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 53 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,
Sustainability Programs
(803) 799-0935
Rhemie Gantz
Client Relations Manager
(803) 799-0932
Dave Peoples
Director, Clothing & Furniture Bank
(803) 799-3853 x312
Sarah Moran Nevarez
Director
Supportive Health Services
(803) 779-5901
Angie Young
Benefits Coordinator II
(803) 799-3853 x413
Nyccole Thomas
Health Benefits Coordinator I
(803) 799-3853 x215
Jessica Hayward
Data Coordinator
(803) 799-3853 x412
OUR BOARD
Robert Williams, III
Chairman
Restaurant Operations Manager
Lizard's Thicket
Davis Buchanan
Vice Chairman
President
Buchanan Construction Services
Stephanie Yandle
Secretary
Customer Experience Manager
BlueCross BlueShield
of South Carolina
Steven Hicks, CPA
Treasurer
Senior Relationship Manager
Commercial Banking
TD Bank
Caroline Andrews
District Manager
Capital City District
Wells Fargo
Elise Bidwell, CFP
Financial Advisor
Edward Jones
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Rev. Wes Church
Senior Pastor
First Baptist Church
Columbia
Bill Edmonds
CEO
Northstar Leadership Solutions
Linda Dowson
Accounting Assistant
(803) 748-8910
Tamiko Beckford
Admin Coordinator
(803) 799-3853 x213
Diane Lawson
IPAP Coordinator
(803) 799-3853 x603
Al Counts
Program Coordinator
Sustainability Programs
(803) 799-3853 x328
Carol F. Fowler
Fowler Communications, Inc.
Alexa Godwin
Marketing Manager
Godwin Motors
David Hodges
Agent
Mass Mutual Financial Group
Chief William "Skip" Holbrook
Columbia Police Department
Milton Kimpson
Jim Rourke
Attorney
Nexsen Pruet, LLC
Mark Scriven
Senior Manager
Elliott Davis, LLC
Mike Farmer
Immediate Past Chairman
Regional Vice President
Commercial Banking
TD Bank
Rev. Derek Thomas
Senior Minister
First Presbyterian Church
Columbia
David Tucker
Owner/President
Corner Pantry Inc.
Tucker Oil Company
Mitch Watson, CPA
COO
Carolinas HUB International