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MISSION FOR THE MIDLANDS
To increase the economic self-sufficiency of people experiencing poverty in the Midlands through crisis assistance and sustainability programs.
OUR HISTORY
In 1982, The Cooperative Ministry was founded by five churches (First Presbyterian Church, Main Street Methodist, Trinity Episcopal Cathedral, Washington Street United Methodist Church, and First Baptist Church) in downtown Columbia. The goal was to establish a collaborative method of assisting those in need while preventing the duplication of services. The Cooperative Ministry began offering services on Monday, Sept. 20, 1982.
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Today, The Cooperative Ministry is supported by 61 faith partners joining with corporations, family foundations, community organizations, government agencies, small businesses, and thousands of individuals. The Cooperative Ministry is debt free and governed by a local board of directors. Of all expenses, 89 percent go to support client services. Volunteerism has always been important to The Cooperative Ministry. Today, volunteers comprise 34 percent of our workforce, serving thousands of hours at our building on West Beltline Boulevard.
OUR STAFF
OUR BOARD
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Stephanie Yandle
Chair
Customer Experience Manager
BlueCross BlueShield
of South Carolina
![Alexa Godwin bw.jpg](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/dccd7d_42b64bb42ce54822bef2946f7afc69a7~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_210,h_140,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/Alexa%20Godwin%20bw.jpg)
Alexa Godwin
Vice Chair
Marketing Manager
Godwin Motors
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Fred Manning
Secretary
Partner
Fisher Phillips, LLP
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Steven Hicks, CPA
Treasurer
Capital Markets
AgFirst
![Elise Bidwell BW.jpg](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/dccd7d_1e58dac22f0f46f7893e041d1e8e322a~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_211,h_217,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/Elise%20Bidwell%20BW.jpg)
Elise Bidwell, CFP
Financial Advisor
Edward Jones
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Davis Buchanan
Imm. Past Chair
President
Buchanan Construction Services
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Rev. Wes Church
Senior Pastor
First Baptist Church
Columbia
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Bill Edmonds
CEO
Northstar Leadership Solutions
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Mike Farmer
Regional Vice President
Commercial Banking
TD Bank
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Carol F. Fowler
Fowler Communications, Inc.
![Lisa Gadsonbw.png](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/dccd7d_728e96de30654115b039d92a643fbe44~mv2.png/v1/crop/x_0,y_11,w_257,h_258/fill/w_216,h_217,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/Lisa%20Gadsonbw.png)
Lisa Gadson
Vice President, Branch Manager
South State Bank
![Jimmy Herlong Headshot bw.png](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/dccd7d_3a33a68ae4694ed9a43d1dff807bcb66~mv2.png/v1/fill/w_216,h_216,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/Jimmy%20Herlong%20Headshot%20bw.png)
Jimmy Herlong
Owner
Midas Auto Service
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Chief William "Skip" Holbrook
Columbia Police Department
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Jim Hudson
Founder and Principal
Jim Hudson
Automotive Group
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Rob Motley
President
IOA
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Mark Scriven, CPA
Principal
Elliott Davis, LLC
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David Tucker
Owner/President
Corner Pantry Inc.
Tucker Oil Company
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Mitch Watson, CPA
COO
Carolinas HUB International
![Kyle Whetstone no crop.jpg](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/dccd7d_15841d907ff94dd1a485583f3170b58b~mv2.jpg/v1/crop/x_282,y_18,w_787,h_792/fill/w_216,h_217,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/Kyle%20Whetstone%20no%20crop.jpg)
Kyle Whetstone
President
Palmetto State Glass