In this issue of Columbia Metropolitan magazine, we celebrate the winners of our Best of Columbia contest. A few months ago, Columbia was at its best when called upon to help our neighbors from Louisiana who were displaced by Hurricane Katrina. Under short notice and over a major holiday weekend, Columbia's city officials and concerned citizens developed and implemented an enormous undertaking, which was without precedent.
"Shepherds," "Guests" and "Walkers" are a few of the terms Sam Tennenbaum, who was asked by the mayor to lead this effort, used as he described the heart-warming tale of Columbians working together to help the 2,053 victims of Katrina relocated to Columbia. Those who arrived were our "guests" not refugees; the people who greeted them and helped them were "shepherds" not relief workers; and all the volunteers were "walkers" – people who walk the walk. The basic mission was to treat these unfortunate people with dignity and as we would want to be treated if subjected to similar circumstances. Columbia not only exhibited a caring heart, but also efficiency, organizational skills and a "can do it" attitude. National Red Cross official Bonnie Hunter says that the program in Columbia should be a template for the rest of the country on how to conduct relief efforts for people displaced by disasters.
Many charitable organizations and churches in Columbia started helping immediately after the storm and before the people from New Orleans had even arrived. Groups organized and went to the devastated Gulf coast region to help in any way that they could. City Light and Christ Central Ministries arrived in Biloxi, Miss., on Sept. 3 just a few days after the storm. They supported relief efforts such as cleaning churches and homes, creating a Kids Camp and providing medical relief and food. And the support still continues. Columbia officially adopted Biloxi on Oct. 14 through the "Hugs From Carolina Campaign." This is a division of the Hugs Around The World Campaign designed to spread love and compassion to people through the use of puppets and music. Besides giving hugs, the adoption process includes churches adopting churches, businesses adopting businesess, families adopting families and adults adopting children through various means of support.
During the past few years, Columbia has seen much in the way of material progress: downtown and Vista revitalization, exciting developments at USC, new and existing business growth and the steady influx of new residents. With this surge in the city's material vitality, it is encouraging to see that Columbia has retained the best attributes of a community — a caring and warm heart and an unrestrained willingness to give time, talent and treasure.
Sincerely,
Henry Clay
Publisher
This Issue