Bishopville, SC (WLTX) - More than 400 families will receive a little Christmas cheer Saturday thanks to the Good Samaritans who have been working hard all year to help those in need.
Pastor Eddie Thomas and his wife Corine have organized the giveaway for the needy for 20 years. Pastor Thomas says they have helped countless numbers of people through the years, "We stopped counting when we got around 60-thousand and that's been three or four years ago."
Fourteen of those have been dedicated to helping families in Lee County. But all this started with a promise that Thomas made to God when he was wounded in the Korean War; that if he made hit home alive, he would dedicate his life to helping others. he says that's why he became a pastor and that lead to the idea behind Good Samaritan. "He put it on my mind to help the less fortunate.This is how Good Samaratan become about. Me and my wife started way back in 1994."
Every year since, they've put together what looks like it could be Santa's workshop. More than 50 volunteers work to prepare the giveaway. Pastor Raymond Cook has volunteered with the organization for more than a decade. He says, "We enjoy doing what we are doing, knowing that we are helping families during this season."
More than 10 organizations and area churches partnered with Good Samaritan throughout the year, to fill more than Nine trucks with trailers full of goodies. Those trucks rolled up to Lee Central High School on Friday. Volunteers unloaded more than 200 bikes, lots of toys, clothing and food for those in need. Pastor Cook says, "We cannot give them everything, but we can help supplement some of the needs that they have."
But the volunteers know that it's not necessarily about the gifts. Pastor Paul Atkinson says it's about the giving, "This organization does that. it provides that outlet where we can get together and everybody for all denominations and all churches and all colors can get together and be what we are supposed to be."
Pastor Eddie Thomas says, "It doesn't make me feel good to have something under my tree and know that somebody down the street that needs something under theirs to make them happy, food on their table, the kids have a toy or something."
Those in need can go to Lee Central High School between 8 a.m. and Noon on Saturday, December 20, 2014. A second give away will be held on Tuesday, December 23, 2014 at the old high school on Main St. in Bishopville.
If you would like to donate, Good Samaritan takes donations throughout the year to help fire victims and those in need. Just contact Reverend Eddie Thomas at 803-428-4448 or Reverend Raymond Cook at 803-469-6294.
