ELGIN, S.C. — Radiate Church Outreach Team and Blanketing Families are ensuring memories are immortalized on Elgin's "Love Locks" fence.
"We need to remember love is what unites us; love touches every life," said Radiate Church pastor Brandon Goff.
At first glance, the fence in Elgin appears to be a plain black structure, but it has transformed into something much more meaningful - a symbol of remembrance.
"As we put the lock on here, and we say, hey, it's for this person or this memory or this relationship in my life, what you are doing is this means enough to me that I want to leave it here for a while," he said.
Goff watched as community members attached locks to the fence, each click echoing with the permanence of cherished memories.
"Life is like James said, life is like a vapor. No one knows how long we have or how short we have in this life, so when we get the opportunity to express love and care for somebody, let's jump on that," he said.
The fence stands proudly at the Blanketing Families Community Garden, where Annette Hammond, co-founder of Blanketing Families, embraced the idea of creating a space filled with love.
"The main thing is love," Hammond said. "Now, we all of the love because God is of love, at least I know I am, but with this being here and we got to see the final structure, I thought, 'Aw, hmm, yes, this is good.'"
As people gather to place their locks on the fence, they share stories of the loved ones these locks symbolize.
"For my family, for my loved ones that have passed on and the new love that comes in our lives, and just love for my community," Hammond said.
"The lock is in memory of my sister Janice Sue Leemaster, who died in 2015," Elgin resident Joyce Hendershot said. "I just miss her so much, and it's a great tribute to her."
The fence is located at 1245 Sessions Rd. in Elgin and is accessible from dawn to dusk.