MISSION FOR THE MIDLANDS
To increase the economic self-sufficiency of people experiencing poverty in the Midlands through crisis assistance and sustainability programs.
OUR HISTORY
In 1982, The Cooperative Ministry was founded by five churches (First Presbyterian Church, Main Street Methodist, Trinity Episcopal Cathedral, Washington Street United Methodist Church, and First Baptist Church) in downtown Columbia. The goal was to establish a collaborative method of administering assistance to those in need, while also preventing the duplication of services.
Today, The Cooperative Ministry is supported by 57 faith partners and more than 70 agencies, civic and social organizations, foundations, small businesses, and individuals. The Cooperative Ministry has thousands of friends who provide financial assistance, as well as more than 15,000 annual volunteer hours at our facility on West Boulevard.
OUR STAFF
Beth Irick
Chief Executive Officer
(803) 799-0934
Akili Harris
Chief Financial Officer
(803) 799-2506
Wanda Pearson
Chief Program Officer
(803) 451-7398
Scott Vaughan
Director
Community Awareness
(803) 799-2428
Bill Taber
Director, Crisis Assistance
(803) 799-5441
Ed Palekas
Director, Financial Sustainability Programs
(803) 799-0935
Rhemie Gantz
Client Relations Manager
803-799-3853 x650
Dave Peoples
Director, Clothing & Furniture Bank
803-799-3853 x312
Sarah Moran Nevarez
Director, Supportive Health Services
(803) 779-5901
Angie Young
ADAP Benefits Coordinator
803-799-3853 x413
Nyccole Thomas
Housing Program Coordinator
803-799-3853 x215
Jessica Hayward
Data Coordinator
803-799-3853 x412
OUR BOARD
Mike Farmer
Chairman
Regional Vice President
Commercial Banking
TD Bank
Robert Williams, III
Vice Chairman
Restaurant Operations Manager
Lizard's Thicket
Mitch Watson, CPA
Secretary
COO
Carolinas HUB International
Steven Hicks
Treasurer
Assistant VP
Capital Markets
AgFirst Farm Credit Bank
Bill Edmonds
Immediate Past Chair
CEO
Northstar Leadership Solutions
Davis Buchanan
President
Buchanan Construction Services
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Rev. Wes Church
Senior Pastor
First Baptist Church
Columbia
Carol F. Fowler
Fowler Communications, Inc.
Linda Dowson
Accounting Assistant
(803) 748-8910
Tamiko Beckford
Admin Coordinator
803-799-3853 x213
Diane Lawson
IPAP Coordinator
803-799-3853 x603
Milton Kimpson
David Hodges
Agent
Mass Mutual Financial Group
Chief William "Skip" Holbrook
Columbia Police Department
Jim Rourke
Attorney
Nexsen Pruet, LLC
Mark Scriven
Senior Manager
Elliott Davis, LLC
Rev. Derek Thomas
Senior Minister
First Presbyterian Church
Columbia
Rev. George Wright
Pastor
Shandon Baptist Church
Stephanie Yandle
Customer Experience Manager
BlueCross BlueShield
of South Carolina