FLORENCE — Digital creator Lindsay Floyd created her first mural. It was painted Sept. 20 at the United Way of Florence County.
The mural was one of more than 70 projects started and completed Sept. 20 during the United Way of Florence County's annual Day of Caring. The mural reflects the organization's primary focuses of education for ages 0-4, mental health and home rehabilitation.
She included youth activities in the mural, too. The mural design took several days, Floyd said. "I had a creative block, but I just kept going back and working on it.
I combined two different ideas I was working on. I ended up really loving this," she said. "Thankfully, they did too.
" Floyd said she has been drawing all her life. In school, she was a business major with a minor in art. "I still do commission work, graphic design — basically a little bit of everything," she said.
Floyd has a Facebook page. Eastern SC Chapter of the American Red Cross Executive Director Kara Byrd paints a mural in the conference room of the United Way of Florence County during the Sept. 20 annual Day of Caring.
E astern SC Chapter American Red Cross Executive Director Kara Byrd had a paint brush and was adding trees to the mural. The mural, Byrd said, will show how the United Way connects different sectors of the community. "You can see on here there are playgrounds and what not.
It just shows you the full picture of everything United Way touches in this community," Byrd said. Byrd said she has been painting for years. She wanted to leave her mark on the United Way.
"I'm grateful to be here. This day every year just brings our community so close together and its a beautiful thing to see," Byrd said. United Way of Florence recognizes top supporters, looks to future The United Way of Florence County's annual Day of Caring is a volunteer day for companies, civic groups and individuals to start and complete projects for nonprofits in the community, United Way of Florence County President Cameron Campbell said.
On Sept. 20, 34 companies and organizations worked on more than 70 projects for 19 nonprofits, Campbell said. "It takes away from the nonprofits' mission when you have to take away time and money for maintenance on their buildings," Campbell said.
"It allows nonprofits to make improvements and continue using their funding to help those in the community." Brad White, Field Fastener employee, replaces lights at the United Way of Florence County during the Sept. 20 United Way of Florence County's annual Day of Caring.
The United Way of Florence County has been having its annual Day of Caring for 34 years, she said. Field Fastener employee Brad White was changing the ceiling light bulbs at the United Way of Florence County's building. Other Field Fastener employees were working on landscaping at the United Way building, White said.
"We are changing light bulbs. That way all the lights are working," White said. United Way is one of three Field Fastener partner agencies, he said.
"We look for ways to partner with the United Way and give back. We encourage all of our team members to do that," White said. Field Fastener wants to improve the lives of others, he said.
White has lived in Florence for the past 20 years. He enjoys giving back to the community and encourages others to do so. "I would just encourage them to take a step forward," White said.
"Reach out to the United Way to find ways they can be involved." Tenacious Grace operates a two-year residential recovery program for women who are survivors of abuse, addiction, poverty and prostitution. Today's Top Headlines Story continues below How did 14 of the world’s deadliest snakes end up in a South Carolina neighborhood? Invasive animals plague South Carolina.
Here are the worst you've probably seen. Commentary: I'm tired of being called a book banner — and of our loss of common sense TGI Fridays says thanks as it exits the Charleston market on a Tuesday How a Beaufort family found a genie lamp in Spartanburg with wishes worth up to $1.2M Many North Charleston residents face food insecurity.
Here's where to find free and fresh produce. Why is liquor liability insurance causing South Carolina bars and restaurants to close? A mural of his mother and Nature Boy's robe: Darius Rucker shares a peek inside his home 'I got that ..
. on video': SC man recovering after being bitten by world's most venomous snake Fatal punch kills man outside popular downtown Greenville bar, police say Brian Davison of Pepsi Cola of Florence cleans up a yard at a Tenacious Grace property during the Sept. 20 United Way of Florence County's annual Day of Caring.
Pepsi Cola of Florence volunteers were revamping a residential home for the Sept. 20 Day of Caring as well as working on the Tenacious Grace headquarters. The residential home needed a lot of work.
Volunteers were ripping out the kitchen to install a new one. They also cleared the back, side and front yards and installed new landscaping. Tammy Hicks has worked for Pepsi of Florence for 36 years.
The company has been involved in Day of Caring since its start 34 years ago. "Our GM now Les Ward has continued that spirit of giving," Hicks said. The Pepsi team looks forward to the United Way of Florence's Day of Caring every year, she said.
Pepsi of Florence General Manager Les Ward removes vinyl flooring from a kitchen in a Tenacious Grace home during the Sept. 20 United Way of Florence County annual Day of Caring. "Everyone of these guys are managers.
They volunteer. They've never turned me down," Hicks said. "They are always eager to help.
" Hicks said she and the Pepsi team are blessed to live and work here. Others in Florence aren't as fortunate. "We appreciate this day because it gives us another opportunity to give back," she said.
The Florence Area Literacy Council was founded 45 years ago to provide quality instruction for those who can't read well enough to get a job, read a prescription or be self-sufficient. In Florence County, 33 percent of adults are functionally illiterate and don't read above a 5th-grade level. How did 14 of the world’s deadliest snakes end up in a South Carolina neighborhood? The United Way of Florence County's Day of Caring is a key survival tool for the organization, Literacy Council Executive Director Christina Lawson said.
"We operate on such a small budget. There are a lot of things that we would like to do but can't," Lawson said. "We just can't afford it.
It's a choice between buying educational materials and doing the things we need to do for our students. A lot of these projects are the things we dream about and want to have done but we don't have the funds for it." During the Day of Caring, people in the community step up and do the projects the Literacy Council can't afford to do.
"It takes a huge burden off us," Lawson said. ADP Florence employees Shanna Wyatt and Sarah Richardson prepare window frames for painting at the Florence Area Literacy Council on Sept. 20 during the United Way of Florence County's annual Day of Caring.
On Sept. 20, ADP volunteers Shanna Wyatt and Sarah Richardson were preparing the Florence Area Literacy Council's windows for painting. They were applying painter's tape and doing other prep work.
It was Wyatt's first year to participate in the Day of Caring. "It's awesome to be able to do something for someone else," Wyatt said. Wyatt and Richardson have some house painting experience.
Wyatt said Richardson had just finished painting some rooms in her home. "We've got the tape. We've got the paint.
We're ready to go," she said. Allen Griffin and Jodi Fravor unbox a bench on the patio of the Florence Area Literacy Council during the United Way of Florence County's annual Day of Caring Griffin and Fravor are First Citizen Bank employees. Behind the Literacy Council building, First Citizens Bank volunteers Allen Griffin and Jodi Fravor where unboxing a bench to build.
Inside. Florence County employees were going to paint the kitchen cabinets and install new countertops. Anderson Brothers Bank volunteers Jamie Carsteen, Ryker Royston and Benjamin Jones were helping Lawson sort through boxes and get organized.
Sept. 20 was a special day for the Florence Area Literacy Council and 18 other nonprofits in Florence..
