Faith Based Center of Hope, along with Harvest Ministries Outreach Center, joined together to pass out sweaters, coats, warm clothes, hygiene bags and blankets at Ebenezer Missionary Baptist Church.
Faith Based Center of Hope CEO Vancine Sturdivant said she and her husband began the program in 1998, while helping a friend in Richmond County feed the homeless under the bridge.
“I began to wonder about how the citizens in my own county are doing,” Sturdivant said.
This is how the “Warm Coats, Warm Hearts” program was started.
“At no time did I ever imagine there was such a need in Anson County,” Sturdivant said.
As the program grew and the need became greater, Sturdivant said she reached out to her friends and the citizens in Anson County.
“Because we are such a giving county, we are able to supply hygiene bags, warm clothes and blankets to our brothers and sisters in need,” she said. “The things we literally take for granted — toiletries, soap, tooth paste, lotion — they do not have.”
Each month, Sturdivant partners with the local Walmart and purchases toiletries for not just the homeless, but also the elderly, sick and shut-ins on a fixed income.
“I cannot imagine how it feels to have to choose between paying for medications, purchasing food or hygiene products,” she said. “Most families have more than they will ever need or use; and for this reason, I ask you to please look in your closets and donate warm clothing, sweaters, coats, scarfs, gloves.”
Faith Based Center of Hope is a nonprofit organization that conducts several programs annually. For several years, they have partnered with Apostle Tim Adams and Pastor Steve Adams, and Sturdivant said it has been one great move.
“Harvest Ministries’ mission is to find needs and fill them, find hurts, and heal them,” Steve Adams said. Throughout various community events Commissioner Sturdivant would be involved in, Harvest would also be a part of.
“It just made sense to partner together to make a larger impact to meet the needs of Anson County. More can be accomplished and more people can be helped by cooperation than competition. To see lives being changed and families becoming better because of the same heart and same vision of Commissioner Sturdivant and Harvest shows that together we are better.”
Donations are still being accepted. For more information, contact Sturdivant at 704-848-4412.
Commissioner Vancine Sturdivant shows Melissa Bachman clothes that Faith Based Center of Hope, along with Harvest Ministries, collected for those in need.