We Live Here, We Give Here

Fall is the time of year when many non-profits hold the annual fundraising events that are critical to their ongoing operations and services provided in the community. This year, many organizations are facing unprecedented challenges that will require taking a different approach. The “We Live Here, We Give Here” idea started with a phone call from Nancy Kaufman, Vice-Chairperson, Board of Directors of Habitat for Humanity Glynn County to Virginia Schlegel, Executive Director of the Humane Society. Nancy and Virginia were determined to think outside the box this year in order to encourage continued support for local non-profits. 

As a result of that initial conversation, the American Cancer Society Victory Board, Boys & Girls Clubs of Southeast Georgia, Habitat for Humanity of Glynn, and the Humane Society of South Coastal Georgia are coming together to support each other. These organizations have always benefited from the generosity of the community to continue their missions of helping people and animals. Although they are not able to host their traditional in-person fundraisers this year, they still depend on donations. 

If in the past you have attended the Victory Gala, Merry Mixer, Hunt Ball, or Blue Jean Ball, these organizations are joining forces to encourage you to continue your support. Although the landscape of giving has changed, the needs have not. There are still people and their families struggling with cancer, children in need of mentoring to reach their full potential, people needing affordable housing, and homeless animals needing care. If you purchased a ticket to any of these events in the past, this year perhaps you would consider making a monetary donation in the same amount. 

Here, each of the “We Live Here, We Give Here” charitable organizations share information about their mission and stories about the work they do. Together, they hope you will extend your generosity and open your hearts to those who still need your help.

Humane Society of South Coastal Georgia

The mission statement of the Humane Society of South Coastal Georgia (HSSCG) reads as follows: “HSSCG is dedicated to promoting the compassionate treatment of animals in our community through adoption, public spay/neuter services, sheltering and education.”

That’s a great mission statement. But really, it is much more than that for the animals and people at the Humane Society of South Coastal Georgia. For the people involved, it is a calling. For the volunteers and supporters, it is a passion. For the animals in their care, it is a guarantee.

The Humane Society was founded in 1967 to help the homeless animal population. Since the beginning, the Humane Society has taken in and found homes for well over 15,000 dogs and cats. Hundreds of animals were also reunited with their families. In 2011 with the help of their generous supporters, they built a bigger, better facility to house even more homeless animals. Sadly, all too often the dogs and cats arriving at the facility require special medical care, X-rays, surgery, heartworm treatment and sometimes have other issues. Many have not been socialized or have not received the love they so desperately need and deserve. It is so gratifying to see an animal respond to kindness and attention and even learn to play. Some have had to undergo complicated surgery or treatment and learn to function in a different way, sometimes with three legs or one eye. They are all loved and nurtured and sent to families who will appreciate them as they are.

One success story is Hudson, a handsome black and white Spaniel mix.

Hudson was in and out of shelters and homes at a very early age. It was a struggle to find him a home that was the right fit. Hudson was needy, with separation anxiety and an abundance of Spaniel energy. His foster reached out to HSSCG in the hopes that we might have the perfect family for him. Hudson is now thriving in a home with HSSCG Executive Director, Virginia Schlegel. Virginia is familiar with the needs of animals like Hudson who just need a nurturing environment.

Many animals, both cats and dogs, arrive at the Humane Society needing that special touch. Some animals have medical or emotional needs or may be orphaned. This is where the Humane Society steps in with bottle feeding and fostering. Other animals transferred to HSSCG from open admission facilities where they have no future. 

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Sweet Pup Showing Love

Tim Rude, Fierce Strategy + Creative

Sweet Pup Showing Love

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Bottle Feeding Kitten

Tim Rude, Fierce Strategy + Creative

Bottle Feeding Kitten

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Another Good Dog Needing a Home

Tim Rude, Fierce Strategy + Creative

Another Good Dog Needing a Home

The simple truth is that all of these life changing stories are made possible by those who donate. HSSCG’s annual fundraiser, The Blue Jean Ball, benefits the animals in a tremendous way. Co-chairs Brenda Kilgore and Elizabeth Powell have been a huge part of this fundraising in the past years. However, this year has been a new challenge for this non-profit. For the safety of both the supporters and staff, the Humane Society has had to cancel this critical fundraiser. The ones who have the most to lose are the homeless cats and dogs who count on your support. This year you too have a challenge. Will you be there for the animals? They are still in need of your help. If you’d like to make a donation to support HSSCG, please do so via their website at HSSCG.org/blue-jean-ball.

