to share an update on the organization’s mission and its impact in the community. Lighthouse for Life focuses on rescuing victims of sex trafficking and, through Pagan’s role, helps restore survivors toContinue Reading