PO Box 1373
Greer, SC 29652
www.gcminc.org
Phone: 864-877-1937
Fax: 864-877-1176
E-mail: [email protected]
heart to heart
As she walked through the lobby on her way to the Senior Dining bus, she turned to me and said, “I love this place.”
Artist gives back to MOW
Greer Community Ministries hosted an art show featuring the works of one of our
Meals on Wheels diners. The colored-pencil drawings and water color paintings of Hal
Endsley, 92, a WWII veteran, were on display through the month of May at our facility.
Endlsey gave the ministry the artwork to sell, with 100 percent of the proceeds going
directly to GCM. Hal’s art sales yielded over $1,100—enough to provide one day of
meals for Hal and the other 320 Meals on Wheels recipients.
“We are thrilled to show Hal’s artwork,” said Cindy Simpler, Executive Director. “This
shows everyone that no matter how far along you are in life’s journey, you can still share
your talents with others and make a difference.”
Simpler became aware of Endsley’s large collection while speaking to a group of
Heidi Heilbrunn / The Greenville News
senior adults at Chandler Creek Village Apartments in Greer about GCM’s programs.
When the meeting was over, he invited Simpler and others gathered for the meeting to his apartment, where many of his creations
adorned the walls. When Simpler approached him about the possibility of showing his work, Endsley said he would love to do it.
“Showing them is better than just stacking them up as I go,” Endsley said. He still works on his art almost daily. He sold it at shows
throughout his life, but had to stop going to art events when he gave up driving. He has had a passion for painting and drawing since
childhood. Many of his creations now come from photographs he is given.
Endsley was part of the U.S. Navy when WWII began and he joined soon after graduating from high school. He participated in the
invasion of Normandy and also served in Casa Blanca, Africa, and China.
10th Annual Benson OctoberFAST Classic Car Show and 5K
John Anderson will be in concert at OctoberFAST this year and wants to invite you to
join us as we celebrate Mr. Benson’s 80th birthday.
Save the Date: Saturday, October 1, 2016 at Greer First Baptist Church
Spaces are limited! To register your car or for more info visit gcminc.org
Runners can register online at gogreenevents.com
To our team at GCM, this is the highest compliment any of our clients can pay us. We know her story and we know how alone
she felt when she joined the program just two years ago. The friends she has made by coming to Senior Dining are like family. We
enjoy watching her laugh and entertain her friends with her jokes and antics. We are so happy that she loves this place.
It is not easy making connections as a senior adult. But staying connected is just as important to them now as it was in their
youth. We love being able to provide a place for seniors to connect and build relationships.
It is also never easy in our busy world to make connections that matter when it comes to your heart’s desire to give to people in
need. Giving to organizations that we trust is always a good place to start, and at GCM we are looking for allies in our mission. We
are looking for people to not merely be affiliated with us, but to know what we do and why we do it. When people are invested
through a relationship with us, we both prosper.
Come visit us and see how we can connect your servant’s heart with our programs.
Cindy Simpler, Executive Director
Holliday celebrates 20 years of singing and sharing
Shirley Holliday sang her way into the history books at Greer Community Ministries
Pictured left to right: Patsy Quarles (Senior Dining
Coordinator), Shirley Holliday, and Charlene Patterson
(GCM) last week. Once every month for the past 20 years, she has picked up a microphone
and performed songs like “The Lighthouse” and “The Anchor Holds” for the Senior Dining
program.
“It’s been a blessing coming down here,” Holliday said. “I’ve just
enjoyed it over the years.”
Pastor Virgil Smith asked her to sing at the ministry at its West
Poinsett Street location 20 years ago. Her aunt, Edna Edwards,
attended the program at that time so she didn’t hesitate to honor
his request. She became a regular on the entertainment calendar
after that.
When GCM moved to its Line Street location, Holliday followed.
Her father, Mack Edwards began attending the program at that time. Her father played the
harmonica and would often accompany her.
“Sometimes I still hear him playing his harmonica in my head,” Holliday said. “It was a
blessing to him to go every day.”
She began bringing her son, Mack, with her when she could. Through the years, Mack Holliday, his wife Hope and children Luke
and Elise, have all been a part of her program. For a few years, four generations of the Holliday family were represented.
“I have known them for a lot of years,” said Patsy Quarles, Senior Dining coordinator. “We are so grateful for all they do for us.”
#PUTTINGFOODONTHETABLE
$126,000
raised
The 19th Annual Dick Brooks Honda Meals on Wheels
Invitational brought in over $126,000 this year. We had 52
teams tee off at Greer Country Club on a beautiful Friday in
early May.
Thank
you
“We are extremely humbled by the outpouring of support,”
said Cindy Simpler, Executive Director. “Sponsors this year
helped exceed all expectations.”
Morning team winners were: DMX Transportation, first;
Robbie Gravley Insurance, second; and Burgess Tour, third.
Afternoon winners were: Endeavor Insurance, first; Tires
Unlimited of Greer, second; and SR Grading, third.
The legacy you leave behind
“I wish I could do more.” These are words that accompany many of the gifts we receive. The truth is that there are
dozens of ways for our friends to “do more” for Greer Community Ministries (GCM) – if gifts are carefully planned. Gift
planning combines financial planning, estate planning and tax planning techniques that enable us to make gifts of surprising
significance, often with dramatic tax advantages. The need for careful planning becomes clear when people consider the
basic questions involved in making an important gift. What should I give? How should I give? When should I give?
One of the most effective but simplest ways you can support GCM is by including a gift in your will. This is known as a
charitable bequest, which can benefit both you and the causes most important to you.
Why might you want to make a charitable bequest? Here are some of the benefits of bequest giving:

A bequest is flexible – You can make a gift today by including a provision in your will and change your mind anytime in
the future.

With a bequest, you can give as much or as little as you want to charity through your will without impacting your
lifestyle today.

You can continue to benefit from and make use of your assets (stocks, Life Insurance, IRA, home, etc.) during your
lifetime.

It typically costs you nothing to add a charitable bequest to your first will or at a later date when you decide to update
your plan.
 You can create a legacy by which to be remembered through bequest giving.
Your support for any charity should be carefully planned to ensure your personal satisfaction. Your gift can be established as
a memorial to a loved one or special friend. You may want to earmark your gift for a particular program or purpose, or
simply say that your gift may be applied wherever the need is greatest.
To learn more about how to include Greer Community Ministries in your will, contact Travis Babb at [email protected] or
864-877-1937.