Manager of Warehousing and Fleet Maintenance Charlie Crowder paid forward $500 to The Open Door Christian Center in Clinton.
The non-profit organization targets three areas of ministry: homelessness, with an emergency shelter for men, women, and women with children; addiction, providing alcohol and drug rehabilitation for men and women; and hunger, operating a soup kitchen.
According to Executive Director Rev. Charles Brewington, aside from general needs and bills associated with operating the ministry, donations are also used for, “personal hygiene products for the residents/clients, medication, helping with ID card acquirement, clothing that isn’t in our Variety Shop, and food for residents or those in their homes who need assistance.”
The 501(c)3 organization is supported by churches, businesses, and individuals through monetary and charitable donations. But The Open Door also operates a recycling program for metals and cardboard, and a Variety Shop to assist with the day to day costs of operating the ministry.
When asked why supporting The Open Door was important to him, Charlie said, “Matthew 25: 35-36 sums it up for me.”
The Bible verses read, “For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.”
The Open Door Christian Center, Hope Recovery program, Variety Shop, Hope Chapel, and Geraldine’s Soup Kitchen (renamed after the passing of founder Geraldine Hastings) are located at 209 East Main Street in Clinton.
To find out more, donate, volunteer or seek help, visit the organization’s web site at theopendoorchristiancenter.com, email centeropen@bellsouth.net, or call 864-833-7670.
The Pay It Forward program began in 2015.
Every Laurens Electric Cooperative employee is entered into a random drawing to receive $500 to pay forward in any way they choose. Each month a new name is drawn, and the employee then has one month to apply the funds toward their own act of kindness.
This initiative is budget-neutral; the funds will come from Laurens Electric’s charity events, which employee volunteers make possible.
Employees and the community will enable individual employees to help individuals in the community, and that’s a win-win situation.