Staff Report

Pam Bratton, left, director of the Newberry Free Medical Clinic, stands with Bobby Glasgow, first vice chair of the Newberry County Democrats. Glasgow met with Bratton early in July to donate funds for the Newberry Free Medical Clinic to buy weight and height measuring scales.
https://www.newberryobserver.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/web1_6C7A6420a.jpgPam Bratton, left, director of the Newberry Free Medical Clinic, stands with Bobby Glasgow, first vice chair of the Newberry County Democrats. Glasgow met with Bratton early in July to donate funds for the Newberry Free Medical Clinic to buy weight and height measuring scales. Courtesy photo

NEWBERRY — Newberry County Democrats have initiated a new program designed to help various local charities in their efforts.

Helping Hands focuses on efforts to assist charities in collecting funds and/or material goods donations. The first of these efforts took fruition in July, when the group donated funds for the Newberry Free Medical Clinic to buy weight and height measuring scales.

“We spoke with the Free Clinic a month or so ago about what their needs might be, and their first choice was the scales,” said Bobby Glasgow, first vice chair of Newberry County Democrats.

Glasgow met with Pam Bratton early in July to transfer the necessary funds to the Free Clinic, successfully completing the first project.

Glasgow said the majority of the donations were no more than $10 each, and intentionally so.

“We know people are frequently asked for donations, and we wanted to do two things. First, we didn’t want to ask people for any large amount that would cause them to think twice,” Glasgow said. “Second, we wanted to show the power of many small donations. Working together and pooling even small amounts can make a big difference.”

One donation came as the result of helping someone from out of town. A member of the group came across a pair of women from Aiken whose car had broken down on a Newberry County highway.

When a tow truck arrived, the women offered the Newberry man some money, but he declined. Instead, he asked them to make out a check for $10 for the Free Medical Clinic, which they did.