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
IRMO, SC — On May 23, the Optimist Club of St. Andrews-Irmo welcomed Heather Turner, Interim Executive Director of Palmetto Place, to share updates on the organization’s mission and the powerful impact it continues to make in the lives of vulnerable youth across the Midlands. For years, the Optimist ClubContinue Reading
IRMO, S.C. — The Optimist Club of St. Andrews-Irmo continues its support of South Carolina Career Kids (SCCK), a nonprofit organization that introduces students to career possibilities and public safety through interactive programs. At the Club’s May 9 meeting, SCCK representatives Libby Hendley and Matt Southern presented updates on theContinue Reading
By: Kerry Driggers When Kenneth Shuler graduated from high school, he didn’t know what he wanted to do, but he knew he wanted a job that worked with people. He became a Master Barber in 1959 and opened his first school in 1968. If you’ve ever had a conversation withContinue 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
IRMO, S.C. – The Optimist Club of St. Andrews-Irmo welcomed guest speaker Randy Rush, Executive Director of The Courage Center in Lexington, during its breakfast meeting on March 14. Rush shared the center’s multifaceted approach to helping individuals and families struggling with substance use and addiction. The Courage Center focusesContinue Reading
Captain Heidi Jackson, representing Richland County Sheriff’s School Resource Officer Division, spoke February 14 to the Optimist Club of St. Andrews-Irmo. Jackson has spent 26 years in law enforcement, 24 of them as an investigator. Her topic was the prevalence of sex trafficking, Richland County ranking first in South CarolinaContinue Reading