Volume XXXIV, number 1

Inasmuch as ye have done it unto the least of these, my brethren...

Winter 2021

ACTS340 Park Avenue SW

Aiken, SC 29801Client Services: Monday - Friday 11am - 3pm by appointmentClient Service Phone: (803) 642-5919Office Hours: 9 am - 4 pmPhone: (803) 649-3800

Resale Store:401 Hayne Avenue

Hours: Monday - Friday 10 am - 5 pmPhone: (803) 226-0134Email: info@actsofaiken.orgWeb: www.actsofaiken.orgFacebook: @actsofaiken and @actsofaikenresalestore

ACTS of GranitevilleResale Store

50 Canal Street, Ste 6Graniteville, SC 29829

Hours: Monday - Friday 10 am - 5 pmStore Phone: (803) 392-7022Facebook: @ACTSofGranitevilleWe’re now on Instagram!

@ACTSserving

The Mission of ACTS is to partner with Churches, Organizations, and Individuals to provide assistance to our neighbors in need,

in the name of Jesus Christ.

Verse Connection:“Feed the hungry, and help

those in trouble. Then your light will shine out from the darkness,

and the darkness around you will be as bright as noon.”

- Isaiah 58:10

Thanks to a generous grant from The Gifting Tree Foundation, portable heaters were provided to all seniors participating in the Graniteville, Jackson and Wagener monthly Senior Food Program in December and January. A subsequent in-kind donation of heaters from Don and Annie Cheeks and a grant from the Rotary Club of Aiken, helped provide heaters to seniors

ACTS conducted monthly food distributions in Oakwood-Windsor on January 15th and February 5th. One hundred and twenty six households are registered to receive a week’s worth of supplemental food. We celebrate the many volunteers who came to

help with the distributions and Principal Davina Truitt for hosting the events at Oakwood-Windsor Elementary School.

Volunteers help feed individuals and families in the Oakwood-Windsor community.

Members of the Gifting Tree Foundation and ACTS Management gather to celebrate the donation to provide heaters to senior adults.

participating in the Aiken Senior Food Program in addition to families seeking services at ACTS. We are blessed with the support of our partners to help ensure those in need stay warm during these cold winter days. A total of 363 seniors have received portable heaters as a result of these generous gifts.

Pictured Right: Heaters are provided to clients so they can stay warm.

Seniors Participating in the ACTS Senior Food Program Receive Heaters

Oakwood-Windsor Food Distribution

ACTS has received gifts in memory of: Delores Bettencourt, Clint Blackwood, Justin Blohm, Ronald E. Bombolis, Judith Still Brasel, Dr. Joseph R. Brooks, June M. Busbee, Jack Butler, Paula Heath Cadden, Betty Carter, Jackie Chapman, Jayne Cornell, Guy Current, Mrs. Charlotte Dodson, Bruce Duchossois, Elmore and Mary Fabrick, Thomas Cooper Gorrell, Marie Harden, Maylee Hayes, FD Knight, MLK, Dr. E. Tyler Pearson, Dennis Quinn, Dick Rutland, Lilian Sichau, Tom Truitt, Sue Ann Walke, Jim Wetzel, Virginia Catherine WhitakerGifts have been given in honor of: Milledge G. Austin III, Marcelle Bennett, Marcia and Allan Birk, Erin Bruce, Opal Bullington, Jay and Alice Creamer, Ashton Crow, Liz Cox, Cayden, Amy and Stev Graham, Judy Glover, Lyddie Hansen, Sandi Hartigan, Alan and Joada Hiatt’s 55th Wedding Anniversary, Flo Holford, Mary Honkonen, Janis and Lane Howell, Jane and David Keisler, Kathleen Kent, John and Robbie Knox, Nick Kuehn, Brad and Magdalena Kuhn, Charles, Marie, Scott and Craig Heath, Jason Martin, Thomas Meyers, George and Anne McGregor, Carol Mondschein’s Birthday, Carol and Roger Morenc, Beecher and Mary Sue Morton, Mr. and Mrs. William H. Neal Sr., The Nelson Family, Bob and Maddy Pedley, Diane and John Pierpoint, Henry Ryan, Margaret A. Maggie Sauerborn, Barbara Scott, Anika Smith, Erin Smith, Staff at First Presbyterian Church in Aiken, Bill and Sandy Tucker, Bennett and Lindsay Tucker, Wednesday ACTS Food Pantry Volunteers, Jean Weeks, Charlotte Williamson, Grandchildren Ali, Mallory, Rob, and Thorn, With gratitude and honor to our Lord Jesus Christ.

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ACTS is blessed with the generous partnership of Cedar Creek Church and their unexpected gift of $10,000 in January. Their gift will support the services that ACTS provides to individuals and families struggling day-to-day, especially during these challenging times. Thank you to Pastor Philip Lee and his team, for their valued partnership.

Members of the Woodside Plantation community have created an initiative in partnership with ACTS to provide rent assistance to Aiken County residents who are impacted during the COVID 19 pandemic. The Woodside Rent Assistance Program will assist Aiken residents who have been employed and recently laid off and who are at risk of being evicted. All potential clients are interviewed by ACTS to ensure eligibility and landlords must provide a receipt of payment. We thank Pete and Billie Messina and Brian and Margie Robertson who have helped establish this program. Please call 803-649-3800 for more information.WRAP is purely a neighbor-to-neighbor initiative and does not involve Woodside Communities or the WPPOA.

To watch the video of the check presentation, visit our Facebook (@actsofaiken) or Cedar

Creek Church’s Facebook page.

Left to Right: Todd Heath (Outreach Director), Danny Wilson (Banks Mill Campus Pastor), Pastor Philip Lee (Senior Pastor), and Suzanne Jackson (Executive Director, ACTS).

