Williams-Brice-Edwards Foundation comes to rescue of Sumter Christian Charities with $25,000 donation

At the end of 2023, Sumter Christian Charities, a locally operated all-volunteer food bank, was looking at a serious deficit for the year. Frank Edwards and the Williams-Brice-Edwards Foundation changed that with a $25,000 donation. "As the various COVID-era programs began to end, we saw a dramatic increase in demand for food in the later half of the year. From an impressive 21,000 provided meals in 2022, we doubled that in 2023 to 41,787 meals! Of course, that doubled our expenses, too, so this donation from the foundation is allowing us to continue to meet the demand of the food insecure families in Sumter," said Christian Charities Board Chairperson Glenn Woodrum. He added, "We have had good support from the churches and individuals in Sumter, but it just wasn't enough to make ends meet with the huge increases we saw." At the charity's annual board meeting on Monday, Jan. 22, Edwards said, "We give lots of money to charities, but I am especially impressed that this charity does so much good for so little money. The all-volunteer, no-paid staff model is the true definition of a charity, and it is with joy that we at Williams-Brice-Edwards were able to help support such a worthwhile cause." From left are 2023 board members: back row, Dave Marcella, Steve Corley, Darin Hassell, Derek Gamble and David Gohn; and front row, Shirley Copeland and Glenn Woodrum, with Frank Edwards, chairman of Williams-Brice-Edwards Foundation, and Joan Mudd, vice chair of Sumter Christian Charities. Sumter Christian Charities, 110 S. Purdy St. in Sumter, is open from 8 to 11:30 a.m. Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays to distribute boxes of food to qualifying individuals and families. The charity was started years ago by Mr. and Mrs. Richard Shadoan after Mrs. Shadoan recognized the plight of many of the poorer residents of Sumter. It has provided more than 1 million free meals since then.