Gloria's Gift Foundation brings Christmas joy to needy Hampton County families
Gloria Harriott Satterfield was one of eight children in a modest, hardworking, blue-collar Hampton County family. Christmas was a joyous, but not extravagant time.
"Our parents could not afford a lot," recalled Ginger Harriott Hadwin, a sister of the late Gloria Satterfield. "If we got something as simple as a pair of socks, we appreciated it. For us, Christmas was about the fact that our parents and grandparents cared enough to get us something. It was all about that act of kindness and love."
Eric and Elizabeth Harriott enjoyed a slightly unique Christmas tradition with their four sons and four daughters. Instead of opening presents on Christmas morning, they would make a pretense of "going to town" with the kids, and while most of the family were gone Santa would pay a visit so the kids could return and find their gifts. That way Christmas Day was devoted entirely to spending time with family and grandparents.
For Gloria, perhaps the best childhood Christmas was the year she received a new bike. Before her death, she would go on to pass those same traditions down to her sons, Brian Harriott and Tony Satterfield.
And now, five years after Gloria's death, she will long be remembered as a champion of Christmas. On Friday, family members honored her memory and legacy by delivering Christmas gifts for needy Hampton County families through the Gloria's Gift Foundation.
Gloria's Gift Foundation growing in only its second year
The conference room at the Hampton County Department of Social Services building outside the county seat of Hampton is packed with a variety of gifts that would make most children's hearts flutter with joy and longing.
There are bikes, scooters, Smart TVs, Chromebook laptops, dolls, toys, clothes, and more. Each was stacked neatly and organized by family. And as a special touch, each child received their own compact New Testament Bible.
How did they get there? The Gloria's Gift Foundation accepted applications and referrals, then went shopping for the items on each child's special wish list.
In only its second year, Gloria's Gift has already increased its charitable footprint, serving a total of 48 children in 20 families.
"I want to thank everyone who has donated to Gloria's Gift, and thank Mrs. Evon Williams for allowing us to help the children," said Ginger Hadwin. "I hope Gloria's Gift will continue to grow.
Once purchased and donated, the families are notified and gifts are picked up and delivered in time for Christmas. Gloria's Gift was proud to partner with the DSS's Fill the Stocking campaign, which in total served more than 80 S.C. Lowcountry families.
"We couldn't do this without the community and people like the Gloria's Gift Foundation," said Williams, a retired child welfare specialist at Hampton County D.S.S. who has headed Fill the Stocking for years. "We want to thank everyone. No matter the size of the gift, big or small, it is needed."
What is the Gloria's Gift Foundation?
The Satterfield, Harriott and Hadwin families —among the many victims of Alex Murdaugh's fraudulent schemes — earned settlement monies for their pain and suffering, and to give back to the community launched the Gloria's Gift Foundation Christmas charity in June 2022.
Satterfield, a longtime household employee of the storied Murdaugh family of Hampton County, fell at Alex and Maggie Murdaugh's home, Moselle, in February 2018 and later died from her injuries.
That death, which did not make any sort of news headlines at the time, became a catalyst in a series of events that ultimately worked to bring about the fall of Murdaugh and his web of criminal conspiracy.
Alex Murdaugh orchestrated a multi-million insurance fraud scheme in which he encouraged Gloria's adult children to sue his insurance - and then he teamed up with accomplice and former attorney Cory Fleming to steal the money.
The criminal charges against Murdaugh connected to that scheme were among the first in a laundry list of state grand jury indictments that revealed millions stolen from multiple victims in multiple S.C. counties.
During a Nov. 28 sentencing hearing for his financial crimes, Murdaugh apologized to many of his victims, and members of Gloria's family were given the opportunity to address him and express their pain as well as their triumph through Gloria's Gift.
In June of 2022, Gloria's family held a press conference in their hometown of Hampton to announce that with some of this settlement money, they would be forming a charity in her name. Gloria, who was remembered as a "champion for love and charity," had loved the holidays with her family, and this charity would benefit deserving Hampton County families at Christmas.
In its first year, Gloria's Gift Foundation provided Christmas toys and much-needed clothing to 32 Hampton County area children that first December, said Ginger Hadwin, and after growing in its second year the family plans to do more every year.
"We believe the presents Gloria's Gift provides are truly the only gifts some children will receive," said Ginger Hadwin in 2022. "We, as the family of Gloria, are proud to be able to provide for the less fortunate during Christmas, the time of giving and sharing love, which allows us to spread joy and happiness. Hopefully, those who hear or know about Gloria's Gift are reminded of the good that has come out of such a tragedy."
How can you donate to the Gloria's Gift Foundation?
To donate, you can go online to Gloria's Gift Foundations's page on the Community Foundation of the Lowcountry's website: https://lowcountry.fcsuite.com/erp/donate/create/fund?funit_id=1797
For questions, you can also call the CFLC at 843-681-9100.
Checks can be made out to Gloria's Gift Foundation and mailed to Gloria's Gift Foundation, P.O. Box 1093, Varnville, SC 29944.
Applications to be considered for a recipient family can be picked up at the Hampton County D.S.S. office at 102 Ginn Altman Avenue, Hampton.
This article originally appeared on Augusta Chronicle: Gloria's Gift Foundation brings Christmas joy to needy SC families
