Today we’d like to introduce you to Emilee West.
Hi Emilee, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Greer Community Ministries (GCM) began in 1972 by the late Reverend Johnny Stack, along with a group of concerned citizens. GCM started as a gap-filler for Meals on Wheels – Greenville had a MOW program and Spartanburg had Mobile Meals, so GCM completed the circle by offering Meals on Wheels in between the counties.
The ministry started by serving 10 meals to the elderly out of the kitchen of Greer First Baptist Church. Within the first month, more than 25 meals were served. Over the next 10 years, the ministry grew and began to address additional needs: rather than only serving the elderly, GCM decided to serve any neighbor who could not safely prepare a meal for themselves (including mental and physical limitations), and expanded its services to also include a dry food pantry, an essentials clothing closet, and a senior fellowship program.
Today, 54 years later, GCM focuses on feeding and socializing our neighbors in need. More than 83,000 meals are delivered through MOW annually, which averages about 330 each day. Over 6,000 individuals are served food and clothing, and over 50 seniors participate in the Senior Fellowship program.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Certainly not. With any adventure, roadblocks and challenges were presented. Between the increased demand for services, increased cost of goods over the years, rise and fall of donations, limited expansion options, and so much more, the ministry has certainly faced trials along the way.
GCM is not federally funded at all, which is mostly a huge benefit. On the flip side, the ministry is completely reliant on local giving through individuals, churches, businesses, and regional grants.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
Greer Community Ministries (GCM) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with the mission to ensure that no one in the Greater Greer area is hungry, without adequate clothing, or socially isolated. We accomplish this mission through the Core4: Meals on Wheels, Food Pantry, Sharon’s Clothing Closet, and Senior Fellowship.
Although we provide clothing, our primary focus is on feeding our neighbors and providing hope for them in times of despair. We are best known for our original program, Meals on Wheels. We are most proud of the fact that we are a Christian organization who serves all people from all backgrounds, nationalities, religions, races, and more. There is no limit to the love of Jesus, and it is our goal to serve our neighbors with an open heart. Being faith-based, we also believe that God will provide the means to continue serving the community.
We hope that the community knows how dedicated we are to serving all of our neighbors with love, patience, kindness, joy, selflessness, and hope. The beating heart of our ministry is the multitude of servant-hearted volunteers who pour their time and talents into giving back to their neighbors. We encourage our volunteers to step in where they see gaps, offer up creative solutions, and take ownership of supplemental services. For example, we offer a Pet Food program through Meals on Wheels, which a volunteer began and has run for more than 10 years. Another volunteer began a Medicare Counseling service for our senior demographic. The opportunities are endless with a community that cares.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.gcminc.org
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/greercommunityministries
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/greercommunityministries
