NBC News and MSNBC boast a familiar face for the citizens of Columbia — Craig Melvin. Craig was born and raised in Soda City, graduated from Columbia High School, and later earned a degree in government from Wofford College in Spartanburg. He began working for WIS-TV during his high school years and eventually returned as a part of the Sunrise news team. From there, Craig advanced to an anchor desk position on the evening news, becoming a recognized and beloved figure in Columbia before his talents led him to larger markets. His time on WIS was followed by three years of anchoring and reporting for the WRC station in Washington, D.C., where he met Lindsay Czarniak, his wife. He was then promoted to his current role as anchor and news correspondent for NBC News and MSNBC. Now, even from afar, Craig is committed to giving back to the community that helped launch his career.

Tucked away in Cayce is a home that has been passed down through the generations of Craig’s family. His great-grandmother built it in 1950, and Betty Jo Melvin, Craig’s mother, brought him there from the hospital as a baby. Only two blocks away from his childhood church, it was a place of warmth and hospitality for so many in the community. Craig remembers it as the venue for many Sunday afternoon lunches and holiday celebrations.

After Craig’s Aunt Margaret, the last family member to reside in the house, passed away, the house sat empty until Craig and his brother discovered it was to be auctioned off; it was then that they envisioned a greater purpose for this home that had meant so much to their family. They purchased the house and decided to lease it to Family Promise — an organization that provides transitional housing and support to families in need — for one dollar a year. Combating homelessness has been a long-time passion for Craig, and he dreams that “this home will be a launchpad for parents to support their families and give their children a wealth of opportunities to learn and be successful.” As he reflected on the decision, he marveled at the relationships that paved the road to this choice. Randy Covington, Craig’s boss at WIS, served on the board of Family Promise. It was through Randy that Betty, Craig’s mother, also got involved with the organization — a chain of connections that led the way to Craig’s inspiration to purchase and donate the home.

Of course, Family Promise graciously accepted the offer and got to work! Though the Melvin home had been a nurturing environment years ago, it had fallen into disrepair since Margaret’s death. The Mungo Homes Foundation stepped up and rallied more than 35 of the Mungo Homes vendors and trade partners who, at no cost to the Foundation, Family Promise of the Midlands, or the Melvin family, donated all labor and materials to renovate the home into the beautiful state that it is today. More than getting sturdy, freshly painted walls and new appliances, the house was truly transformed into a home — complete with stuffed animals on children’s beds, cheerful artwork, and “welcome” signs. The house was ready to provide shelter, hope, and new memories for families who desperately needed it. When reflecting on this transformation, Jeff Armstrong, executive director of Family Promise, says, “The community response and the family’s graciousness warmed my heart.” He yearns for the Melvins’ generosity to inspire others to consider how they can contribute to the mission of situational homelessness.

Since the home’s renovation, it has housed the Buckhanon family: mother Jamaila; her son, Jakai; and her daughter, Jania. Jamaila describes her family as beyond blessed to be the first tenants of the renovated home. She has truly found renewal through it — an open door to pursue growth and joy on behalf of her family. Jeff recently had the opportunity to speak to Jakai’s high school principal, who reported that Jakai was doing wonderfully and truly blossoming into his own. The home has yielded the stability and warmth that the Buckhanons needed for a fresh start.

According to Jeff, the ability to provide actual homes like this for families in crisis is profoundly impactful. By receiving a home, families are kept together in a safe environment rather than being split apart, and thus they are given the steadiness and peace of mind needed to get back on their feet. Craig foresees this being a decades-long project, effecting more and more positive change in the city of Columbia. It is his joy to see his family home continue as a beacon of light in the community, and he hopes to see more families join the mission to eradicate homelessness.