The SC Department of Social Services (DSS) is partnering with faith-based organizations, such as churches, to serve and provide for people in need in South Carolina.  This faith-based initiative is called People Helping People, because that is exactly what the program is about—our own people helping others in need, Wilbert Lewis, division director of Community Resource Development, SC DSS, said.

“There is tremendous potential at the local level,” Lewis said.  “The way we are approaching the faith-based initiative in SC is powerful, because we are building onto churches’ existing ministries.  The foundation of People Helping People is to start where we are with faith-based organizations, and it may lead to funding.”

The DSS offices call the state faith-based initiative People Helping People, because according to Lewis, that is exactly what the program is about—our own people helping others in need. 

“We are matching people in need that we as DSS serve with the people from the faith communities who are called to serve,” Lewis said.  The state DSS has a database that lists the needs of people in our state and partnerships with local faith-based communities.  Currently in SC about 220 faith-based organizations are partners with DSS.

Christian Women’s Job Corp, which provides evangelistic outreach and assist women with life skills, job readiness, parenting skills and the like, is a partner with DSS on national and local levels.  Christian Women’s Job Corp is a ministry of Woman’s Missionary Union (WMU), who also developed the program.

In a Hampton county partnership, several churches started a transportation service for those who need a way to places like grocery or drug stores.  The service runs daily from 9 a.m. until 7 p.m.  Local car dealerships donated two vans, and recently the transportation service had more driver volunteers than they could accommodate.

One teenage girl in the Upstate understands the urgent need to help people in our state.  The state DSS received a phone call from this teenager who said she had a new prom dress with matching shoes she wanted to donate to a foster child.  DSS accepted the dress and shoes, and will make sure the gift gets to the right child in need.

“We believe something good happens every day,” Lewis said.  “And we want churches and faith-based communities to be a part of that because faith is a motivating factor.”

One special way to help is to give teddy bears or small gift items to orphanages.  “You wouldn’t believe how much a teddy bear means to a child who’s been growing up in very unpleasant circumstances,” Lewis said.  “Something small like that that we don’t think about can really make an impact on a child’s life.”

Since November is National Adoption Month, “South Carolina Baptist ministries can be very powerful in assisting with the adoptions effort in the state,” Stephen Gilchrist, Program Coordinator for Community Resource Development, SC DSS, said.  In November, there will be several events across the state in observance of National Adoption Month.  An event in Columbia for children and adoptive families will celebrate and honor the families for their compassion and care.  These events present immediate opportunities to serve.  Local DSS coordinators need donated food items as well as food servers for the statewide events.

Another specific way for churches to partner with DSS in the faith-based initiative is to hold after school programs.  DSS can provide snacks for churches with new or existing after school programs.  This opportunity could develop more next summer when DSS plans to establish partnerships with summer camps and VBS to help feed the children who attend.  Lewis explained that children who receive free or reduced lunches during the school year still need lunches in the summertime.  Partnering with summer camps and VBS sites will help alleviate children’s hunger.

The Missions Mobilization Group, SCBC, provides training for sharing the Gospel through tutoring and multihousing ministries.  The added help through DSS opens many doors for missions volunteers in their communities, Steve Scudder, SCBC mobilization strategist, explained.

According to both Lewis and Gilchrist, the opportunities to help and serve are endless. 

To learn more about volunteer opportunities, contact your local DSS county director or read online at www.state.sc.us/dss.  For general information about People Helping People, contact Steve Scudder, Missions Mobilization Group, SCBC, at (800) 723-7242, extension 5621.