Edd's Gatherin' Place

Yesterday, November 30, 2004, I spoke with Major Newton Brown of the Salvation Army, 16 Kendrick Street, Sumter, SC 29150 and Mr. Ray Reich, City of Sumter Department of Growth and Development. Mayor Newton told me that between the three counties of Sumter, Kershaw, and Clarandon the Salvation Army through its bell-ringing program they collected for the 2003 Christmas season $72,172.14. Of this money, 100% stays in our communities to help the needy.

Mr. Reich was very pleasant but said he could not confirm that a Target Department store was intending to build in Sumter. He also said that until all leases have been signed and all the other legal documents signed he could not verify my question. We did talk in general that should a large retail store such as Target decide to build in Sumter property tax revenue would increase significantly and the city would most likely recoup its initial outlay of monies for improvement, i.e., water and sewer in about a year. He compared this to the city annexing in residential property with a recoupment time for city improvements of five years or more.

If a Target store does come to Sumter, it would certainly not be in time for this year’s holiday season. Much can change between now and next year and hopefully with Target facing national pressure on its Scrooge attitude towards the Salvation Army’s Christmas holiday Bell Ringing program they will reconsider their decision.

In deference to Target Department Stores, they do sponsor Target House, “long term housing for families whose children are receiving life-saving treatment at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.”

However, let us not forget the real reason we celebrate Christmas the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Our Lord who came among us as a man taught us the “lowliness of mind and unselfishness of spirit” not only with words but also by action. Before the Last Supper Jesus washed and dried the feet of all his disciples even to include the one who would later betray him.

Jesus then asked his disciples, “Do you understand the meaning of what I have done to you?”

“You call me your Teacher and your Lord, and you are right, for I am both Teacher and Lord. Well, if I, who am your Teacher and your Lord, have washed your feet, you ought to wash each other's feet. I have set you an example, that you should do what I have done to you. I tell you truly, a servant is not greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sends him. If you know all this, you are happy if you do them.”

The next time you see that small red kettle and bell-ringer let us all remember Christ’s so humbling action and place a donation inside. Those pennies, nickels, dimes, quarters and more may help wash the feet of one person in so much need physically and spiritually.

Peace…