Fireside Fund does more than pay heating bills for clients

As a kid, I was not a great swimmer. Once, as I was being chased in the pool, I stepped into a deeper area that caused me to get in water over my head. The best gesture I could think of in the moment to let someone know I was in trouble was to stick my hand in the air and wave "goodbye." It's a good thing that my mother looked in my direction, quickly jumping in to save me. I certainly did not bring much attention to myself, although I was in dire need of rescue.

There is nothing wrong with asking for help; it is the reason that Sumter United Ministries exists. However, I have often said that some of the people that need help the most ask the least.

One afternoon, a senior lady walked in seeking help from the Crisis Relief Ministry with an electric bill. Because it was late in the day, I was simply answering her questions. Her electric bill was current and in no threat of disconnection. Confused, I asked what worried her. Though she is paying her bills each month, the amount of the bill is steadily increasing. She explained why.

She has rented the same house for at least seven years. It has old, in-wall electric heaters. The heater in the front of the house is not operating properly, and she feels too anxious to leave it on at night. She tries to heat her home with her oven, setting it to a high temperature and leaving the door slightly open (this is common among our clients). Not only is this dangerous, but it is extremely inefficient and can raise the bill balance.

After a quick conversation, I was truly amazed that we have not seen her with the income and budget she revealed to us! She earns just over $1,100 a month.

After a few questions, I told her that since her bill was not a disconnection notice, we could not interview her for electric. Then, I leaned forward and said, "Come see us tomorrow, however, and let us buy a heater for your living room." She was delighted and arrived when we opened the next day.

Donations to The Fireside Fund allow us to truly solve problems at the source and ensure that client have adequate heat. Thank you for supporting our efforts!

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 Feb. 11: Mary M. King in honor of Dr. William King, $100; Anonymous: $500

Total This Week: $600

Total This Year: $18,499

Total Last Year: $27,427

Total Since 1969: $1,842,962.74