Macedonia Life-Skills Center is feeding children up to 18
Macedonia Life-Skills Center is distributing food to low-income, disadvantaged and at-risk youths up to 18 years old at 115B Exchange Street, next to the YMCA in Darlington, on Monday and Friday, 4-6 p.m. during July, August and September.
Patsy Sawyer, director of the center, said they decided to open the food distribution to children in the community after receiving many requests for food.
She said they knew many children missed meals because of early school closings and summer food program cancellations so they wanted to help replace some of those meals.
Since the center was not able to operate its usual programs because of COVID-19, they diverted their budget into helping feed needy children. This is a costly endeavor, so they are asking the Darlington community to help.
They are requesting assistance from other organizations and churches in the community to help by donating non-perishable food items or making a check payable to Macedonia Life-Skills Center, PO Box 179, Darlington, SC 29540. All donations are tax deductible.
Sawyer says: “When we are in our comfortable homes and our refrigerators and cupboards are overflowing with food, and our children are healthy and happy, we tend to not think of those less fortunate, but according to Harvest Hope Food Bank, one in six South Carolinians struggle with food insecurity and hunger.
“Because of COVID-19, many families right here in Darlington are having to decide between buying food and buying medicine or paying their bills. This was even happening before COVID-19. Many of our neighbors are unable to afford basic needs like groceries and we certainly know that children can’t thrive and function when they are hungry.”
Sawyer said she learned much concerning hunger and food insecurity in this area when she was director of Harvest Hope Food Bank of the Pee Dee some years ago. She also said: “Many families are suffering and many children are hurting because of these home circumstances. We must all realize that children are innocent victims of these circumstances. Will you have a heart and help us in this endeavor? What if it were your child or grandchild? Or your mother or grandmother?”
Macedonia Life-Skills Center, formed in 1998 and incorporated in 2002, is an all-volunteer, 501(c)3 nonprofit organization with a mission of providing at-risk and disadvantaged youth a supervised and safe place to engage in fun and creative learning activities that encourage positive behavior.
Visit their website at www.macedonialife-skillscenter.com. Reach Sawyer at Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church, 843-393-6361, or the Life-Skills Center, 843-319-1837.
