Chuck Reynolds, president elect for the board of directors, and Caroline Robertson, Executive Director of Greer Relief and Resources, shared the proclamations with the guests from Gov. Nikki Haley and the Greer City Council.
Amanda Somers, co-owner of SSI, and Mayor Rick Danner, were among the guests celebrating Greer Relief's 75th anniversary.
Perry Williams, CPW commissioner, and Nick Stegall, CPW general manager, received a certificate of appreciation for contributing an employee-matched $25,000 to help Greer Relief clients with their utility needs.
Robertson and her staff entertained civic and business leaders and volunteers to celebrate the 75th anniversary of Greer Relief and Resources. These same citizens continue to serve an agency dependent on the communities’ financial and material support.
Gov. Nikki Haley and Greer City Council declared May 24, 2012 as Greer Relief and Resources, Inc. Day in proclamations. Greer Relief presented community, volunteer and board of directors awards.
The numbers are staggering. Five staffers served 5,500 requests and 10,000 unduplicated requests were served in 2011. Eleven organizations are housed in the building. Robinson said, on average, 350 people were served daily.
The J. Verne Smith Center has served the community for job, health, family, disability and emergency services since 1991.
“Sen. Smith had an amazing vision putting this center together,” Robertson said. A portrait of Smith was unveiled in the lobby to commemorate the diamond anniversary. There were ohs and ahs scattered through the crowd when the Greer Relief staff unveiled the portrait.
Dan Reynolds, past president of the board and Greer Police Chief, noted that 9 percent of the funding goes toward staffing and overhead. “That means that 91 percent is distributed,” Reynolds.
Greer Relief provides emergency assistance to individuals and families living in Greer, Taylors, Duncan, Lyman and Wellford. The program is a “hand up” not a “hand out” as the agency gives current needs (food, utilities, rent) plus it gives in-kind assistance, financial assistance and counseling to the needy.
“The funding level has gone up and the client assistance is going up,” said Chuck Reynolds, the 2010 Board President and 2013 president elect.
Talk has prevailed in the past several years of the need for a larger building to house the agencies and serve the growing number of residents seeking emergency aid. That need is put into perspective when Dan Reynolds said, “The city provides the space and it was put here to stay close to the city center. We want to keep our operating expenses down to make the most of our resources."
WATCH THE PRESENTATIONS BELOW:
PART 1
PART 2