May 2 Midlands Gives to help UMC ministries, colleges, other nonprofits

By Jessica Brodie

Next month, at least eight United Methodist-associated ministries in the Midlands will get some much-needed funds through an online giving day.

Called Midlands Gives and slated for May 2 (2017) the day is an opportunity for people to go online and donate to United Methodist and other charities of their choice, many of these with matching gift opportunities.

As of press time, Midlands Gives (MidlandsGives.org) will help UMC colleges Claflin University and Columbia College, the UMC-founded Epworth Children’s Home and UMC advance special ministries Alston Wilkes Society, the Bethlehem Center (Columbia), The Cooperative Ministry, Interfaith Community Services and Killingsworth.

Donors must give $20 or more through the website. One hundred percent of the gift goes directly to the nonprofit.

Midlands Gives reported that more than 7,600 people last year raised $1.6 million for 382 local nonprofits in just one day.

Several other giving days were also held last year in South Carolina, including two that benefitted UMC ministries. LowcountryGivingDay.org helped Coastal Samaritan Counseling Center and Rural Mission, and Support Spartanburg County helped The Bethlehem Center (Spartanburg), but those days will not be held this year.

To help a charity of your choice through Midlands Gives, go to MidlandsGives.org any time May 2 between 12 a.m. and 11:59 p.m. (EST). Donors can also preschedule a donation between April 18 and May 1.