
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. The Cooperative Ministry first began offering services on Monday, Sept. 20, 1982.
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 9,000 annual volunteer hours at our facility on West Boulevard.
OUR STAFF
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
Capital Markets
AgFirst
Kamri Barber
Associate
Nexsen Pruet, LLC

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


Mike Farmer
Immediate Past Chairman
Regional Vice President
Commercial Banking
TD Bank

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

Jim Hudson
Founder and Principal
Jim Hudson
Automotive Group

Milton Kimpson
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Rob Motley
Regional President
IOA

Jim Rourke
Attorney
Nexsen Pruet, LLC

Mark Scriven, CPA
Principal
Elliott Davis, LLC

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