The Story of the Corner of Hope

It All Started With a Gift

In 2012, Inman First Baptist Church was gifted with a building in downtown Inman, SC. The building was at the corner of Mill Street and Blackstock Road. The church began a season of prayer and discernment to imagine the possilbities such a space could provide. IFBC surveyed community non profits to see what needs were not being met in Spartanburg County. The United Way of the Piedmont helped in the needs assessment and IFBC determined that there was a need for a furniture bank in Spartanburg County.

Following the needs assessment, representatives with IFBC and the United Way of the Piedmont traveled to Charlotte, NC to see an operational furniture bank. Having a model to work from, IFBC began under the leadership at the time of Sam Raney and the late, Patsy Walter to pull together the resources and volunteers to begin the Corner of Hope Furniture Bank Ministry.

Since 2012, the Corner of Hope Furniture Bank Ministry has impacted over a 1,000 families. Each family has been offered the hope of turning a house or apartment into a home through the gift of mattresses, tables, chairs, sofas, and household goods. The joy of knowing that families with children have comfortable places to sleep or that an elderly couple can share a meal at table are just some ofthe reasons that the Corner of Hope Volunteers work each week to share God's love and hope.

A New Beginning

In 2020, the needs of the Corner of Hope had outgrown the space provided by the downtown location. The church was able to sell the building and began working to erect a new home for the Corner of Hope adjacent to the back parking lot of the IFBC church building. Construction began and under the leadership of Larry Viner, Chair of the IFBC Building and Grounds Team, was completed in 2021. The building was dedicated by Inman First Baptist Church during the Christmas season and began serving the community in early 2022. The new location offers easier access for donation drop-off and pickup by clients. Like our first building, it, too, sits at the corner, the corner of Rhinehart Street and Church Street. We still feel called to be the Corner of Hope for Spartanburg County.

Corner of Hope Volunteers

The Corner of Hope is operated completely by volunteers. Each week, volunteers open up the Corner of Hope for referred clients to come and choose items for their home. Additional volunteers pickup and unload furniture throughout Spartanburg County with our Corner of Hope Furniture Truck. Volunteers do all of that communication referring agencies, they represent the Corner of Hope in the community, and serve on the Corner of Hope Board.

A Hopeful Future

As the Corner of Hope continues to minister to Spartanburg County, we are hopeful for ways in which God will work through us to impact more neighbors, incorporate more volunteers, and look for more partners in our fight against furniture poverty in our community! We hope you will join us in giving hope.