Five years ago, Broad River Electric members David and Marcia Trott went to the World Relief organization in Taylors looking for an opportunity to help others in their community. World Relief’s work focuses on helping refugees and other immigrants rebuild their lives in the United States. The Trotts learned there was a large group of families from Slavic countries, including Ukraine, in the Upstate that needed support.
In response, the Trotts decided to create Mary & Martha Services to provide goods such as bedding, cleaning products, clothes, and furniture to refugee families in Spartanburg County and surrounding communities.
“The Ukrainian people are very close-knit, and they often take care of each other,” says Marcia Trott, executive director of Mary & Martha Services. “But they are finding they can’t provide all they need to help each other. They have come to trust us, and it’s been a special experience.”
Today, the charity supports any persons or families displaced from their homes due to fire, domestic violence or other crises. The organization, whose name is a Biblical reference to the two sisters of Lazarus, operates a warehouse off Foster Grove Road in Boiling Springs to store purchased and donated items.
Currently, 15 organizations, including the Red Cross, refer families to Mary & Martha Services.
“The tears that come to their eyes and the hugs that they give us afterward, the ‘God bless’ type of comments—that makes it worth it,” says Trout. We know that the things that we’ve been able to provide overall to disaster response and refuge seekers has made a tremendous impact.
Broad River Electric’s Operation Round Up fund donated $2,000 to Mary & Martha Services. If you are interested in donating to or helping Mary & Martha Services, call (864) 680-8296 or visit their website, maryandmarthaservices.com.