Habitat for Humanity of Glynn

When Brunswick native Rose Mary Flowers, a single mother of three boys, went to deposit her paycheck one January afternoon in 1994, she was intrigued by a sign in the lobby promoting affordable housing from Habitat for Humanity of Glynn County (HFHGC). Rose immediately headed upstairs to learn more. “We’d moved into a two-bedroom rental after living with my mom for a while, and to say it wasn’t well-maintained would be an understatement. My boys were 9, 7 and 5, and I had started to think about getting my own place. I asked (executive director) Sherrye Gibbs how much the down payment was for a Habitat home. ‘Three hundred hours of sweat equity,’ she replied. ‘Well, sign me up,’ I said. Truthfully, I didn’t think I would qualify. When she called me to say my application had been accepted, I was thrilled.”

It’s a day that Rose’s eldest son, Benjamin Sterling, Jr., also remembers well. He and his brothers, Jerrold Sterling and Craig West, had already moved three times, but this time was special. “Mama had always done a great job of making wherever we were living feel like home, but from Day One, she started saying, for the first time ever, that this house was ours. That it would always be ours; we wouldn’t ever be moving again. Twenty-six years later, she’s still here. We all get together here with our own kids for holidays.”

Rose recalls, “I climbed a ladder and helped shingle the roof and build the A/C support. The boys enjoyed the construction part significantly more than I did, but helping to build your forever home is an unforgettable experience.” Both mother and son extol the vital importance of having the foundation of an affordable, permanent family home. “Owning your own home gives you a peace of mind you can’t get anywhere else,” says Rose. “I paid off our twenty-year Habitat mortgage in seventeen years, working minimum-wage jobs and with arthritic knees. I’m mighty proud of that.”

Becca Randall, HFHGC’s interim executive director, agrees. “The Flowers family reflects the multi-generational impact home ownership has in an economically-challenged community. We know that children from Habitat homes tend to do better academically, as well, and we are all tremendously proud of Rose and all of her sons.”

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Benjamin Sterling, Jr. with his wife Tashina and children James, Caden, and Benjamin III

Tim Rude, Fierce Strategy + Creative

Benjamin Sterling, Jr. with his wife Tashina and children James, Caden, and Benjamin III

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Sterling children

Tim Rude, Fierce Strategy + Creative

Sterling children

Benjamin became the first in his military family to graduate from a four-year college. While the academically gifted introvert aspired to attend UNC, he was told it was ‘an Ivy of the South’ and not to aim so high. “But once we were settled in our own house, Mom made sure we didn’t have to worry about anything at school but getting our lesson, and that stability gave us a confidence that I try to emulate with my children today. The more they said ‘You’ll never get in to Chapel Hill,’ the more that lit a fire in me to go nowhere else. I was accepted early decision.”

After graduation, Benjamin pursued a career in retail and, in 2015, he married Tashina Baker, the daughter of Mark Baker, pastor of Brunswick’s Greater Works Ministries. Today, they live in Brunswick with daughter, Caden, 10, and 4-year-old twins Benjamin III and James. Now the director of retail operations for Coastal Georgia Historical Society, Benjamin is a rising figure in the local civic and charitable firmament. “I’m big on giving back,” he says. “I know my family had an opportunity not many of my neighborhood friends had growing up.”

From the front porch of his mother’s Habitat home, Benjamin says pensively,“Community isn’t just defined by who we look like or associate with. I tell folks to dig deeper to find our common bonds, because they’re there. I know they are, because I grew up in a house built by strangers. But once they got to the build, they didn’t remain strangers for very long; they became family, every time. Even though we never knew the name of every person who helped build this house that we still call home, they are family. We all are.”

HFHGC is unable to hold their signature fundraiser, the Hunt Ball, but still needs your assistance to keep the dream of homeownership alive for others. If you’d like to make a donation to support HHGC, please do so via their website at hfhglynn.charityproud.org/Donate or by calling Becca Randall at 912.265.7455.

Boys & Clubs of Southeast Georgia

For more than 50 years, Boys & Girls Clubs of Southeast Georgia has enabled young people most in need to achieve great futures as productive, caring, responsible citizens. Some of you may have attended a Club growing up or have a child or grandchild that attend today. Their mission is to enable all young people, especially those most in need, to reach their full potential as they become adults. They aim to assure success is within reach of every young person who enters their doors, with all members on track to graduate from high school with a plan for the future, demonstrating good character and citizenship, and living a healthy lifestyle.

Today, Boys & Girls Clubs of Southeast Georgia has ten Clubs in Glynn County, serving over 5,000 young people through Club membership and community outreach. They provide a safe place, caring adult mentors, fun and friendship, and high-impact youth development programs on a daily basis during critical non-school hours. If school is out, they are most likely open. Through after-school program and summer camps, Club programs promote academic success, good character and citizenship, and healthy lifestyles.

