“One thing I’m proud of is that we’ve always said we’re not just a bakery, but we’re a ministry in the community. So seeing us have to not being able to have that opportunity again right now, is very hard because it’s not only about us, it’s about the people that we serve,” LaMar Wilson says.
“Their talents are in high demand. You know you look around, there’s different careers to choose from, whether it’s working for local government, working for private industries. It’s wonderful to have options and we want to place their talent with a career they’re comfortable with,” says City of Columbia Councilman Will Brennan.
“Just imagine if we could fill those 80,000 jobs. That would create billions more in economic activity, so that’s the challenge that we’re here to discuss today,” says Bob Morgan, President of the SC Chamber of Commerce.
“So being able to get to their senior centers which are in their communities — their local communities, who people know and respect — it will cut down on the risk of being exposed to other illnesses and the travel time it takes to get to specialists,” says Munn.
“It is as important as electricity today. So when you ask, ‘What does this mean?’ This means… It’s a quality of life issue. It’s an educational issue. It’s a health issue. So, it’s meaningful on every level I can think of,” Gustafson says.
The $730,000 project will include a fountain, outdoor musical instruments, swing benches with wheelchair capabilities, water misters for hot days, and other interactive features.
“They have been victimized, they have been beaten down, they feel alone, and they feel afraid. And they feel like there’s no hope. I’m here today to say there is hope. There are people out there waiting for you to reach out to them and we just got to get them driven to those services,” says Wilson.
To win last year’s competition Osborne says, “It took grit. It took pure grit. I mean you spend months preparing for this competition and your cards, putting them all on the table here. So it’s just grit at that point that’s going to get you through each individual day, each event.”
“So it’s burned in your brain. And then what’s burned in my brain is my last conversation with him as well. So you know those kinds of things hit ya — and it’s hard to forget,” Yamashiro says.
She encourages everyone to not be afraid in asking someone if they’re having suicidal thoughts. “We care for the people that we’re asking that question to. So it can be a little intimidating or unsure of what to do afterwards, and the biggest thing you can do is listen, give them support, help that person know they’re not alone, and connect that person to care,” Barnes says.
