Columbia group lends support to two local nonprofits after Hurricane Matthew
November 3, 2016
A group of Midlands organizations collected and donated much-needed supplies to two Columbia-based charities after recent evacuations, flooding, and weather damage disrupted the lives of many people and animals in South Carolina. Although a regular event on the community service coalition’s calendar, the “Pets and People Drive” had special importance this year in the wake of Hurricane Matthew. Animal-related donations were brought to PETS Inc., a no-kill animal shelter that finds permanent or foster homes for over 4,000 dogs and cats each year, and Harvest Hope, a food bank that serves 20 counties in South Carolina, was given all food products collected in the drive.
Having taken in animals evacuated from shelters in South Carolina’s Lowcountry, PETS Inc. was in great need of supplies such as towels and bleach to prepare comfortable lodgings for their guests. Harvest Hope provided much-needed emergency food relief through mobile pantries located around the state, serving 600,000 meals to people displaced from their homes by the storm and the resulting flooding. The coalition’s donations, ranging from cleaning supplies and tennis balls for the animal rescue organization to peanut butter and dry goods for the food bank, were based off each organization’s “wish list” for most-needed items.
Organizations that participated in the Pets and People Drive included: South Carolina Medical Association, South Carolina High School League, Columbia Conference Center, DuBose Web Group, Research Associates, the Evaluation Group, Hampton Inn on the Lake at Harbison, Carolina Endodontics, Prologistix, GWA Electrical Engineers, Inc., Westpark Center tenants, and Westpark Business Center tenants.
The drive was one of several community services initiatives that a core group of northwest Columbia companies held this year. The group coordinates such activities every two months, and the public is invited to participate. Any person or group who is interested in joining them may contact Kim Inman at [email protected].
