Our
History...
K.A.R.E.
(Kershaw Area Resource Exchange Inc.) originally opened as a community clothes
closet in early April of 1982. Twenty or so women responded to a letter
addressed to area churches to attend a meeting designed to look at the
possibility of beginning a combined clothing and assistance center for those in
need in our community. Beverly
Timmons hoped to bring together the churches of all denominations of the Kershaw
area to develop a central location that would be more easily accessible to
residents in need and would provide optimal effectiveness of gathering and
disbursing resources. This
vision was also centered on Biblical principles which not only reflect the heart
of God in caring for the poor and widowed, but which demonstrates the love of
Christ through acts of service and caring. K.A.R.E. became a unity of fourteen
mission minded area churches and of 5 different denominations.
K.A.R.E.
was completely manned by volunteers who logged endless hours of service in
stocking and managing the “Community Clothes Closet”.
The center was housed in multiple sites for 15 years or so until local
grant money was secured to finance and build its current location at 110 South
Hart Street. K.A.R.E. gradually
grew to incorporate more giving programs, such as the provision of a community
Thanksgiving meal, the food pantry, budget counseling and emergency financial
assistance through a voucher system. Disbursement of local and federal grant
monies, designed to enhance the standard of living for community residents, was
also an added service. Its name was
changed to K.A.R.E. (Kershaw Area Resource Exchange), in order to more
accurately reflect the multiple ministries within the organization.
Within
the past decade, K.A.R.E. developed a summer mission program, called Youth
Serve, designed to meet housing repair needs of indigent community members and
to build Christian character and skills into local teens. The summer program
grew from one to two weeks of service in the summers to a full summer program of
outreach, service, and growth for teens. Most recently (2006) K.A.R.E. expanded
its youth ministry into Y.I.E.L.D., (Youth Igniting Ever-Lasting Discipleship).
K.A.R.E. became an official Lancaster County United Way Agency which has
provided, along with local donations, much of the resources for the Youth Serve
summer mission projects. In
addition, K.A.R.E. was led to partner with the Lancaster County Care-Net System
and a free medical clinic was opened in 1998 to serve the medical needs of
non-insured local residents. Volunteer staff, nurses and physicians work
together in the K.A.R.E. facility to provide these services to the community.
K.A.R.E.
continues to operate as a combined Christian helping agency of area Churches and
other dedicated Christians. The
success of K.A.R.E. is centered on the work of the Lord through the presence of
His Holy Spirit with us. Vision and
direction is provided to us, through Him, as He truly is the head of the Body in
this place. The bulk of the work continues to be performed by hundreds of
volunteers who eagerly give from their hearts in love. Grant support in 2006 has
recently permitted us to hire administrative personnel and financial management
for the day to day operations of K.A.R.E. and a Director for the year round
student program Y.I.E.L.D. We look
forward to a celebration of 25 years of serving the community needs this coming
spring (April 7, 2007) and to continued service and a witness of the love of
Christ to all who come in contact with K.A.R.E.