Midlands Gives Underway

Columbia , S.C. (WOLO) — Midnight kicks off the 3rd annual Midlands Gives, a 24 hour online donating challenge.

The day of giving includes 375  non-profit organizations that serve the local community and help hundreds of families in need, like Tanika Doctor. Doctor and her family were displaced during October’s historic floods.

“It’s a blessing to have a place to call home,” said Doctor. “We ended up not being able to move into the place we were supposed to move into so we ended up in a homeless situation.”

That’s when they turned to Family Promise of the Midlands, an organization that helps situationally homeless families find permanent housing.

“So many people are one paycheck short of being homeless themselves and Columbia is a difficult place to be homeless,” explained Nancy Tuten, Family Promise. “We have a real shortage of affordable housing and it’s very difficult for families once they are in that situation to be able to get back into permanent sustainable housing situations.”

Family Promise is one of more than 300 charity organizations participating in the 24 hour giving challenge, which gives people an easy way to help make a difference.

“It lifts up the non-profits that are doing great work in our community, it spreads awareness about them and it raises donations for them,” said Cherise Arrendale, Midlands Gives.

To donate, visit midlandsgives.org.