Vincentian/Setonian Tradition Shines Through in Georgetown, South Carolina 

(continued from page 3) 

However, there were two other buildings on the property and there was a vision for them. One had served as gym and cafeteria, but after the school closed had been rented for use as a day care center. The other remained empty. Sister Kathleen Driscoll, Parish Life Facilitator, had the dream and determination to transform the buildings. She applied to the Sisters of Charity of St. Augustine in Columbia, SC for a Good Samaritan Fund grant. 

The Sister of Charity Foundation which administers the fund is committed to addressing the needs of the poor and under served in South Carolina and attempts to alleviate them by addressing the root causes of poverty. St. Cyprian’s outlook meshed with the goals of the Good Samaritan Fund. 

An initial grant of $25,000 enabled the parish to renovate the former day care center. An after school program was opened in the building, but renovations were badly needed.

Heating units were replaced, the building was rewired and air conditioned. New carpeting was laid. Children who came for tutoring worked in a safer atmosphere more conducive to study. Presently about 25 children from the neighborhood come to the center.

The second project was to renovate the brick building which had been part of the school complex. It stood empty for ten years and the question was whether to raze or renovate it. Bricks were falling off the façade and it appeared in poor condition. However, after consulting various experts, it was decided to replace the exterior brick and renovate the building. An additional grant of $25,000 was obtained from the Good Samaritan Fund. An additional $85,000 was raised from other sources. 

The architect worked gratis and the contractor for cost plus $1. Over a period of months the building, now called the Vincent Building, was gutted, and completely redone. An office and waiting room for the outreach center was created. The clothes closet moved out of the main building and into a newly created sales room. Bimonthly sales provide good clothes inexpensively. Profits help to support the work of the center. Rooms were set aside for sorting and storing donations.

Space was set aside for the food pantry and a kitchenette was installed for the use of the volunteers. In addition to grants for building renovation, St. Cyprian has also received $3500 to assist those without health insurance to pay for prescriptions. Without this help many people would have to choose which bills to pay.

Volunteers are the backbone of the center. Each day they arrive from Georgetown and its environs to tutor the children in the after school program, sort clothes, and assist in many other ways. During the renovation of the Vincent Building 80% of the work was done by volunteers over the age of 65. Without these men and women the project could not have been completed. Each day they arrived to take up the challenge of installing dry wall, painting, and completing myriad small tasks which contribute to making a beautiful building. 

Expertise from their previous careers during their working lives was brought to bear to make service of those who are poor possible. Recently, one of the men who worked on the building was honored with the first St. Cyprian Partnership in Ministry Award. He symbolizes those imbued with the spirit of Jesus and Vincent de Paul who let their light shine for others so that they may see their good works, participate in them, and give glory to God.

Sister Eleanor Casey, D.C.
Emmitsburg Province