Sara’s mother was a prostitute who was murdered by her pimp in front of her child. At the tender age of seven, Sara was forced into prostitution by the same man who was guilty of her mother’s death. She grew into an abused teenager who knew only violence and drugs. At 13 Sara became addicted. To escape this situation she chose a partner who turned out to be very abusive. She left him to join a gang, the nearest thing to being in a family she had ever known.

As her life blundered on, she was incarcerated for prostitution, auto theft, and breaking and entering, and was in and out of juvenile facilities. Then another man came into her life. She stayed with him for three years. He was the biological father of her three children.When pregnant with the third child, she was beaten so badly by the child’s father that she nearly lost the baby. Sara finally ended up at Sistercare which is a home for abused women and their children.

Sara needed long term nurtuing and a Sistercare advocate suggested The Nurturing Center. By this time Sara was an alcoholic. She had to learn what it was like to be loved and live a completely different way of life away from violence, fear, and pain. She found this care at The Nurturing Center.

The Nuturing Center, established in 1988, is a place where people who have been in abusive situations can receive long term intensive treatment. It has programs for families at risk for neglect or abuse and provides transportation from the victim’s homes each day, a hot meal and support, encouragement, and counseling. The staff at The Nurturing Center also helps clients find jobs and housing.

The 35 member staff is challenged each day to minister to people like Sara whose story is shockingly true.

The Nurturing Center accepts self–referrals. Many clients are referred from a number of agencies like Richland County DSS and Lexington County Social Services plus School Districts. Funding sources are varied and include Medicaid, grants, United Way, Central Carolina Community Foundation, SC Department of Public Safety, charitable organizations, corporations, and churches. The Nurturing Center is also one of five recipients to benefit from the Trinity Episcopal Cathedral’s Bazaar on November 5.

The Nurturing Center is located at 1332 Pickens Street. Kris Pickens is the executive director, and Neil Nadkarni is the director of development.

Volunteers are being asked to furnish ingredients like vegetables, stuffing, or turkey and roasting pans so that clients may prepare their own Thanksgiving dinners. Visit www.TheNurturingCenter.org or call 771-4160.