ROCK HILL, SC — In preparation for the National Day of Service on September 11, more than sixty women from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints gathered on Friday, August 21 to collect and assemble donations for four local charities. These women came to the chapel in Rock Hill from congregations located from York to Lancaster and from Fort Mill to Chester, and many brought donations of food with them.
Nearly 100 “inspirational hearts” were cut out for Preemies of the Carolinas and 129 flashcard sets were counted out and assembled for Classroom Central, a nonprofit organization that provides free school supplies to teachers and students in high need schools in the Charlotte area. Seventeen dozen cookie balls were also prepared and frozen for the York County based charity “Defend the Fatherless,” which supports foster, adoptive and kinship families caring for children in crisis.
Food donations of canned meat, beans and vegetables brought by many of these women were used to assemble meal kits for patrons of the Fort Mill Care Center. The women completed 117 such meal kits. Candice Fairbanks, Director of Fort Mill Care Center said, “Fort Mill Care Center is deeply grateful for the generous donation of meal kits from the Fort Mill Stake of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Each kit includes the ingredients needed to prepare a complete, nutritious meal, offering families a convenient option for their dinner table. This thoughtful contribution will support 117 families in our community and make a meaningful difference for those experiencing food insecurity.”
Speaking of the evening, Marcia Ennis the President of the Relief Society in York, Chester and Lancaster counties said “What a joy this evening has been! We love working together as women…to serve others in our community! We are so very grateful for the generosity of the donations and cheerful support of the wonderful women in our area. It was a pleasure not only to serve, but to do it together in a spirit of love and friendship.” Jeanie Moore of Lake Wylie, another attendee said, “Everyone was so friendly…I was blessed by going.”
Local leaders of the Relief Society, the Church’s international women’s organization, will deliver the items to the various charities this September in conjunction with the National Day of Service.
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About The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is a worldwide faith of over 17 million members. The Church has over 30,000 congregations in more than 160 countries and territories. It also operates several universities; a religious education program for youth and young adults with enrollment of more than 400,000 in 170 countries; FamilySearch, the world’s largest genealogical organization; and a vast humanitarian aid program that provides more than $1 billion annually in worldwide relief. There are 46,500 Church members that attend 83 congregations in South Carolina.
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Thomas Hyslip lives in Tega Cay with his wife and daughter. After 27 years in the U.S. Army and Federal Law Enforcement, he retired to pursue his passion for teaching. Tom is now an Associate Professor of Instruction at the University of South Florida. In 2 short years he has won 10 awards from the South Carolina Press Association, including first place in column writing, education beat reporting and best podcast.
