Help Boost Our Work

Sixty-four people have registered as supporters of the UMRC with their BI-LO Bonus Card and we have earned over $216.33 in just two quarters. Imagine what we could do if every supporter registered with BI-LO.

1.Supporters can sign up by calling 1-877-426-6783, toll-free, or through the Internet at www.BI-LO.com. When you enroll you will be asked for your BONUSCARD number, the first three digits of your last name, and our organization number: 2483. (Note: You may register up to three organizations to receive your contributions). Please sign up NOW to have your purchases eligible for BI-LO Booster donations in July.

2. Each time you shop at BI-LO and use your BONUSCARD, the amount spent will be credited to the UMRC's account.

3. BI-LO donates a percentage of the total purchases made by UMRC registrants back to our organization.

Home Built From Inside Out

Vivian Heyward built the concrete block exterior shell around her mobile home block by block as she saved the money needed to purchase the material. When her initial moneys were depleted, she began purchasing used concrete block and chipping off the mortar. Her job as a home health care nurse allowed for the completion of the exterior slowly but surely.

Unfortunately, the mobile home that the exterior was built around began to deteriorate about the time that she became the full-time caregiver of her severely handicapped granddaughter. This circumstance forced her to leave her employment and ended any hope of funding the necessary repairs to her home.

The United Methodist Relief Center became aware of Ms. Heyward’s situation but had never tackled such a project. The mobile home would have to be completely removed from the concrete block shell. Concerns about the stability of the shell with the interior removed and the feasibility of building a home from the inside out put this project on the back burner;

During the search for projects that this year's Salkehatchie teams would undertake, Director Pat Goss happened to mention to Devon Ruth, the Salkehatchie leader; this unusual situation. "I think we can handle that," he exclaimed. A careful inspection of the home confirmed that this project could be done and within two weeks the mobile home was demolished, the roof was repaired and the interior framing had begun. Although the project has a considerable way to go to completion, Ms Heyward's dream for a safe secure home will soon be realized.

UMRC WELCOMES ADDITIONS

Three new faces at the UMRC office will expand our ability to assist clients in the areas of construction and advocacy.

Rev DeVon Ruth has been a familiar face at the Relief Center as a Salkehatchie Site Leader at Camp Hugo located here every May His background as a licensed contractor as well as an ordained minister will be put to use as he heads up our construction team, generates work write-ups, orders material and most importantly oversees the new 523 Self Help program that will pair 5-7 families to build each others' homes in local small communities. DeVon will also be available to lead visiting work teams, local congregations, district and conference events to a better understanding of Christ's call to help others. His presence at the Relief Center adds a new dimension to the work and ministering accomplished by those doing God's will.

The addition of Lynette Duggins Thomas and Kathleen Taylor will bring organization and new ideas to the 'Helping Hand" Advocacy program. "Kathleen and I are trying to improve the entire application process for our clients through volunteer advocates. We are overwhelmed with the work that is needed expand communities, but we feel that Our Lord has put us here to do His blessed will. We await all of the challenges," Lynette stated.

Lynette is the former director of Voorhees College Management Institute in N. Charleston and has assumed the position of full-time advocate coordinator, helping families break the cycle of poverty by teaching them how to set up a budget, find jobs or training and develop other basic living skills that many take for granted. The position of advocate coordinator is being underwritten by The General Board of Global Ministries for the United Methodist Church. The General Board has appointed Ms Thomas to serve as a Church and Community Worker which enables the UMRC to expand the Helping Hand advocate coordinator to a full-time position, a long time goal for Director Pat Goss.

Kathleen Taylor, a Rock Hill native, is a recent graduate of College of Charleston and will assist in completing client applications as well as filing South Carolina Housing Trust grants. Her expertise in fundraising and newsletter production will help to expand our efforts in those areas as well.

Winners Again!

For the second consecutive year, the United Methodist Relief Center has received the Chrysalis Award for Remodeling Excellence. In 1999 and 2000 the UMRC won their award in the category of Best Whole House Remodel under $100,000. This prestigious award was presented to UMRC site superintendents, Ed Wire and Burrell Boatwright at the Southern Building Show held in Charlotte, NC, June 8-10. The awards were jointly sponsored by Lowe's Companies and Professional Remodeler Magazine and the winning projects were selected from hundreds of entries across the southeast by staff of Southern Living magazine, Sunset magazine and Homestyles.com.

"One of the highlights of the Chrysalis Awards each year, is the opportunity to recognize nonprofit organizations involved in making communities and people's lives better through their remodeling programs," says Ken Kanline, Awards Director. "Not only does this organization perform excellent quality work, but they do it with the additional pressures of funding acquisition and the use of volunteer labor."

The winning entry was the renovation of the home of a mentally ill man with Sickle Cell Anemia who lived alone in a concrete block home that needed major interior and exterior repairs. He had no indoor plumbing, the interior walls and floors had rotted through and the windows and doors were rotted and broken. Through the use of volunteer labor and donated funds, the United Methodist Relief Center was able to completely renovate his home. He now lives in a safe and secure environment where his physical needs can be better monitored and his mental health needs have been positively affected through improved living conditions.

Coverage of the award winners will appear in Professional Remodeler Magazine during the next few months and pictures and information about the work of the UMRC will appear on the Chrysalis web page at www.chrysaiisawards.com. after July.

Pat Goss Honored

United Methodist Relief Center Director Pat Goss was named the recipient of the Herman W. Siedschlag Mission Interpreter of the Year Award at the Southeastern Jurisdictional Conference, held at Lake Junaluska July 1-3. Rev. Siedschlag was a minister who spent his retirement telling the story of the church’s call to missions. The award is given to one individual from the nine state conference who has exemplified Rev. Siedschlag’s passion by serving as an extraordinary mission interpreter. "Pat has gone beyond just telling the story of the United Methodist Church's roll in missions. She has made the story come alive by putting that story into action," stated Rev Jack Washington, Associate Director of the Conference Council on Ministries Outreach Section.

Pat's odyssey began in 1989, after Hurricane Hugo, when she offered her time and-energy at Hibben United Methodist Church to help victims of the storm. Those early days of organized chaos led to the establishment of the United Methodist Relief Center and the appointment of Pat as the executive director. Under her direction, the UMRC has built 63 new homes and rehabbed over 2,000, 8 donated homes have been relocated, the Elderly Transportable Cottage program has built 5 cottages, our Volunteer House now provides comfortable accommodations for the hard working volunteers, the staff has grown to nine and funds available for construction exceeded $1,000,000 in 1999.

The statistics are impressive but Pat is the first to state that the work accomplished by the UMRC is truly possible only because God is in charge.

Non-Event Response Generates $1,413.00

Consider Making the UMRC a Part of Your Monthly Budget in 2000!