Be a “Back to School” Angel this year!
The first day of school for Darlington County School District is Monday, August 17. Here are just a few ways you may help children in need:
Carolina Kids, LLC is an all volunteer organization governed by a board of directors made up of members of all backgrounds in the community. serves economically disadvantaged children in the Darlington County School District by providing food, clothing and school supplies. Their mission is to enhance the lives of the needy children in the area by providing them with their basic necessities and also providing them opportunities they would normally not receive. Programs include:
The Kids Closet, Hunger Busters (weekend food bag program) Backpack Program, and Everyone Should Go – monetary assistance for field trips.
Volunteers from the county work under the same umbrella to diligently to provide needy children in the Darlington County School District with clothing and basic needs. They work together to support each ministry, and have been successful in bringing awareness to the community that it “takes a village to raise a child”.
At the Carolina Kids Hartsville location, volunteers meet each week to provide weekend food supplies for all children of Darlington County School District with their Hunger Busters Program. Donations of peanut butter, packaged foods, etc. are always in need, but call first to make sure. There are some clothing there as well, and a donation box is outside the building for weekend and after hour drop offs on the stair landing at the 8th Street side of the Thornwell School for the Arts on West Carolina Avenue; look for the sign for Adult Education, which is on that far left side of the school building facing from W. Carolina. Contact Information: Andrea Pulling, Director 843-639-7239 carolinakids@roadrunner.com. Monetary donations may be sent to: Carolina Kids LLC, P.O. Box 28, Hartsville, SC 29551
The Kids Closet in Darlington collects donations of clean, gently used, good quality and “kid-approved” clothing for students of all ages. The children are able to “shop” with vouchers provided by the guidance departments at their schools, and are always so excited to have good quality clothing that makes them so proud to wear. The volunteers purchase new socks, underwear and pajamas for those that need them. Arrangements to make donations of new or gently worn clothing appropriate for students K – 12th grade, monetary and/or gift cards may be arranged by contacting Kids Closet at: 843-858-8038
Monetary donations may be sent to: Kids Closet 72 Public Square, Darlington, SC 29532
The Lord Cares
The Lord Cares ministry has been providing assistance to those in need in the Darlington area- including Darlington, Lamar and Society Hill- for over 25 years. Once a need has been established, The Lord Cares assists people with food, electricity bills, and medical prescriptions and occasionally doctor bills. Amazingly, The Lord Cares does not ask for donations from Harvest Hope, and has never applied for any state or federal grants.
“Anything we get comes solely from our community,” said founding volunteer and board member, Mary Butler. “All our food comes from food drives, businesses and the community. We want it to be a community service.” The ministry is 100% volunteer, and never had a paid employee. “And never will!” says Mrs. Butler.
To make a donation, make checks payable to The Lord Cares, and mail to: The Lord Cares Ministry, P. O. Box 1457, Darlington, SC 29540. Their phone number is: 843-395-1001. Donations may also be made during office hours Monday, Wednesday and Thursdays from 10 a.m. – 12 noon at their location on 201 Grove St. in Darlington.
All contributions to The Lord Cares are tax-exempt; TLC has been listed as a recipient for memorials, and named in the wills of many former volunteers. Donations are also given as birthday and Christmas presents; the recipient is notified that a friend remembered them by a gift to The Lord Cares in their honor.
Hartsville Interfaith Ministries (HIM)
Director Robin Young coordinates the volunteers from the 31 churches currently provide financial support to the organization, which operates a food bank and provides emergency assistance to families and individuals in need from Hartsville and Lydia. Donations may be mailed to: HIM 210 Swift Creek Rd, Hartsville, SC 29550 843- 857-9003, or made during office hours Tuesday – Thursday, 9 a.m. – noon. Donations of non-perishable foods may be brought during office hours, too.
Hartsville Soup Kitchen Mission
Many faithful volunteers of the churches and businesses in the Hartsville area support the Hartsville Soup Kitchen Mission. This mission is headed by Wesley UMC and is supported by donations to serve a hearty hot, nutritious lunch Monday through Friday. The meals are shared after the group in attendance has a group prayer. No one is turned away. To make a donation, make checks payable to Hartsville Soup Kitchen Mission c/o Wesley United Methodist Church, 145 E College Avenue, Hartsville, SC, 29550.
