Volunteer Banquet

On April 20, D5FM celebrated and recognized its invaluable volunteers from 2009. The evening took place at Beech Springs Int. School, with dinner provided by Audra and her staff from Chartwells.

During dinner, Lyn Turner presented a slideshow that depicted a collaboration of volunteers who have contributed their time at MTCC throughout the years. Afterwards, awards were given out to volunteers from various categories, some of which included “Loyal Ones”, “Christmas Ones”, and “Emergency Ones”.

The 2009 Volunteer of the Year, Ms. Jacque Kelley, was given an award as well. Ms. Kelley volunteers at MTCC every Wednesday at the front desk, doing everything necessary to keep things running smoothly. She works very hard, and MTCC is grateful to have such a wonderful volunteer. Thanks again, Ms. Wednesday!

Several upcoming events for MTCC include:

Postal Carriers Food Drive: May 8, 2010

GED Graduation Ceremony: May 18^th, 2010

Famer’s Market Vouchers available for Senior Citizens: June 28, 2010

Don’t forget: when cleaning your closets for spring cleaning, save your purses for the “Purses for a Purpose” sale taking place some time in September.

Casino Night A Success

This past Saturday, MTCC held an event at the BMW Zentrum called “Rolling on the River”. The Casino Night, sponsored by the Greer Sertoma Club, proved to be as exciting and fun-filled as everyone anticipated.

At 7 that beautiful evening, over two hundred people walked through the doors hoping luck would be on their side. After turning in tickets, guests were free to try their luck at Black Jack, Roulette, Craps, or Lucky Seven. Refreshments were also offered, some of which included fresh fruit, an assortment of cheeses, and a variety of desserts. Guests were also able to peruse the silent auction table, where auction items ranged from a Vera Bradley assortment to a free driving experience with the BMW Performance Driving School. Great music by Ray Jackson added a wonderful ambiance to the night.

Around 9:15, the games were stopped and the silent auction ended. Guests then moved into an auditorium for a live auction that took place using chip winnings as currency. The grand prize, awarded to the highest chip winner, was a weekend trip to Charleston that also included the use of a BMW for the weekend. Several raffle prizes were also given to those lucky enough to be chosen by Miss Duncan-Lyman-Wellford, Mary-Catherine Pitts.  The grand raffle prize winner, Ms. Cindy Denhard, was awarded a night’s stay at the Westin in Greenville to go along with a gift certificate for dinner at Larkin’s on the River.

The proceeds of the event will be used to continue many of the services and programs offered to the families and children in the Middle Tyger area.  Everyone who helped to support this effort deserves a big THANK YOU -– whether the support was in the form of buying a ticket, donating a prize, contributing food or beverages or coming out to have fun and make a bid on a silent auction item.  Having this much fun while helping our community could develop into a habit!

March Madness

The month of March will prove to be a very exciting time for Middle Tyger Community Center.

Saturday evening, March 20^th, the Greer Sertoma Club is hosting “Rolling on the River”, a fundraiser for MTCC that will take place at the BMW Zentrum. Prepare to bring your poker face as this event will be a casino night full of games, food, music, prizes, live and silent auctions, and most of all an opportunity to give back to the Center which continues to give so much.

There is still room for businesses to serve as sponsors! Corporate sponsorships cost $1,000 and include the company name and/or logo displayed on programs and at gaming tables, as well as ten tickets to the event. 

Individual tickets cost $50 and include $35,000 worth of chips to use to take your chance in various casino games. Prizes will be distributed based on chip winnings.

This event promises to be a wonderful night to remember! For ticket information, please call the Center at 439-7760, or see any staff member.

 Also in March, the Palmetto Bank in Duncan is partnering with District Five Family Ministries for their second annual Prom Dress Event. Now through March 22^nd, donations of gently used or new dresses can be dropped off at either the Palmetto Bank or MTCC. These dresses will be offered to girls at Byrnes H.S. through a referral process. Something new this year is the collaboration with the Palmetto Bank and Upstate Family Resource Center in Boiling Springs. They have joined forces with our effort and will be having their own Prom Dress event available for girls attending either Boiling Springs H.S. or Chapman H.S.  Dresses for this fun event can be dropped off at the Palmetto Bank locations in Duncan, Inman or Boiling Springs before March 22.

Aside from dresses, donations of shoes and jewelry are also being accepted. Local hair salons are donating their time and skills to help style hair for the girl’s special night. Last year forty-six girls were able to attend their Prom or Military Ball due to the generous giving of people in this community.

Help this year to be even more successful! Call 439-7760 for more information.

2009 Reflection

The holiday season has come to a close. Garland and lights have been taken down and put away for the next eleven months. Just as quickly as District Five Family Ministries unpacked and moved into the Christmas House did the time come to move out and move into the New Year. Instead of holiday lights and festive ribbon, store isles are now stocked with red and pink items in preparation for Valentine’s Day. No sooner have you finished your box of chocolates are stores decorated for St. Patrick’s Day, and then Easter which is really right around the corner. Life flies by and before it’s realized, another year has passed. But before moving on so quickly, pause and take some time to read the following accomplishments Middle Tyger Community Center took part in during 2009.

1,229 children were given Christmas through DFFM.

Over 3,000 bags of food were distributed.

More than 1,000 families were helped with direct client services in crisis intervention.

55 people attained their GED certificate.

Over 1,700 families utilized counseling services, for an average of 141 per month.

