Christian Services is well known in our community for our Food Pantry which in 2023 served 1,826 families totaling 2,935 individuals, 902,696 pounds of food.  Our Pantry is the only Emergency Food Assistance Pantry in Lancaster County operating Monday through Thursday from 1:00-4:00 pm and conducts Mobile Food trucks throughout the community. One of our roles in building a stronger, healthier, & more economically vibrant community is to combat food insecurity.  The depressed nature of our community is highlighted by the (2) Food Deserts & (2) Opportunity Zones where our Pantry is located, which creates food insecurity for many of our residents, leading to their inability to provide enough food for every person to live an active, healthy life. 

 

Our Angel Tree program, which partners with Prison Fellowship, has provided Christmas gifts and positive Christmas memories for children for over 40 years.  Every Christmas over 275 children, some with parents who are incarcerated, receive toys & clothes provided by community individuals, businesses, and churches.  

 

The mission of our newest program, Kin Care, is to meet the immediate needs of Grand and Kinship families by providing emotional support, food, Christmas gifts, clothing and shoes, furniture and household items, life skills classes for caregivers, and recreational opportunities for the children.  Our vision is for every kinship family and child to maintain a strong sense of identity and family connection while achieving a stable, positive family experience that will best allow children to reach their full potential.  An estimated 2.7 million, 4 percent of all children in the U.S., are being raised by grandparents or other relatives and more than 25% of kids in foster care in South Carolina are placed in licensed kinship care settings.

 

The Bowling Center we own and operate is not a program, but in many ways it is our heart.  It is not a profit center and usually operates at a deficit.  Operating at a deficit or breaking even is the original objective with the mission to provide inexpensive recreational opportunities for the community, especially underprivileged.  On average the prices in the Center are 20 to 25% cheaper than other facilities and we are exempt from collecting sales tax, saving customers another 10%.  We do have a price structure; however, we make pricing accommodations for families and individuals without the financial means, and it is not uncommon to offer free activities or services.  When we can allow young children who have never played mini golf or bowled for the first time, that opportunity is priceless.

 

Lastly, a mainstay of Christian Services is our Family Thrift Store which has a little bit of everything: used furniture, appliances, linens, clothing, shoes, and knick-knacks. The Store also provides clothing and household items without charge for new foster parents, short term emergency victims, individuals recently released from prison, and those individuals referred by other agencies or churches. Our Family Store generates 48% of our revenue so Donate, Shop, & Make a Difference!