MARLBORO COUNTY — Started in 1978 by Reverend John Culp, the Salkehatchie Project has blossomed and bloomed in ways unimaginable from its humble start. This year, like the last 48, youth 14+ from the First United Methodist Conference of South Carolina assisted families and individuals in need across the state. The group accomplishes this through a weeklong camp that runs from Saturday to Saturday during which the group works to repair interior and exterior home needs.
Run annually, the local chapter of Salkehatchie operates largely out of the First Methodist Church, with assistance from the First Presbyterian Church of Bennettsville. Camp Director Arlene Andrews has been a part of the Salkehatchie Project for over thirty years. The name comes from the state’s Salkehatchie River.
“A combination of youth and adults work on the repair projects. We rely heavily on donations from church members and other churches because we do provide meals three times a day, seven days a week. The kids really have a lot of fun spending the night at the church. We used to utilize the First Presbyterian Church’s Camp Pee Dee but since that property has sold, our home base has largely become the church,” Andrews explains.
This year Andrews says they had 70 volunteers and the youth were divided into five teams. From there, each group was assigned a home and a project.
Marlboro’s Salkehatchie Summer
Across the county, the Salkehatchie crew rolled up their sleeves and went to work this summer in service of their Lord and fellow man.
In Clio, the group was able to come to the aid of a family dealing with health issues. The family home was built and purchased in the 1980’s but fell into disrepair as members of the family became ill. Salkehatchie youth jumped in to fix a roof long eroded away by elements, as well as the porch and ceilings.
In grateful recognition, the town of Clio treated the Salkehatchie volunteers to a pizza lunch.
When the Salkehatchie group came to McColl, they were able to repair the roof of another family’s home. The group said they especially enjoyed holding impromptu dance parties with a young child in residence.
A Bennettsville family living in a home built by their grandfather had its roof replaced last year by the Salkehatchie group, however this year the home was damaged by a fire and now in need of a new kitchen and walls painted. The volunteer group was especially excited to provide a young girl living in the home with a service dog.
Additionally, the Salkehatchie group assisted a disabled veteran in need of a new roof, and another family with plumbing needs and repairs, even building a handicapped- accessible restroom. At another Marlboro County home, the group replaced a leaky roof with a brand-new shiny metal one.
Legacy of service
“It is such a shame because we know we cannot help everyone. Every year we know there are more people in need than we can possibly help. Projects are chosen based on referrals submitted during the year,” explains Andrews.
She says the program is so much more than swinging a hammer or pounding nails.
“Every night we hold a worship service with the group, and we let campers reflect on what the day’s events meant to them and what they learned helping others,” she added.
Salkehatchie’s main goal is to leave the world a better place—one handicapped accessible home, repaired roof, painted wall, or new floor at a time. By sharing Christ’s love with their neighbors through acts of gentleness, mercy, and kindness, the Salkehatchie Project transforms homes and lives.