FDTC employees donate time to community organizations
More than 100 Florence-Darlington Technical College (FDTC) faculty and staff members donated their time to local organizations throughout Florence, Darlington, and Marion Counties during the College’s Inaugural Community Day event.
“Florence-Darlington Technical College has been around for 60 years, and while we’ve provided an educational experience centered around student success and workforce development, this is the first time in our college history doing community day in all three counties at the same time.” FDTC President Dr. Jermaine Ford said. “Not only are our hands in, but our hearts are in, and the community is feeling our presence because we believe in making a difference within our communities.”
The College’s faculty and staff volunteered at nearly a dozen locations including the Boys and Girls Club of the Pee Dee, Darlington County Habitat for Humanity, Marion Intermediate School, House of Hope – Florence, OM Ships, the Manna House, Lighthouse Ministries, the Greater Lake City Community Resource Center, Heritage Home of Florence, Pee Dee Speech & Hearing, and the Lord Cares.
“Giving back to the community is an important part of growing,” FDTC Allied Health Administrative Assistant Leah Howard-Newell said. “We need to show our counties that they are important and that we care. When we serve together, we grow stronger.”
During the event, volunteers unpacked boxes, organized books, stacked shelves, cleaned tiny houses, made small repairs, painted, organized, served breakfast, and much more.
The College kicked off this Inaugural event as part of its week-long celebration for the College’s 60 anniversary. The week of events also includes the College’s annual Family Day for its employees, its first-ever Presidential Inauguration of its President Dr. Jermaine Ford on Thursday, and its Educational Foundations 60th Anniversary Gala, on Thursday night.
“FDTC has a rich history and we want to make sure we honor all the accomplishments of our College while at the same time looking towards the future,” Ford said. “We are all about student success and workforce development here at FDTC. Our students are number one to us and we want to make sure we give them the best opportunities to succeed in life with an affordable education that will lead to a family-sustaining wage.”