There was the Coast Guard veteran besieged by back pain, downing pills, and over a dozen beers a day who found relief and peace through a yoga program. There was the veteran with PTSD who used photography to help him navigate crowded public areas he would have been skittish about before. There were the veterans […]
At a Vulnerable Moment, Sexual Trauma Services is at a Survivor’s Side
The hotline rings in the Columbia office of Sexual Trauma Services of the Midlands (STSM), and within the hour a trained STSM advocate is at the hospital at the side of someone who has survived a sexual assault. Whether it’s Christmas morning or the middle of the night, they arrive at a vulnerable moment to […]
COR Moves Columbia Forward Through Leadership and Service
Columbia Opportunity Resource (COR) started in 2005 to help promote all the good things about Columbia. It’s evolved into a nonprofit organization that generates countless hours of volunteer work, creates professional networks that better connect professionals with their community, and works to keep the Midlands’ best and brightest by strengthening their ties to the city […]
Work Begins at Local Level for Teen Pregnancy Prevention Campaign
They train teachers, coaches, and other adults on how to be approachable and how to listen to the concerns of young people. They provide information for parents and teenagers alike. They help fund programs at a community level. And they try to remove the stigma of talking about a sensitive subject — teen pregnancy. The […]
Children’s Trust of South Carolina Protects the Most Vulnerable
Children’s Trust of South Carolina believes one case of child abuse is one too many. Last year there were 20,198 children in founded cases of child abuse and neglect — enough to fill nearly 36 elementary schools. Now more than ever, families across South Carolina need your help. Children’s Trust works to strengthen families and […]
Building Dignity and Providing Hope With Home Works
What happens when you combine construction with compassion? You get Home Works of America, the Columbia-based nonprofit that provides critical safety and sanitation home repairs for deserving low-income, elderly or disabled homeowners. Since it began serving the Midlands in 1996, Home Works has repaired more than 1,000 homes in the area. Across its larger footprint […]
Doing the Most Good: Salvation Army Meeting Needs of the Midlands
Za’Kia Davis-Lyles is a 10-year-old girl with braided hair and a big, welcoming smile. But she was struggling with her reading comprehension, so her mother Juanita enrolled her in a free afternoon reading program offered by The Salvation Army of the Midlands. With help from staff and volunteers, Za’Kia was soon reading and comprehending at […]