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Springfield, Rincon land state awards
Funds to be used to boost safety and supply of water
water icon
Mark Lastinger
Effingham Herald
Published: Mar 1, 2022, 11:12 AM

RINCON — Good news about water gushed abundantly for Georgians on Feb. 22. 

Flanked by members of the Water and Sewer Infrastructure Committee, Gov. Brian Kemp announced more than $422 million in prelimary awards that will ensure communities in high-need areas have reliable and safe drinking water, and wastewater systems.

The City of Rincon is set to receive one of the largest awards — $7,374,685.36. The City of Springfield is slated to get 1.675 million.

The investments will help:

— improve drinking water treatment

— extend drinking water service to high-need areas

— improve wastewater treatment, resulting in cleaner rivers and lakes

— improve biosolids management, resulting in less waste in landfills

— improve sewer systems, resulting in fewer spills that can pose threats to public health and environmental quality

— secure Georgia’s water resources for future generations

“Because we remained focused on protecting lives and livelihoods throughout the pandemic, Georgia is now in a position to make strategic, transformational investments in our state’s water and sewer infrastructure,” Kemp said. “I want to thank the committee members for dedicating their time and expertise to help us make these awards, as well as the grants team at the Office of Planning and Budget. I am proud to know that we have worked hard to prioritize projects which address pressing public health and environment issues, support economic development and enhance our ability to be good stewards of our water resources for generations to come.”

The City of Rincon will use its funds to expand its wastewater treatment plant. The award is expected to cover about 75 percent of the cost.

Rincon’s wastewater treatment plant is currently operating at approximately 80 percent of its capacity.

During Monday night’s Rincon City Council meeting, Mayor Ken Lee thanked Marcus Sack for submitting the grant request. Sack is the engineer for the wastewater treatment plant expansion project.

“You don’t know how much we appreciate the work you are doing, particularly with (the grant),” Lee said. “Those kinds of opportunities don’t come around very often.”

Councilmembers Patrick Kirkland and Levi Scott echoed the mayor’s sentiments.

“It’s amazing,” Kirkland said. “A lot of people don’t know what that’s going to do for the city for years to come.”

Kirkland asked about a time line for the completion of the wastewater treatment expansion. Sack said he hopes it will be three years.

The City of Springfield will use its award to upgrade its wastewater treatment facility and fund a 2 1/2-mile extension of sewer lines to New Ebenezer Retreat Center.
Effingham Donates 6,900 Shoeboxes for Operation Christmas Child
Operation Christmas Child
Cohen Busbee packs a shoebox with toys, school supplies and personal care items for Samaritan’s Purse’s Operation Christmas Child. (Submitted photo)
Updated: Nov 26, 2025, 7:11 PM
Published: Nov 25, 2025, 2:28 PM

RINCON, Ga. — Effingham County’s generosity will soon be felt across the globe. Local churches, civic groups and residents combined to donate 6,900 gift-filled shoeboxes this year for Operation Christmas Child, a ministry of Samaritan’s Purse that delivers presents — along with a message of Christian faith — to children in need around the world.

Volunteers fuel  participation

Among those helping lead the effort are Pat and James McElveen, who serve as project leaders for First Baptist Church of Rincon. The couple collects items for their church year-round, coordinates volunteers and helps involve people of all ages in the packing process, including seniors, Bible school groups and individuals from the Low Country Down Syndrome Society.

Operation Christmas Child, operated by the Christian relief organization Samaritan’s Purse, aims to share the Gospel while providing what may be a child’s first gift. Each shoebox contains a “WOW” item, along with other small toys, personal care items, school supplies and clothing. Last year, the organization delivered nearly 12 million shoeboxes to children in more than 160 countries and territories.

Operation Christmas Child
James and Pat McElveen (back row) stand with Cohen (left) and Asa Busbee in a room where shoeboxes have been packed for Operation Christmas Child. (Submitted photo)

Churches, civic groups and residents all contribute

This year’s local total includes contributions from churches across the county — including First Baptist Rincon (5,100 shoeboxes) and Springfield Oaks (1,800 shoeboxes), which also serves as a drop-off site — along with Boy Scouts, high school groups and individual residents who pack boxes throughout the year. Pat said the wide community involvement is what makes the effort meaningful.

All 6,900 local boxes were delivered this week to Metter, where they will be transported to Atlanta for processing before being shipped around the world. Because many deliveries travel into remote regions, not every gift arrives by Christmas, and distributions continue throughout the year.

Once the shoeboxes reach their final destinations, each child receives both the gifts and a booklet explaining the Christian message in their language. For the McElveens and FBC Rincon, that message is at the heart of the project. ”It’s all about Jesus!”

With another successful collection completed, the McElveens say they are already preparing for next year and looking forward to the thousands of children who will once again open a shoebox packed by caring hands in Effingham County.