By Scott Grooms
This week’s Spotlight is on Amanda Herndon, the Executive Director for In His Name - Colleton.
Herndon was born and raised in Colleton County, attended Colleton County High School and Graduated from North Walterboro Christian Academy. Since graduating college, she has been a pharmacy tech, teacher, and a stay-at-home mom.
She is married and has 3 children. When not at work, Herndon is on the road supporting her children who are heavily involved with travel ball. She says, “We are on the road every weekend. We're at the ball field every night except for during Christmas break.” Along with travel ball and her husband, Jonathan being self-employed as the owner on a heating and air business they have very little free time.
When asked what they do in the little spare time available she says, “My girls are very busy. They do not sit in front of the TV or electronics they are outside. They like to ride four wheelers, explore, and when their youngest son is a little older, they plan to start camping again.”
Herndon likes her quiet time, “I'm on my phone. I just scroll to catch up. I do read. I try to find some Bible studies to read that's what I really do at nighttime.
When speaking about In His Name – Colleton we spoke about her family volunteering with the program, “I wanted the girls to be involved in the community. We were looking for a soup kitchen or somewhere for the girls to experience serving others and that's how we found out about in his name, so my girls have they've been involved every step of the way.”
We spoke about why she became executive director of In His Name, “I'm definitely gonna have to say that it was a God thing because I've definitely feel that what I'm doing is through God I would have never seen myself doing this. That is takes a lot to put others first. I've always been a giver and a people person. I just saw the need in the community and there's such a gap that's not being met, so many resources that aren't being shared, and that would probably be the driving force behind In His Name – Colleton.
Herndon says, “In His Name does so much more than just feed people and it's not just for homeless people. There's a lot of misconception of what we do. You never know when your last meal might be or being able to afford the basic needs that we're blessed with. We never know when it could be us. And that's what I try to relate, especially with my girls. Be grateful for what we have because there's kids that don't have this. They don't have a mom and a dad. They don't have a bed. They don't have jackets.”
When asked if she could do anything and money was no object Herndon says,
“Oh, my goodness. If I had all the money in the world, what would I do? I would buy a big building for In His Name, community outreach. And then once all of that was done and it was up and running, I would go on a 30-day vacation with no cell phone to England maybe Italy? I like pasta. So, I want to get somewhere there's pasta.”
