1/4/07

Wateree Community Actions, Bi Lo team for Holiday Hope
By Eric Goold

ERIC GOOLD/Manning Times
Willie Bethune (far right) and Herman Muldrow (second from right) of Wateree Community Actions Inc. are pictured with Bi Lo Store Manager Ricky Dow (third from left) and members of the Manning Police Department (from far left) Allen Lee and Preston Stukes and Sheriff’s Department deputies Rusty Richardson, Freddie Nelson and Kip Coker at the Holiday Hope Bags giveaway.

The Holiday spirit was spread all around Clarendon County thanks to Bi Lo and Wateree Community Actions.

At a gathering of Wateree officials, community members and Bi Lo representatives three days before Christmas, many less privileged and needy citizens of Clarendon County were treated to free groceries and a presentation about home safety in a program called Holiday Hope.

“This year is the first year of Holiday Hope,” said Bi Lo Store Manager Ricky Dow, a Manning resident. “Corporate started programs like this about 10 years ago, but this year we wanted to do something a little different, something special for members of our community.”

As part of the program, customers at Bi Lo throughout the month of December were able to contribute towards the purchase of Holiday Hope Bags.

The Bi Lo grocery bags were filled with goodies and groceries and donated to Wateree Community Actions, which then gave them to needy individuals in Clarendon County.

“The Holiday Hope food drive was spearheaded by Bi Lo,” said Wateree Community Actions Program Coordinator Herman Muldrow. “They selected our agency to work locally here with the store to serve the less fortunate and needy. At this time of year, this is a vital program that serves a lot of local individuals.”

About 60 people crowded into the Wateree office at 3 West Boyce Street to hear a presentation on home safety and weatherization which included tips about home energy conservation. After the presentation, the Holiday Hope Bags were distributed.

“It’s a great feeling to see all these people today,” said Fredrica Brailsford, director of community services/energy. “It’s a humbling feeling to know we’re helping the needy and serving those who need help at this special time of year.”

Several members of the Manning Police Department as well as the Clarendon County Sheriff’s Department were on hand to help with the distribution of the Holiday Hope Bags.

“There are many members of the community here today to pick up bags, plus we selected home-bound clients to receive Holiday Hope Bags,” said Muldrow. “The Sheriff’s Department and the Police Department help us by delivering the bags to those who aren’t able to get here for whatever reason and we very much appreciate their help.”

Brailsford and Willie Bethune, executive director of Wateree Community Actions Inc., both spoke to the crowd and thanked everyone for their participation in the Holiday Hope program.

Wateree has a service area of five counties including Clarendon, Richland, Lee, Kershaw and Sumter counties. The service agency conducts a variety of programs to help less privileged individuals and families. Wateree serves the community all year round, not just during the Christmas season.

Bi Lo’s participation in the program was so generous that they had more Holiday Hope Bags than they did participants. Several local churches were selected to distribute the extra goods, and sheriff’s deputies and police officers also took excess Holiday Hope Bags to distribute.

Included in the bags were vouchers for families to take to Bi Lo and receive a holiday hen and stuffing. Families could redeem the vouchers at Bi Lo all through Christmas Eve, guaranteeing a nice Christmas dinner for several needy families in Clarendon County.

Helping distribute the Holiday Hope Bags was a group of local youth who helped carry the bags to cars as people left the Wateree office.

“We’re always trying to do what we can to help the community,” said Dow. “It’s a great feeling for me to give back and help serve those who are in need of help.”

The success of the program led many to hope that it will be repeated next year.

“We’ll be glad to do it again,” said Brailsford. “It’s something I can see us doing in other parts of the county and the state, as well.”