That mission began for S.H.I.N.E. founder Judy Burns after hearing a sermon by Dr. John Adams of Easley First Baptist Church.
The question that sermon posed was both simple and profound: What is Your Mission?
Serving then as the Director of the Easley Chamber of Commerce, Burns had noticed the lines of people awaiting assistance at United Christian Ministries as she went to work each day.
Six years ago, Burns decided that was her mission: helping others.
That was the mission of the group at its founding and that is its mission today, nearly 7 years later.
Six years ago, Burns and a group of thirteen and a working committee of three in Pickens County began building the foundation for S.H.I.NE.
Today the group operates and serves meals out of the John T. Simpson Academy Kitchen, serving meals from 5:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.
The Simpson Academy is located at 200 West D. Ave in Easley
Perhaps the best way to sum up S.H.I.NE. is to look at some of the numbers associated with it.
5: The number of well-balanced meals per week that S.H.I.N.E serves to the hungry in the area.
100 percent: The charity is 100 percent driven by volunteers. All funds S.H.I.N.E. receives go toward helping the needy.
150: The number of people who serve on the Board of Directors and as kitchen managers, meal planners, cooks, servers and clean up personnel.
That number includes the 25-30 kitchen managers who plan the menu and then cook and serve up the delicious, nutritious food and the many volunteers working behind the scenes doing whatever needs to be done, from picking up the food to raising the funding necessary to keep S.H.I.N.E. going.
200: The average number of meals S.H.I.N.E. serves each and every week. 200 meals feeding those who might otherwise go to bed hungry that night.
9,600: The number of meals served by S.H.I.N.E. in just 2005, which marked their first full year of serving the community.
More than 10,000: The number of meals served by S.H.I.N.E the next year, 2006.
More than 19,000: the number of meals served by S.H.I.N.E. in 2007.
More than 36,000: The number of meals served by S.H.I.N.E last year.
118, 144: The population of Pickens County.
16.5 percent: The Pickens County poverty level.
Countless: The ways you can help. S.H.I.N.E. is always in need of help, so they can continue to help others.
Consider making a tax deductible donation to help this worthy organization.
Can’t afford to donate any money?
Then give of your time by volunteering. Whatever your skills, S.H.I.N.E. has a need for you.
Call S.H.I.N.E CoOrganizer at Judy Burns at 423-1357, CoOrganizer Ansel Deadwyler at 238-7408 or CoOrganizer Bucky Crane at 859-9622 to find out how your, your business or your organization can help with the mission’s needs.
S.H.I.N.E. is a 501 (c)3 organization and all donations to it are tax deductible. Write to S.H.I.N.E at 1027 S. Pendleton Street, Suite B, Box 214, Easley, S.C. 29642
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