Founded in 1982, The Cooperative Ministry began when five downtown Columbia, South Carolina church congregations coordinated their efforts to provide financial, emotional and spiritual aid to members of the community known as the working poor. Over the years, The Cooperative Ministry has grown to encompass 120 congregations of all faiths and hundreds of partnering agencies, plus countless local organizations and individuals.
When someone in need experiences a layoff, injury, or other crisis, The Cooperative Ministry is there to supply emergency food, clothing, shelter, furniture, transportation, identification and medicine. To prepare members of the working poor for a brighter future, the Cooperative Ministry offers a Financial Sustainability Program, providing individuals with free income tax preparation, financial education classes and federal savings account opportunities. The generosity of donors, in addition to grants, allows The Cooperative Ministry to continue to help those in crisis regain their independence.