New Partnership to Assist with Rent AssistanceWoodside Rent Assistance Program (WRAP)

Top Left to Right: Karen Perry (Operations Manager, ACTS), Brian Robertson (WRAP), Suzanne Jackson (Executive Director, ACTS), and Pete Messina (Founder of WRAP).

In Honor and In Memory ACTS Thanks Cedar Creek Church for Their Ongoing Support

• Community Foundation for the CSRA COVID-19 Emergency Relief Grant – $28,000• Community Foundation for the CSRA Community Grant - $10,500 for programs and services• The Gifting Tree Foundation - $7,500 for heaters and utility assistance• Rotary Club of Aiken Community Services Grant - $1,575 for heaters• Gregg-Graniteville Foundation - $5,000 for ACTS outreach in Graniteville• Aiken Hospital & Relief Society - $3,500 for Medical Assistance Program• Phelps Fund - $3,000 • Hull Barrett, PC - $2,500• Cedar Creek Church - $10,000 special donation• First Presbyterian Church of Aiken - $2,929 from Christmas Eve Offering• Aiken’s First Baptist Church - $100 for Coat and Blanket Drive; $300 for Heater Drive• Ridge Hill Baptist Church - $500 for Ridge Spring Food Distribution• St. Paul Lutheran Church - $1,020 for heaters• Delta Sigma Theta Sorority - $500 for Caring and Sharing Drive• Lions Club of Aiken - $500• Aiken Newcomers Club - $500• Feed the Need Aiken County 2020: $12,185

ACTS Caring and Sharing Drive: $117,740 Raised

Gifts and Grants:

ACTS extends a ‘Thank You’ to our local business partners who support our programs and services with their generous financial contributions.

Volume XXXIV, number 1 Page 3

ShepherdsShepherds

ACTS of Graniteville Needs:Volunteers are needed to help with a variety of needs. If you are interested in volunteering,

please call 803-649-3800.ACTS of Graniteville also needs men, women

and children’s new undergarments.

Gregg-Graniteville Foundation Supports Partnership with ACTSSpecial thanks goes to Diana Silas, Executive Director of the Gregg-Graniteville Foundation, and the board of directors for their generous donation of $5,000. Funds will support program and services in the Graniteville community including the ACTS Senior Food Distribution program which is hosted the 3rd Saturday of each month at Gregg Park Civic Center. Funding will also help provide clothing, utility assistance, medical assistance and other services for residents of this community.

BenefactorsBenefactors

PatronsPatrons

Graniteville Senior Food Program Continues to GrowACTS is pleased to host the Senior Food Program the 3rd Saturday of each month. A week’s worth of supplemental food is provided to adults 60 years and older who meet income eligibility requirements. As of December, ACTS is serving 75-80 seniors who qualify for this program. Please call 803-649-3800 for more information regarding this important outreach initiative.

Leavelle McCampbell Middle School Leadership ClubsACTS is pleased to be a participant in the Leavelle McCampbell Middle School Leadership Clubs. Partnering with the Rotary Club of Aiken Interact Club, students are participating in two leadership activities which will culminate in Spring of 2021. Stay tuned for more information.

AdvocatesAdvocatesKevin G.

Eubanks, DDS

Left to Right: Karen Perry, George Mitchell, Suzanne Jackson, and Diana Silas.

Members of the NAACP Youth Council volunteer at the Graniteville Senior Food.

Volunteer Corner - Welcome to Our New VolunteersRachel Baker, Turner Bennett, Erica Brown, Michael Byrns, Pam Crumpler, Mirakle Cooper, Eme de Graaf, Christian

Fail, Shelby Fail, Madelyne Fennig, Lathan Garland, Tiffany Garland, Loreta Gary, Jaliyah Green, James Harris, Lauren Harris, Regine Monestime, Helen Partin, Sarah Penn, Melissa Reece, Graham Reynolds, Drew Rogers, Rachel Rogers,

Suzanne Saine, Jim Saine, Karey Santos, Wanda Scott, Luke Sessions, Candace Smith, Mark Stern, Anita Stokes, Mitchell Stokes, Marie Thompson, Morgan Thompson, Destiny Woodard

(Both ACTS in Aiken and Graniteville)

ACTS of Graniteville Update

Area Churches Together Serving (ACTS) Inc.340 Park Avenue SWAiken, SC 29801

Return Service Requested

Nonprofit OrganizationU.S. Postage Paid

Augusta, GAPermit No. 640

In celebration of ACTS’ 35 years of service in 2021, we would like to hear your memories, what ACTS means to you or the impact ACTS has made in your life. Please call (803-649-3800) or email Lizzie Abshire at lizzie@actsofaiken.org

to share your thoughts and memories.

Did You Know?ACTS is an extension of each member church. We are Christ’s hands and feet serving those in need in our community. We look for the face of Christ in everyone we meet. We each have a story to share about what brought us to ACTS. What is your story?

ACTS NeedsDuring these unprecedented times, we are in need of jelly, bath soap, dish soap, laundry detergent, toothpaste, shampoo, dry beans, cereal, tuna, and spaghetti sauce. Please call 803-649-3800 for more information or with any questions.

ACTS Board MembersJane Keisler, PresidentJim Lee, Vice PresidentMark Sapp, Treasurer

Stephanie Lord, SecretaryJudy BilyeuTom Boykin

Dr. Cheryl CummingsLyddie HansenMike McCombLarry McHale

Liz MorrisEric Muhlbaier

Scott NeelyBeverly Nettles

Graham ReynoldsDebbie Sessions

Pastor Matt SteelmanRev. James Young

Suzanne Jackson, Executive DirectorKaren Perry, Operations Manager