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Palmetto Place Children’s Shelter’s mission is to provide a safe and nurturing emergency shelter bringing together a broad range of services for children who are victims of abuse and neglect.
We are a temporary, safe and caring haven for abused, abandoned and neglected children in the Midlands. The Shelter provides residential care 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. At Palmetto Place, we provide medical and mental health care, crisis adjustment/transitional counseling, after school tutoring and recreational and social activities in addition to food, clothing and shelter. Since the Shelter opened in 1977, we have cared for more than 6,700 at-risk children from newborn to age 17. When home is not a safe and loving place, we open our doors and offer each child the opportunity for a better, healthier and more productive future.
Children arrive at Palmetto Place at a time of crisis in their lives; they are hurting emotionally and/or physically. Victims of child maltreatment, they have been physically abused, sexually abused, physically and emotionally neglected, and/or abandoned. Many of the children have never experienced stable and secure living environments with compassionate caregivers. The adults in their lives have betrayed them by failing to provide even a minimally acceptable level of parenting. Therefore, these children have no reason to trust adults. Palmetto Place is their safe haven. Here they learn to believe that adults will meet their needs for safe shelter, food, clothing, and guidance while treating them with respect and care. Their healing starts at Palmetto Place.
~From the kids
"They (the staff) treated me like I was one of their own children."
"I love all of you here at Palmetto Place and I will come back and visit ya'll!"
"I especially enjoyed having at least one day where I smiled and didn't think about hurting myself."
"I loved being at Palmetto Place. They made me feel comfortable and right at home. Thank you guys so much."
~Our kids’ favorite activities while they are with us
Going to the movies
CiCi's Pizza
Ryan's Steakhouse
Frankie's Fun Park
Skating Rink
~Our History
Early in the 1970s, the members of the Junior Woman's Club of Columbia (JWC) were making themselves aware of the unique needs of children in stressful home environments. The club's Search Committee began to study the situation and possible areas of service the club could offer. The tragic stories of abused children presented through the news media as well as special appeals from state and local authorities indicated the lack of emergency shelters for abused and neglected children in the community. In June 1976, a special meeting of the club was called, and the membership voted unanimously for its new project, Youth Resources.
In January 1977, a home was purchased in Columbia, and Palmetto Place Children's Emergency Shelter was born in April 1977.
Since the Shelter was founded, more than 6,000 of the Midlands abused, neglected and abandoned children have found a safe, nurturing home at Palmetto Place.