384 children were given school supplies.

Those numbers are really incredible and only reflect some of the services provided here at MTCC. They illustrate the need that exists within this community, not only around the holidays but throughout the year. Don’t let the season of giving cease simply because Christmas is over. Help MTCC address the needs of your community by donating canned goods, winter clothing, blankets, or a simple monetary donation. Every little bit helps. The work that is done through the Center would not be possible without the kindness and selfless giving of so many local businesses, churches, and individuals. Let’s make it a goal to look back over 2010 with the same amazement felt from reflecting upon 2009.

Middle Tyger Community Center thanks you. Those who seek hope thank you.

For questions about our services or how to help, call 439-7760.

Twelve Hundred on Santa’s List

Each year District Five Family Ministries meets their goal of providing Christmas to each child entered into their Christmas House database. This year, even though the goal hasn’t changed,  the number of children on Santa’s list is higher than ever, having peaked at almost 1,200 children.  Despite such a large number,  Middle Tyger Community Center is certain needs will be met for each and every child, a miracle that happens year after year.

Such miracles occur at the DFFM Christmas House located across the street from Duncan First Baptist. Lyn Turner, staff, and volunteers are packing up gifts and other items to be moved from the Center to the Christmas House December 3rd and 4th.

The picture above shows one staff member’s office, already filled with gifts to take to the Christmas House. All sponsors need to bring their gifts to the Christmas House by Friday, December 11 for scheduled pick-ups Saturday, December 12. The very last day to bring gifts is Wednesday, December 16 at noon.

If interested in volunteering or sponsoring a child, please call Lyn Turner or Melissa Russo at 439-7760 prior to Dec. 12.

The Holiday Season is Upon Us

Every year it seems Christmas begins earlier and earlier, from stores putting out festive decor to radio stations playing familiar holiday songs. We light our Christmas trees before we’re even done eating Halloween candy! This is familiar for District Five Family Ministries, whose efforts to begin another year of their Christmas House began even before Halloween. For Lyn Turner, Coordinater of DFFM, Christmas is on the brain all year long. She collects toys year-round purposely for the Christmas House, which is a good thing considering that the number of children multiply each year. These items will be moved to the Christmas House after Thanksgiving to prepare for the chaotic couple of weeks that follow and include preparing the house for gifts delivered by sponsors as well as organizing those gifts to be ready for pick-up.

So far the response from referrals and sponsors has left DFFM feeling amazed, overwhelmed, hopeful, eager, and determined more than ever to successfully give as many children as possible Christmas. Already the number of children has surpassed 1,000, and continues to grow. As of last week, 455 of those children are sponsored. DFFM would like to thank all of those who have come forward to sponsor a child or a family. Without your willingness to give, this effort could not be possible.

If anyone would like to sponsor a child for Christmas, please call Lyn Turner or Melissa Russo at 439-7760.

Also, as everyone knows, Thanksgiving is only four days away. DFFM has worked together with volunteers and local churches who have offered to sponsor families for Thanksgiving. Please pass the word around that Lifesong Church, located in front of the Lyman Post Office, will be handing out free Thanksgiving meals Tuesday and Wednesday (24th & 25th) from 10:00 am-5:00 pm for families in need.

Happy holidays to everyone from Middle Tyger Community Center!

 

District Five Family Ministries Events and Opportunities

An exciting event is on the horizon! On October 25, 2009, the Mayors from Duncan, Lyman, and Wellford will make a proclamation that the fourth Sunday of every October will be District Five Family Ministries Community Caring Sunday.  DFFM is hosting a Community Sing that will take place on the steps of Lyman Town Hall from 4:00-5:00 PM.

Area churches will take a love offering during their morning services for the help and support of families and children of District Five. Offerings will be taken up by DFFM at the start of the event which will provide an opportunity for members of the community to gather together, sing familiar hymns, and celebrate the blessings DFFM has received.

 

It is that time of year again: time to sponsor a child for Christmas!  If interested, call or email Lyn Turner at 439-7760 or lyn.turner@spart5.net and let her know how many children you would like to sponsor. Below is some basic information about sponsoring a child.

The minimum amount spent on each child is $120.00.  A “wish list” will be sent to you which will include clothing sizes, age of child, and that child’s wishes. All gift bags should be delivered to DFFM Christmas House located across the street from Duncan First Baptist Church. Please bring them by Friday, December 11, so pick-ups can be scheduled for Saturday, December 12. The very last day to deliver gifts is Wednesday, December 16, at noon.

Food Pantry Article

An article concerning District Five Family Ministry’s food pantry was featured in this week’s edition of the Middle Tyger Times. The article not only expressed the need for food donations but also gave background information on D5FM, including how the organization begun over 35 years ago. Upcoming food drives were also featured. Look for the article on the front page.

In relation to the food pantry, D.R. Hill Middle School recently completed a food drive which collected canned/dry goods to be donated to the D5FM food pantry. Yesterday over 2,000 food products were collected. Thanks to D.R. Hill students for all of their effort!

Middle Tyger in the News

The Senior Quilting Group of Lyman, SC, donates 33% of their proceeds to Middle Tyger Community Center. The group works every Monday and Wednesday morning in the gym of Lyman First Baptist Church. For more information on this group or having your own quilt created, contact Margaret Henson at 439-2281.

An article concerning this quilting group and its relation to MTCC was published in the Middle Tyger Times the week of October 1, 2009.