Giving Back To The Community

Close to 25 volunteers were busy Wednesday afternoon handing out an 18-wheeler full of free items to residents of Abbeville.
Most of the volunteers were from either Sanctuary Strength Church in Abbeville or family members of the new Williams Scholar Academy.
Around 5 p.m. on Tuesday, Twyla Williams Damond, the dean of Williams Scholar Academy, received a phone call from a pastor in Houston, letting her know an 18-wheeler full of items would be in Abbeville by noon the next day. The items were to help families who live near Williams Charter Academy.
“Part of our (Williams Academy) mission is to be connected to the community,” said Damond while she was putting items in a trunk. “The school was donated an 18-wheeler full of supplies, and there was no way we could use all the items, so the academy gave it to the community.
“That is what we do.”
Damond needed help to unload the items and hand them out to the residents. One of the first people she contacted was Pastor Donnie Bolden Sr., the head pastor at Sanctuary Strength Church (the old Lighthouse Church).
Pastor Bolden then called his son, Donnie Bolden Jr., who is the city marshal, to volunteer.
“I am out here for the love of the community,” said Bolden Jr. “We want to help the community.”
The 18-wheeler was parked on Vernon Street, located across the street from the future location of Williams Scholar Academy.
The volunteers unloaded masks, hand sanitizer, cleaning supplies, diapers, wipes, water, and potato chips.
As of 3 p.m., 390 vehicles had been loaded with items and many more left to serve.
Whatever the volunteers could not give way, Damond said Willaims Scholar Academy would donate to the Christian Service Center.