Hello everyone! Hope you are keeping cool in this heat! Please keep the homeless and less fortunate in your prayers this summer.
There are several items that we need to share with you:
· Keepin’ It Real is involved with a new service. Trinity Episcopal Cathedral (1100 Sumter St.) feeds a breakfast for the homeless at 8 am on Sunday mornings. They asked Pastor Oscar to offer a worship service at that time, so Keepin’ It Real has been celebrating worship there for several months now. If you would like to visit or be involved in this service, you are very welcome to attend!
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Pastor Oscar reports that he is almost out of Bibles. He likes to be able to offer Bibles to anyone who wants one. If you would like to help, please let us know.
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Although there is no official bottled water distribution because of city regulations, Oscar still distributes water on Sundays and Thursdays, and likes to have an inventory on hand for when it is needed. If you would like to donate water, it can be dropped at U-Haul Moving and Storage on Elmwood Avenue.
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Summer always means a critical shortage of men’s clothing, especially t-shirts and pants (waist sizes 30-38).
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Volunteers are always needed at the storage units to help sort clothing donations. Diane Gadsden was heading up some time slots on Wednesday and Friday mornings. If you are interested in assisting in this way, please call or text Diane at 803.457.1391.
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The city is enforcing parking and time regulations in the park. If you join us for worship, please be very careful not to park on the grass.
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Please be in prayer about the Thursday Evening Feeding. Volunteers are needed to help with preparation on Thursdays from noon – 5pm, when the food must be heated and boxed for transport to the feeding site (the parking lot of Zion Baptist Church, 801 Washington St.) Volunteers are also needed to help serve. The ministry is seeking the use of a church kitchen where the prep could take place. If you have any thoughts or suggestions, we would be grateful!
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Our biggest challenge, coming November 8th, is the Thanksgiving Bash!! We are making plans to bless 500 people that day. We need to collect 500 new large backpacks, 500 new t-shirts, socks and toiletries. With back-to-school this month, this is a great time to initiate a back pack drive for the homeless. We will also provide a Thanksgiving style meal for 500, and will be seeking donations of 8 turkeys, 6 hams, 500 pieces of chicken, 500 servings each of mac n cheese, mashed potatoes, gravy, sweet potatoes, and cranberries. If you and your friends are interested in helping, we ask that you commit to the number of items or servings that you hope to donate, and let us know of your commitment. T-shirts and socks can be seconds and irregulars (online sources include Cotton Connection, North Pines Wholesale Clothing, and Brook Textiles). Wholesale Stockroom carries 19” backpacks by the case with free shipping. If you would like help with this event, we hope that you will contact us.
· A member of our board has heard that there may be a turkey shortage this November. If you are thinking of donating a turkey, you may want to take this into consideration.
I know that this is a lot of information to take in! We hope that you will prayerfully consider whether or not you can help this year. Please be in prayer for the homeless, the less fortunate, and for the ministry as we and our volunteers work to serve. We appreciate your support in the past! Thank you and God bless!
Jeannette Maybin
Keepin’ It Real Ministries
Secretary
