H*4527 Concurrent Resolution, By Stuart, Allen, Allison, Altman, Askins, Bailey, 
Bales, Barfield, Barrett, Battle, Bowers, Breeland, G. Brown, H. Brown, 
J. Brown, T. Brown, Campsen, Canty, Carnell, Cato, Chellis, Clyburn, 
Cobb-Hunter, Cooper, Cotty, Dantzler, Davenport, Delleney, Easterday, Edge, 
Emory, Fleming, Frye, Gamble, Gilham, Gourdine, Govan, Hamilton, Harrell, 
Harris, Harrison, Harvin, Haskins, Hawkins, Hayes, J. Hines, M. Hines, Hinson, 
Hosey, Howard, Huggins, Inabinett, Jennings, Keegan, Kelley, Kennedy, Kirsh, 
Klauber, Knotts, Koon, Lanford, Law, Leach, Lee, Limehouse, Littlejohn, Lloyd, 
Loftis, Lourie, Lucas, Mack, Maddox, Martin, McCraw, McGee, McKay, M. McLeod, 
W. McLeod, McMahand, Meacham-Richardson, Miller, Moody-Lawrence, J.H. Neal, 
J.M. Neal, Neilson, Ott, Parks, Perry, Phillips, Pinckney, Quinn, Rhoad, Rice, 
Riser, Robinson, Rodgers, Rutherford, Sandifer, Scott, Seithel, Sharpe, Sheheen, 
Simrill, F. Smith, J. Smith, R. Smith, D. Smith, Stille, Taylor, Townsend, 
Tripp, Trotter, Vaughn, Walker, Webb, Whatley, Whipper, Wilder, Wilkes, Wilkins, 
Witherspoon, Woodrum and Young-Brickell
 A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING THE HENHOUSE MINISTRY OF LEXINGTON COUNTY
 FOR ITS TWENTY-SIX-YEAR HISTORY OF CARE AND CONCERN FOR THE SWANSEA COMMUNITY,
 THE STATE, AND THE WORLD, AND HONORING THE "CHICKS" WHO MAKE IT POSSIBLE BY
 QUILTING, CANNING, AND CRAFTING FOR CHARITY.

   02/02/00  House  Introduced, adopted, sent to Senate HJ-7
   02/03/00  Senate Introduced, adopted, returned with concurrence SJ-13

RECOGNIZING THE HENHOUSE MINISTRY OF LEXINGTON COUNTY FOR ITS TWENTY-SIX-YEAR HISTORY OF CARE AND CONCERN FOR THE SWANSEA COMMUNITY, THE STATE, AND THE WORLD, AND HONORING THE "CHICKS" WHO MAKE IT POSSIBLE BY QUILTING, CANNING, AND CRAFTING FOR CHARITY.

Whereas, the Henhouse Ministry was founded twenty-six years ago by Gussie Kennerly Johnson as a way to raise funds for people in need; and

Whereas, the members, who refer to themselves as "Chicks", gather on Wednesdays in a white clapboard farmhouse on Highway 3 at Poole's Mill, to channel their boundless energy into various handiworks and other projects for charity; and

Whereas, they have been selling their quilts, canned goods, and crafts every Wednesday since the founding of the Henhouse to raise money for their neighbors in Swansea and around the world; and

Whereas, the notion to begin the ministry began with the idea of raising money for a burned-out family by selling a quilt crafted by hand; and

Whereas, a typical Wednesday might find as many as sixteen of the twenty-five or so "Chicks" canning more than one hundred quarts of okra and tomatoes, stuffing decorative pillows, stitching tea towels or the current quilting project, and crocheting or knitting baby blankets; and

Whereas, those efforts usually result in a monthly income for charity of at least one thousand dollars; and

Whereas, their other projects have included providing support for widows in Russia, school supplies for children in Bosnia, coats for Albania, eyeglasses and midwifery kits to Haiti, and a scholarship for a seminarian in Russia, in addition to funding medical, shelter, and food needs of neighbors; and

Whereas, the Henhouse Ministry is a shining example of the power of love and the challenging ways the women of this State have always found to channel that power for the well-being of their neighbors. Now, therefore,

Be it resolved by the House of Representatives, the Senate concurring:

That the members of the General Assembly recognize the Henhouse Ministry of Lexington County for its twenty-six-year history of care and concern for the Swansea community, the State, and the World, and honor the "Chicks" who make it possible by quilting, canning, and crafting for charity.

Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be presented to the "Chicks" by The Honorable Elsie R. Stuart on February 3, 2000, during their visit to the House of Representatives.