Swansea, SC (WLTX) -- If you're looking for a holiday gift that's handmade and helps the needy, look no further than the Henhouse Ministry.
"Don't throw anything away, that was Aunt Gussy's famous saying, 'Don't throw anything away! Give it to us,'" Nancy Tyler says. Aunt Gussy was the first crafty hen, but after 33 years, they've multiplied.
"If you see something in a book or something, we'll try to make it," Mary Cupstid explains. Now, there are 15 ladies in the Henhouse Ministry. "Wednesday is basically the day that we can during canning season, and we do it here at the house, together," another Hen, Rachel Brown, says. They knit, cook, can and quilt, all for a cause.
"I feel like we do help a lot of people, but I wish we could help them even more," Nancy says. All the proceeds from their sales go to the needy.
"We sell so much that it's unreal, and we give God the credit because we don't see anything really that's moved, but when we count our money up, we make a good bit of money," Mary says. They usually make $1,000 a month and they add in a lot of love.
"Each one of us is putting a part of ourselves, and the love we have for each other. And we're hoping that that love is going to go back out and help other people," Rachel says.
"They're like my sisters and it's like coming home," Mary says, to a time when a quality gift was made by hand.
"We make things just like they used to make a long time ago. We still have stuff here that Aunt Gussy made 35 years ago," Nancy says.
"When you walk in the door, you can feel the warmth of all the ladies here," Mary says. The ministry also has two roosters, as they say, who keep the old house maintained and provide a little entertainment. You can visit the Henhouse Ministry yourself during their big sale on Saturday, starting at 9 a.m. It's located at 1556 Whetstone Rd. outside of Swansea. As always, all proceeds will go to charity.
11/20/2009 8:10:55 PM
