Holy City Mission Partners Include:
Church of the Resurrection (North Charleston)
Fresh Start Visions (Prison Ministry) Helping ex-offenders to transition into productive lives. MTF contact: Lee Cox, lelandhcox@gmail.com
Lowcountry Pregnancy Center Supports single moms & babies, August Diaper Drive, Annual Banquet. MTF Contact: Caroline Riley, cmurphyriley@gmail.com
St. Alban’s Chapel at the Citadel Monday night Bible study with Cadets, beginning at 6:30 pm in the Chapel. MTF Contact: George Klein, gpkleinct@gmail.com
Star Gospel Mission relocated to a new property, needs sheets, towels, linens. MTF Contact: George Klein, gpkleinct@gmail.com
Tri-County Family Ministries. Needs volunteers and donations of clothing and food. MTF Contact: Pam Thompson, pamthompson@spherion.com
Water Mission. Volunteers needed for Think Tank programs to educate students at schools & churches, Lunch Crews, Office Volunteers, Production, Annual Walk for Water. MTF Contact: John Hollingsworth, 843-819-8816
Hot Dog Ministry
The purpose of the Hot Dog Ministry is to share God’s love with the homeless and urban population in downtown Charleston. We are participating in the Hot Dog Ministry with East Cooper Baptist Church, every other month, beginning January 28. We need 8-10 volunteers from St. Michael’s. We will bring the hot dog toppings (mustard, ketchup, and onions) and side dishes (baked beans, potato salad, and cole slaw); East Cooper Baptist Church furnishes the grilled hot dogs, rolls, desserts, and water. Volunteers arrive at 529 Meeting St. by 4:45 (enter by Walnut Street to the small parking area on the right). Supper begins at 5:00 with sharing of the gospel, grace, and food, and ends at 6:15. The guests may have as much food as they wish, but they need to consume it on site. We serve from 50-80 guests each day. Alan Woods from Charleston Street Wellness is available to do health checks and there are donated clothes and shoes for any guest in need. If you need further information or if you have questions, please e-mail Pat Jennings at bellinger.56@att.net.
Reading Partners
Reading Partners is dedicated to training and supporting tutors who work with students needing to improve their literacy and reading levels. Tutors are in short supply. Four out of five children from low-income families are not able to read at grade level. The Reading Partners program places, trains, and supports tutors who wish to help children build stronger reading skills. You, the tutor, can select a school convenient to your home or office. The commitment is only one hour a week, or more, if you wish. Please contact Josephine Cox if you are interested in this ministry. 864-982-4464 or email to joandleecox@gmail.com.
Tri-County Human Trafficking Task Force
Implementing a coordinated community response to identify, prevent, and eliminate human trafficking in the Tri-County area while supporting victims, law enforcement, and service providers.
In January 2018, the South Carolina Attorney General (AG) announced Charleston County was the second most prevalent area in our State for human trafficking (HT). To effectively combat this issue on multiple fronts, the Tri-County Human Trafficking Task Force (HTTF) was founded. Comprised of professional leadership from Berkeley, Charleston, and Dorchester counties and representing areas of expertise from law enforcement to victim services, the Task Force is recognized by the SC AG as the official HT task force for the Tri-County area with the Chair serving on the SC AG’s Statewide HT Task Force.
Priority Objectives
(1) Provide rapid safe housing for victims Without rapid housing, those on the frontlines cannot adequately do their jobs and the Tri-County will not have a successful HT response. Once a victim is identified, we have nowhere to place them. This creates enormous congestion of the system and reinforces the lies that traffickers tell victims – “I’m your only hope; the only one who cares about you.” Housing is key to stabilizing victims and there is no rapid housing for HT victims in our State.
(2) Support those on the frontlines to recognize human trafficking Identification of victims is one of the most difficult challenges as victims are so traumatized and threatened, they rarely self-identify as victims or disclose to authorities. Additionally, HT is a “newer” crime in South Carolina (2012) with the legal definition of “child abuse and neglect” only coming to include HT in April of 2018. This 2018 change in law has created an enormous responsibility for mandated reporters to identify and report on HT; mandated reporters were not being trained on the issue before this amendment.
More info: email info@TriCountyHTTF.org or check out the website: TriCountyHTTF.org
Want to learn more about these mission ministry partners and how to get involved?
Contact mission@stmichaelschurch.net for more information!