
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 assisting those in need while preventing the duplication of services. The Cooperative Ministry began offering services on Monday, Sept. 20, 1982.
Today, The Cooperative Ministry is supported by 61 faith partners joining with corporations, family foundations, community organizations, government agencies, small businesses, and thousands of individuals. The Cooperative Ministry is debt free and governed by a local board of directors. Of all expenses, 90 percent go to support client services. Volunteerism has always been important to The Cooperative Ministry. Today, volunteers comprise 34 percent of our workforce, serving thousands of hours at our building on West Beltline Boulevard.
OUR STAFF
OUR BOARD

Davis Buchanan
Chair
President
Buchanan Construction Services

Stephanie Yandle
Vice Chair
Customer Experience Manager
BlueCross BlueShield
of South Carolina

Alexa Godwin
Secretary
Marketing Manager
Godwin Motors

Steven Hicks, CPA
Treasurer
Capital Markets
AgFirst

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
Regional Vice President
Commercial Banking
TD Bank

Carol F. Fowler
Fowler Communications, Inc.

David Hodges
Agent
Mass Mutual Financial Group
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Chief William "Skip" Holbrook
Columbia Police Department

Jim Hudson
Founder and Principal
Jim Hudson
Automotive Group

Fred Manning
Partner
Fisher Phillips, LLP
Rob Motley
President
IOA
Milton Pope
Principal
Parker Poe Consulting, 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

Robert Williams, III
Imm. Past Chair
Restaurant Operations Manager
Lizard's Thicket

Kyle Whetstone
President
Palmetto State Glass