Food for the Soul, the Camden-based ministry that provides meals to the hungry and temporary emergency shelter and services for the homeless in Kershaw County, is conducting its second annual “Pass the Plate” fundraising campaign. The campaign, which will conclude Aug. 12, asks local civic groups, community organizations, businesses and churches around the county to “pass the plate” to support the organization in its efforts to end hunger and homelessness in Kershaw County.
On Aug. 11, an event will be held at the Food for the Soul Center, located behind the United Way/Holsten Center building. The annual event will celebrate the conclusion of the fundraising campaign. The center houses the ministry’s soup kitchen operation and its laundry and shower services for the homeless and serves to shelter the homeless in extreme weather conditions. The ministry also offers temporary emergency shelter to individuals and families in crisis situations.
William Cox, vice chairman of Food for the Soul’s board of directors, is serving as the campaign coordinator. Anyone willing to “pass the plate” for the hungry and homeless in their church, organization, club, workplace or neighborhood may contact Cox at 432-4391, 713-3996 or (803) 243-0034 for more information.
“In 2011, Food for the Soul served 12,500 meals,” said Cox. “Through June of this year, we’ve already served more than 8,500 meals, placing us on track to serve as many as 20,000 meals or more in 2012. If so, this will represent a 60 percent increase in one year!
“This past winter we opened an overnight shelter for men, women and children with no warm place to sleep. We also offer temporary emergency shelter to people in crisis on a year-round basis. More than 325 have been assisted by our shelter programs.”
The needs are great and growing, said Cox.
“We’re only able to help with the support of the community. It only takes $1.50 to feed a hungry person a nutritious prepared meal; no donation amount is too small,” he said.
About Food for the Soul
Food for the Soul is a faith-based, non-profit community organization which originated through the generosity of two Camden residents who left portions of their estates to help the county’s poor and needy. The organization’s mission is to serve as a Christ-like ministry to meet the basic needs of the hungry and homeless in Kershaw County. For further information or to volunteer or make a donation, visit the Food for the Soul Center, open 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays, or contact director Fred Ogburn at 432-4771. Visit the organization online at www.foodforthesoulkc.org or on Facebook.
