Events—Social Justice

Halloween food drive celebrates big success

 

It's Spooky to be Hungry - one of Golden Harvest's largest annual food drives - took place in more than 90 neighborhoods in Columbia, Richmond and Aiken counties last Saturday. Volunteers trudged from home to home, pulling little red wagons and asking their neighbors for food or monetary donations for the starving and needy.

"I'm overwhelmed at the success of this," said Evelyn Browne, the founder and organizer of It's Spooky to be Hungry. "With the economy in the shape that it's in, for people to have given so much of themselves to help their hungry neighbors is exciting and encouraging. The generosity of this community and our volunteers truly overwhelms me."

 

Full Article—November 1, 2002

 

Evelyn Browne, who organized It's Spooky to be Hungry eight years ago, is the national winner of The Dannon Company's Families Feeding America. She'll receive $10,000 for her chosen charity, Golden Harvest, plus $1,000 to spend on groceries. She plans to give the $1,000 to Golden Harvest, too.

 

Full Article—October 18, 2002

 

Evelyn Browne believes that Big Changes Start Small - also the name of the charitable organization she founded in Columbia County and has headed since 1995.

For the most part Big Changes has been low-profile, drawing some public attention only at Halloween time with "It's Spooky to be Hungry" food drive. But that was enough to grab the attention of USA Weekend magazine's Make a Difference Day Project. The Sunday publication has named the food drive one of its Top 10 honorees, awarding it $10,000. You can read more about it in the April 18 edition of the Augusta Chronicle.

 

Full Article—February 20, 2004

Chloe Browne (left), of Evans, and Abby Zylla, of Martinez, help pack and label bags of toiletries for Hope Soap at Unitarian Universalist Church in Augusta. Chloe's mother, Evelyn, said that the collections have taken place for five years but that this is the first under the name Hope Soap, a project by the same group of volunteers who conduct the It's Spooky to be Hungry food drive in October. The donated items were sorted and bagged Tuesday. Some bags will be distributed Saturday at the Master's Table soup kitchen, and others will be stored.

 

August 6, 2003

David Keesee, while a senior at Lakeside High School, founded Unitarian Universalist Youth Against AIDS and organized an AIDS awareness fair held at the Church on May 19, 2003.

Teen is on mission to educate people about AIDS

 

Full Article—May 12, 2003

 

Columbia News Times Article—May 7, 2003

Full Article

In 2001, Rhett Keesee chose to complete his Eagle Scout project to benefit his church.  He coordinated the volunteer efforts needed to erect a new playground structure for the elementary-age kids.

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