Facing a growing need for charitable support for some of its residents, South Carolina Baptist Ministries for the Aging hosted fund-raising dinners at its Darlington and Laurens retirement communities in May.
The events resulted in more than $200,000 in new gifts and pledges, and 23 individuals signed up to become founding members of the new “Helping Seniors Thrive Society.”
“Some of our residents have simply outlived their financial resources,” said Tom Turner, president and CEO of SCBMA. “Bethea and Martha Franks [Baptist retirement centers] are home to the ones who can afford to live there, [and they are] also home to the ones who can no longer afford to live there.”
Annie Eveleigh, SCBMA’s director of advancement, said some of the residents at Bethea and Martha Franks planned well for retirement, while some “followed the Lord’s command to share the Gospel to the world without concern about their financial future.”
“We as South Carolina Baptists have a responsibility to make sure all our retired pastors, missionaries, and lay leaders live the best retirement years possible,” she added.