It was a day of thanksgiving for those in need. The University of South Carolina Aiken hosted its annual One Table event to help raise money for those impacted by homelessness in Aiken County.
The event was held on Thursday, Nov. 16 inside the Student Activities Center. This year USC Aiken partnered with the Aiken County Homeless Coalition and Family Promise of Aiken County to host the event. Students, faculty, and staff join in fellowship along with providing donations of clothing, canned goods, hygiene products, and more.
In 2022, over 1,000 individuals received services through the Salvation Army in Aiken County with 300 students in Aiken County Public Schools identifying as homeless.
"One Table is very important to the campus and community because not only are you eating good food, but you also get to enjoy it with the people who you consider family and it's still a learning experience with the different organizations," said Anyah Farmer, a junior marketing major.
Farmer participates in IMPACT, a community service organization on campus that helped to plan the event along with Student Life.
According to Logan Sharpe, Assistant Director of Student Leadership, several agencies were considered before deciding to partner with the Coalition and Family Promise. "We felt like homelessness was an issue within Aiken County that is overlooked," he said. "We wanted there to be a deeper meaning for Faculty, Staff, and Students while they sat and ate their meal. We wanted everyone to take a moment and realize the issue at hand and how they could help in solving this issue."
Sharpe says that there are plans to refocus on the homeless issue in the community. "We are currently trying to get the campus more involved. We are also working at maybe hosting a One Table style event for the Aiken County homeless community," he explained.
For more information on the Aiken County Homeless Coalition and Family Promise of Aiken County click the links attached.
For more information, contact Angela Saxon, angela.saxon@usca.edu