The focus at the Teen Center is to help Club members get ready for what life looks like after graduation. For some, that may be college; for others, it may be direct entry straight into the workforce. Boys & Girls Clubs of Southeast Georgia alumnus Rashaun Whipple was a member of the Club from kindergarten through high school. After graduation, Rashaun started working part-time for the Boys & Girls Club. Today, he holds a leadership role as a Director of a Club.

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Terry Thomas Club Member and Awesome Sister

Tim Rude, Fierce Strategy + Creative

Terry Thomas Club Member and Awesome Sister

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Terry Thomas Club Member Smiling Behind the Mask

Tim Rude, Fierce Strategy + Creative

Terry Thomas Club Member Smiling Behind the Mask

Along with the rest of the world, the Clubs have been closely monitoring the evolving situation with the coronavirus pandemic. It has brought uncertainty and disruption to our communities, but Boys & Girls Clubs of Southeast Georgia’s top priority has not changed: the health and safety of the children they serve. From March through July of this year, Boys & Girls Clubs of Southeast Georgia were able to provide more than 260,000 snacks and dinners to families in Glynn County.

With generous support from the community, Boys & Girls Clubs of Southeast Georgia are making a difference in the lives of their members and within Glynn County. They can’t do this without your commitment or investment in their mission. Every time you give your time, talent, or treasure to Boys & Girls Clubs, you give one more child the chance to achieve their full potential. Because of your support, dreams come true! If you’d like to make a donation to support the Boys & Girls Clubs of Southeast Georgia, please do so via their website at bgcsega.com or mail a check to P.O. Box 1193, Brunswick, GA 31521.

American Cancer Society Victory Board

Fifteen-year throat cancer survivor Greg Gordon is very open about his cancer

journey and always willing to help those with a recent diagnosis or going through treatment. But his cancer cause hit even closer to home with the recent passing of his sister from lung cancer. He understands the importance of hope when battling this disease. “I always tell people, don’t get depressed,” said Gordon. “It’s easy to lose your will but your mind is a powerful thing when it comes to beating cancer.”

The Brunswick resident underwent 35 radiation treatments and three chemotherapy treatments. His doctor recommended a feeding tube, but Greg thought he was a tough guy and didn’t need it. He regrets that decision and recommends it to other throat cancer patients. Even though he is 66, Greg doesn’t have plans to slow down and continues to work as a senior executive in the St. Simons Island office of McGinty-Gordon & Associates.

Greg is just one example of the many local cancer patients the American Cancer Society (ACS) Victory Board has been able to help over the past 50 years. The chapter has raised more than $2 million to fight cancer in Glynn County, and while COVID-19 has impacted some of the organization’s in person fundraising events, it hasn’t dampened the group’s passion to continue to help cancer patients in their community.

The ACS Victory Board was founded in 1969 when Mrs. James B. Gilbert, Sr. hosted a fashion show luncheon at the Sea Island Club Room with 200 ladies in attendance. Harriet’s Fashion Show evolved into the Victory Gala. From this, the ACS Victory Board was created and has since hosted numerous events to not only raise awareness of the ACS Victory Board, but to raise funds to support many of the local ACS programs in Glynn County.

Coping with cancer can be an immense and complicated burden. The reality of cancer is that many patients, especially those with limited resources, must overcome numerous hurdles to access timely, high-quality cancer care. Some patients may not have reliable transportation to medical appointments. One year, the chapter purchased more than $2,500 in gas cards that were distributed to cancer patients at Southeast Georgia Health System. The ACS Road to Recovery™ program also provides free transportation to and from treatment for cancer patients who do not have a ride or are unable to drive themselves. Lodging expenses may be another barrier to cancer care. Some cancer patients may not be able to afford out-of-town lodging during treatment. The ACS Victory Board recently donated to the new Richard M. Schulze Family Foundation Hope Lodge in Jacksonville where free nights of lodging are provided for patients and their caregivers who must travel far from home for treatment.

Supporting the ACS Victory Board helps to ensure cancer patients, survivors, like Greg, and caregivers continue to get the support they need. While the annual Victory Gala will not be held in 2020, the ACS Victory Board hopes to be able to return to in person events with its annual Daddy-Daughter Dance in February and a golf tournament in the spring. For updates, check their website and social media accounts on Facebook and Instagram. If you’d like to make a donation to support the ACS Victory Board, please do so via their website at acsvictoryboard.org or by Venmo @acsvictoryboard.

By supporting the premise “We Live Here, We Give Here,” we can build a stronger, more united community. You are that community, and these organizations need you now more than ever. Together we can make a difference.

Photography by Tim Rude, Fierce Strategy + Creative