Two major fund-raisers for the UMRC have been completed and both are declared a resounding success.

A big "thank you" goes to all the individuals, groups and churches that supported the Belk Charity Days Fund-raiser held in September by selling those $3.00 tickets. Through the efforts of so many people, the Relief Center sold 1425 tickets for a total of $4300.00. The tickets were redeemed on the day of the event for 25% off coupons which could be used on most items in the area Belk stores. Earlier this month, at a celebration luncheon, Belk presented the UMRC with a check for an additional $806 which represents the 806 tickets that were redeemed at Belk the day of the event. This makes the grand total raised for the Relief Center $5,106!

The second endeavor which followed a mere three and a half weeks later was the annual golf tournament held at Charleston National Country Club. 56 golfers enjoyed warm temperatures, clear skies and a light breeze as they golfed their way through the 18 holes. Restaurant gift certificates, golf accessories and golf packages were handed out to the various winners. However, the biggest winner of the day was the Relief Center which realized a profit of $3,500 from the event.

This is a story of how God leads people to take care of His children in need and how one caring individual can change the lives of others and give hope for a different future.

Early this past year, the Relief Center received a wonderful telephone call, the kind that makes an office full of people stop and say "Hallelulia!" and walk around with silly grins on their faces for several days. Ms. Lynn Letson wanted to raise the funds necessary to help a deserving single mom acquire a new home. Ms. Angela Lawrence and her two children had been on the waiting list of the UMRC for several years but because she lived on heirs property necessary funding could not be obtained. Ms. Letson's offer would provide the funds needed to be able to help Ms. Lawrence.

Through her efforts, hard work and personally sponsored fund-raisers, Ms. Letson was able to raise over $18,000. This money was then used as matching funds to provide most of the money needed to build a three bedroom, one bath home for Ms. Lawrence. The balance would be acquired through a small mortgage.

In response to the banks request, Ms. Lawrence wrote a narrative explaining her situation, The following are excerpts from that letter:

... I was married to a military man and by 1987 the marriage had fallen downhill. In 1990 my husband divorced me and remarried. I came back home to be with my family in SC, where I knew I was loved. My husband told me, I would be home living off of welfare and food stamps because I had little experience in the work place. Even though I knew I was eligible forgo governmental assistance, I wanted to try to make it on my own. So I stayed with my mom, made my baskets, saved my money until I was able to buy an inexpensive car.... I have worked in burger places, gas stations, dead-end jobs with no future. But I did what I had to do for the sake of my children. Someone decided to give me a small loan because I had a car.  I got a small loan from one company, then another and another, until I didn't know how I was going to get rid of all these people. But that was my way of surviving...

It took me a while to find my way, but I believe I'm on the right track now. Even though I've made many mistakes along the way with my finances, I still have my dignity and my integrity. I have denied myself of many love relationships, many social gathering, because of the sake of my children, because I wanted to keep my focus on what was really important and that was trying hard to supply their needs. We didn't have much but the little we had, I put to good use. I kept my children clean and neat most of the times. They were not neglected in any way. But I knew that they needed a better place to live. I just didn't know how to do it.

My years of struggle and my decision to stay at home to be with my children was not all in vain. I would teach my children everyday the fear and the ways of the Lord. I would teach them to respect themselves and to respect others....

As for myself, I want to further my career in nursing and so "/ shall be" ' / have enrolled in the spring classes to become an LPN, at Trident Tech. I feel really good about this.

Within the next few months a new endeavor for the UMRC will leave the parking lot of the Wesley Memorial UMC in Hollywood, SC and make its way to Mt. Pleasant. Affectionately known as the "ET House", this Elderly -Transportable Housing Unit is one answer to the dire need for a safe, secure living environment for the elderly in our community whose own homes have deteriorated to the point that they are uninhabitable. These "cottages on wheels" are designed in such a way to be transportable and yet are built to CABO standards. They are wheelchair accessible and have one bedroom, one bathroom, a full kitchen and a living area. The cottages will be "tied down" with hurricane straps to ensure safety in high wind conditions and will be connected to the existing sewer or septic system.

The UMRC will work in conjunction with East Cooper Meals on Wheels on this first project. The daily contact that Meals on Wheels has with the residents of the ET cottages makes them a natural source of information for what maintenance may be needed.

This project is the brainchild of UMRC director Pat Goss who conceived of the house as "a commonsense answer to a widespread need". The prototype was designed by architect Marty Schulken, the engineering plans completed by Al of Campbell Engineering and funding was secured through a grant from the Community Foundation The project is now being constructed by the members of Wesley Memorial UMC who have taken on this project as a mission of their church.