Thank you, thank you, thank you to all of you who came out to feed the homeless on Christmas night! Pastor Oscar was amazed at how many volunteers were there, and at how much food they brought! We were receiving e-mails from people who wanted to help as recently as yesterday! We don't yet know how many people were fed, but we will try to let you know when we figure that out. We are grateful for all that you did to bless the homeless tonight. God is SO good!!

We have one last event on the 2012 calendar! Are you looking for a place to serve this Christmas? Keepin’ It Real Ministries invites you to make a difference this holiday season. Because most Christmas day meals are served earlier in the day, Keepin’ It Real serves at 5 pm outside the Transit Station on the corner of Laurel and Sumter Streets. This location is convenient for transportation to shelters. Volunteers are needed to prepare food and to help serve. If you and yours plan to have your meal earlier in the day, why not help provide for those in need? Prepare a little extra, and come out to share your food, your time, your conversation, and your smile. You will be greatly appreciated… and very blessed by the experience. The meal sign-up is coming along, but we still need turkey, chicken, stuffing, gravy, cranberries, and veggies. If you would like to sign up, please e-mail us at keepinitrealministriessc@gmail.com, or go to the "Contact Us" page.

Merry Christmas! Thank you and God bless!     

Our God is an awesome God!! We witnessed him at work at the Thanksgiving Bash! Worship was beautiful, with wonderful music, liturgical dance, inspiring rap, and good speakers! The Keepin’ It Real Ministry team gave out backpacks loaded with hoodies, t-shirts, and toiletries, while an army of volunteers brought food and served a meal for 360. Through it all, God continued to provide, right down to that last tray of turkey (after we thought that we had run out). God is SO good!

Pastor Oscar would like to extend a huge THANK YOU to all who participated in worship, brought food, served, and shared of their time, resources, and fellowship. He reports that the next day was filled with very positive feedback and deep appreciation of a wonderful day. It was a day filled with blessings for all involved!

THANK YOU, THANK YOU, and God bless!

PS – The next Keepin’ It Real event will be the 5 pm Christmas evening meal at the transit station located at the corner of Laurel and Sumter Streets. Why not prepare an extra tray of food, feed your family early, and come out to serve?!? If you are interested in helping, please contact the ministry at keepinitrealministriessc@gmail.com.

The Thanksgiving Bash is coming up soon! It is scheduled for Sunday, November 11th, at 3 pm on the stage at Finlay Park. Donations have been coming in, and volunteers have been signing up. We are close to our goal numbers! But we could always use more backpacks, hoodies, and as well as volunteers to prepare and bring food. If you would like to help, please email us at keepinitrealministriessc@gmail.com or call Pastor Oscar at  (803) 406-1724. We hope you can join us!

Oscar has asked those who are planning to serve to please arrive by 2:15. He likes to speak to the volunteers before worship begins.

Worship is every Sunday at 3 pm in Finlay Park. Following the Bash, the next main event will be the Christmas evening meal. This is served at the transit station at the corner of Laurel and Sumter Streets at 5 pm, because this is where the homeless can get a bus to take them to local shelters for the night.

Volunteers are needed to prepare and serve food, as well as be available to share a little Christmas caring and fellowship. If you feed your family earlier on Christmas day, why not prepare a little extra and bring it downtown to share? Please let us know if you would like to participate!

Thank you to all those have made donations for the Thanksgiving Bash and to those who are planning to bring food to serve. You are so very much appreciated! Thank you and God bless!!!

Keepin’ It Real Ministries will host a Revival in Finlay Park, October 4^th - 7^th. Worship will begin at 5 pm on Thursday and Friday; 3 pm on Saturday and Sunday. Different speakers are planned for each evening, as well as a meal for the homeless following worship. Please come out to share Christian fellowship and caring. The meals are planned, but bring a dish to share if you like!!

The Thanksgiving Bash is set for Sunday, November 11th. Pastor Oscar is preparing to distribute 600 backpacks, with hoodies, socks, underwear, and toiletries. These items are beginning to come in, but the big need is for hoodies and backpacks. If you are able to help, we would be very grateful if you would contact us to let us know the numbers that you think you will be able to donate. This will help Pastor Oscar better plan this event. Please visit the “How to Donate” page to learn where to deliver needed items. Many volunteers are also needed to prepare food and serve a Thanksgiving-style meal for 600 that day.  If you are interested in preparing food and/or serving, please e-mail us or call Oscar Gadsden at (803) 406-0724 to find out what food is needed.

Thank you, thank you to all the churches and volunteers who have provided after worship meals and bottled water this summer!! Thank you also to WMHK Radio – they have posted some info about Keepin’ It Real on the home page of their website!!!

Here are the current needs for the remainder of the summer:

Pastor Gadsden plans to distribute school supplies to homeless children following worship on August 12^th. Supplies are still needed. If you can help, please contact us!!

Bottled water will be needed for distribution in Finlay Park through the end of September. There is still a lot of hot weather yet to come.

Financial contributions are also always appreciated. They help to pay the rent on the transitional homes and storage unit, upkeep and gasoline for the van, medical needs and prescriptions, as well as shortfalls in donations.

We are already looking forward to September when we will begin in earnest to collect blankets and warm weather clothing. Our main focus will be on the Thanksgiving Bash. Last year, nearly 450 people were fed and given new backpacks, hoodies, and personal items (socks, underwear, and toiletries).  These items receive much wear and tear, and must be replaced periodically. This year Oscar has set a goal to collect items for 600.  This will be a formidable task without your help. Are you and your church willing to take on the challenge?!? ? Oscar is asking groups to commit to raising specific numbers of items, so that we will better be able to prepare. The most critical need is for backpacks and hoodies.  Would you consider organizing a drive?

Please check out the calendar page to see the remaining 2012 events.

If you can help, please email us a t keepinitrealministriessc@gmail.com. Thank you and God bless!!!

Summer heat brings different needs. Bottled water is needed for daily distribution in Finlay Park through the end of September. Would your church or small group be willing to hold a water drive? Fifteen to twenty cases are needed daily; more in extreme weather. T-shirts, socks, and underwear are also needed because doing laundry is not usually an option.  (Please see the “Ministry Needs” page for a more complete list of needs.) Donations can be delivered to U-Haul Moving and Storage on Elmwood Ave.

Financial donations are also needed and appreciated. They help meet the cost of rent for the men’s and women’s transitional homes. Donations are also used to help with medical and prescription needs, and for upkeep on the ministry van.

Looking ahead, churches and groups are being sought to collect clothing and school supplies for homeless children returning to school in August. The Back to School event will be held on Sunday, August 12, following the 3 pm worship service in Finlay Park. Volunteers are also needed to coordinate drives to collect hoodies, backpacks, and blankets for distribution in November.

If you are willing to help, but need more information, please go to the “contact us” page. Thank you and God bless!