Final week to donate to Sumter's Fireside Fund to support heating costs

Are you the favorite child? No good mother would ever admit to having a “favorite,” but usually the siblings have an opinion on who it might be.

It makes for humorous banter during holidays and family gatherings.

In the same way, Sumter United Ministries exists to help a broad spectrum of the county population: low-income working families, the disabled, seniors and the homeless. However, it is hard to avoid favoring seniors. As time goes on, more and more is required of the same income: more prescriptions, higher copays and supplemental insurance plans. The cost of living rises faster than Social Security and/or pensions can keep up, and seniors feel the pinch, often choosing to do without. 

Making a difference in the lives of low-income seniors gives us great joy. Recently, a widow in her mid-70s requested help with an electric bill (she uses electric heat). She has fallen behind with her account balance since January when her property taxes became due. Her budget and account details all confirmed these statements. She has a meager income and no other family to help her.

She had no idea that she would qualify for Homestead Exemption and, in our estimation, will not have to pay property taxes going forward. No one ever shared this with her before, and she was delighted at the news. We were able to offer her food, prevent her electric account from being disconnected and share valuable information that will better ensure her financial viability in the years ahead. 

Your contributions to the Fireside Fund continue to impact lives beyond providing warmth. It does not take that much effort to pay a bill, honestly. The investment of time, encouragement and guidance go well beyond financial assistance. Thank you for partnering with us!

Kevin Howell is the director of the Crisis Relief Ministry at Sumter United Ministries.

ABOUT THE FIRESIDE FUND

Each winter since 1969, The Sumter Item has run a fundraiser to collect money from its readers to be donated entirely to Sumter United Ministries.

The faith-based nonprofit provides emergency and life-rebuilding services ranging from food, shelter and clothing to final-notice bill pay, access to educational opportunities and a medical clinic.

The Sumter Item recognizes and appreciates every ministry their staff and volunteers run, but the Fireside Fund was created to focus on one area that becomes critical for the next few months: heat.

Every penny donated will directly help people who live in Sumter by preventing heating services from being turned off, allowing access to propane or other heating sources and, when enough funding is available and the need is there, funding long-term housing fixes to make homes more efficient.

IN HONOR OF

Each year, The Item's leadership team picks a person who has recently passed away to which the year's campaign will be dedicated. The person honored is someone who made a positive impact in the community, whether through service or philanthropy or business leadership.

This year, Sumter lost two stalwarts in local business and community support on the same day, Billy McLeod of Piggly Wiggly and Carl Simpson III of Simpson Hardware Co.

McLeod was 93 when he died April 4. His father, Gilbert McLeod, founded Mac's Supermarkets, which changed into Piggly Wiggly in the mid-1950s, and McLeod worked in the stores for 70 years, dating to 1954.
Mac's Supermarkets started with two small stores in Sumter.

The McLeod family currently owns three Piggly Wigglys in Sumter and eight total. At one time, the family had 16 stores.

Simpson was 82 and died suddenly. Simpson's father, Carl Simpson Jr., founded Simpson Hardware Co. in 1951 with the purchase of stores in Camden, Hartsville and later Sumter. Simpson opened a second location at Palmetto Plaza in Sumter in 1963. Currently, Simpson Hardware has five locations: three in Sumter, one in Manning and one in Lake City.

New donations as of March 17: Rebecca DuBose: $40