Bishop Herbert Bailey Supports Wateree Community Action with Major Donation
- CUBNSC
- 3 days ago
- 2 min read
by Javar Juarez | CUBNSC | August 29, 2025
Columbia, SC - This morning, one of Columbia’s most respected faith leaders, Bishop Herbert Bailey of Right Direction Church International, made a powerful commitment to supporting vulnerable families across the Midlands.
At a special presentation, Bishop Bailey announced a $30,000 donation to Wateree Community Action Partnership (WCAP), an organization with a 60-year history of helping families meet basic needs through housing support, Head Start programs, weatherization, utility assistance, and job training .
Wateree Community Action Partnership: Meeting Urgent Needs
The donation comes at a critical time. As federal cuts to programs like LIHEAP (Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program) continue to limit resources, agencies like Wateree are inundated with calls for help from families in crisis. Executive Director Annette Tucker noted that households struggling with high rent, overdue utilities, and food insecurity often fall just above federal income guidelines, leaving them without safety net assistance.
“Every day we hear from mothers with three kids facing $2,000 rent bills and $800 light bills,” Tucker explained. “Too often, families don’t qualify for federal programs, even though their need is desperate.”
Why It Matters
For Bishop Bailey, this partnership is deeply personal. Reflecting on his own early struggles, he recalled being on a first-name basis with the local utility company while trying to keep the lights on in the early days of founding Right Direction Church.
“God has blessed me now, but I remember when I couldn’t afford utilities,” Bailey said. “Generosity is one of our church’s core values. This is about putting our tithes back into the community where they are needed most.”
A Lifeline for Families
Wateree serves residents across Richland, Kershaw, Clarendon, Lee, and Sumter Counties, providing everything from housing stabilization to youth leadership programs. Program Director Margaret Gibson recently completed a needs assessment that revealed staggering numbers: in Richland County alone, more than 65,000 people qualify for Wateree’s services—but current funding only allows them to reach about 8% of those in need .
Bishop Bailey’s contribution ensures that some of those families who fall through the cracks—those “just above the guidelines” but still facing hardship—can receive support.
Looking Ahead
With rising rents, utility hikes, and Trump-era federal cuts deepening financial pressure on working families, partnerships like this demonstrate the vital role that faith-based institutions can play in strengthening community resilience.
As Bishop Bailey put it: “There’s no end to the good one can do if you don’t care who gets the credit. By working together, we can make a real difference.”
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