The metamorphosis from active U.S. Airforce base to what is now The Market Common has been nothing short of amazing. Its concept—a mixed use planned urban community with residential, retail, sports facilities, restaurants, and entertainment, also includes an assortment of new businesses and several newer neighborhoods in its periphery. Market Common has also added educational campuses, such as a $17M Culinary Institute, healthcare, grocery, and more since its opening in 2008. The repurposed airforce buildings, some dating back to the 1940s, remind of a time when the U.S. Airforce was active in Myrtle Beach protecting our shores during the World War II era, even housing German prisoners of war. The base was a big part of Myrtle Beach’s growth through its mission to train aviators up to its 1993 decommissioning.

As amazing as the transformation of land and buildings, the real marvel is in the diverse community of full-time residents who now call The Market Common “home.” 

The residents of Cresswind, an active Community off Farrow Parkway, are among those marvels of  The Market Common and stand as a testament to the spirit of giving. This group of  mostly retirees give of their time and talents to benefit not just others in the Cresswind community, but throughout the Grand Strand. We met with three leaders of these efforts to discuss just what they do, and plan to continue. 

Lynn Willett chairs the Angel Tree Committee and leads a score of volunteers to help each fall and winter as they raise funds and gather toys for the needy children.

“We were early settlers, house #30,” recalls Willett, who has lived in Cresswind from its early days. “We were inspired by the Salvation Army Angel Trees and thought it would be a great project for us. When you read tags and see a 4-year-old needs a bed pillow, and things like that, it moves you. When we moved into the community and we saw how generous the people were, we knew we’d found a great place to live and to connect.”

From its 2014 inception, the Cresswind group has made Christmas happier for more than 1,600 children in Horry County. 

“I can’t say enough about our community or our partnership with Salvation Army—they’re a great organization to work with.” 

Rory Zach, a retired 36-year veteran firefighter originally from New Jersey, helps volunteers and organizations in many ways. Not only is he HOA board president, he’s an advocate for charities including Senior Tags, similar to the Angel Tree concept, but designed to help seniors in need. 

“The community is so generous,” says Zach. “In addition to the formal, organized charities, like Angel Tree and others here at Cresswind, we recently had a resident coordinate a blood drive and we’re not even counting the volunteer work of our residents who are putting in many hours at local food banks, churches, at Brookgreen Gardens and other places. My wife and I and a few other residents volunteer at the Myrtle Beach Fire Department with community education and risk reduction programs.”

Joe Hebert, a veteran himself, is president of the Cresswind Veterans Organization, the V.O.C., which organized formally in 2014.

“We were first a group that met for coffee,” says Hebert, “we became more formal and we included spouses, and we’re now more than 145 members, which is significant as we’re only a community of 400 homes.”
The V.O.C. is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit, so donations are tax deductible. 

“We’ve been given significant donations from members, and nonmembers both,” he continues. “We [installed] and maintain a memorial flagpole surrounded by landscaping and bricks with the names of vets and their families in memory. Peoples’ generosity to the area vets is amazing. We donate to Blue Star Mothers and we provide support and snacks and things to vets visiting the Veteran Administration right here in Market Common. We also have an [annual] fundraiser for Home for our Troops, which is an organization that builds homes for vets in need. Last year we submitted $4,000 and had it matched to make it $8,000. We’re looking for ways to disperse and grow as we’re regularly getting more and more donations. Our mission is to support vets and their families of not only Cresswind, but for any and all vets in the greater community.”

For more information, contact: Rory.zach@cresswind-myrtlebeach.com