Seeing the looks on the faces of people receiving food assistance from the Downtown Cooperative Church Ministries shows Dennis Sodomka that he’s making a difference.
“Maybe for the first time in my life, I think I’m doing what I should do,” said Sodomka, a volunteer with the organizations which received a $5,000 grant from Women in Philanthropy of the Central Savannah River Area on March 20 at the Augusta Country Club.
The work of DCCM is simple doing one of the things that Jesus told Peter to do in the gospels – feed my sheep.
DCCM has grown in the past few years from a monthly giveaway to 17 times a year and the amount of food given away has increased to 400,000 pounds over the past two years.
On Friday, Women in Philanthropy of the Central Savannah River Area distributed more than $150,000 to 10 organizations. Grants ranged from $5,000 to $25,000.
DCCM works with other downtown organizations. If it receives a donation of produce or baked goods that would go bad before its distribution day, the food goes to another organization such as the Salvation Army or GAP Ministries, which received a Women in Philanthropy grant for $15,000 for its diaper ministry Friday.
Nomi Stanton, executive director of GAP Ministries, said her organization is excited when someone from DCCM knocks on her door.
She’s also grateful for the grant, which provides diapers and baby wipes.
“We distribute 100 packages every Thursday. We are fitting 100 little bottoms, and our numbers are not going down; they are only going up,” she said.
Since its founding 17 years ago, Women in Philanthropy of the Central Savannah River Area has distributed “$2.5 million directly into non-profits serving women and children in our communities representing thousands of lives,” said Pamela Dorminey-Uros, the organization’s chair. “Every dollar raised stays right here in our community.”
Other grants included $10,000 to Burn Foundation of America; $15,000 to Great Oak Equine Assisted; $13,300 to Hope House; $20,000 to the Jessye Norman School of the Arts; $10,000 for Oak Ministries: $25,000 for RISE Augusta; $20,049.75 for the Family YMCA of Greater Augusta; and $20,000 for the Salvation Army’s Center of Hope.
Charmain Z. Brackett, the publisher of Augusta Good News and Inspiring: Women of Augusta, has covered Augusta’s news for more than 35 years. She’s won multiple Georgia Press Association awards, is the recipient of the 2018 Greater Augusta Arts Council’s media award and was named Augusta Magazine’s best local writer in 2024 and 2025. Reach her at charmain@augustagoodnews.com. Sign up for the newsletter here.
