Hello everyone!

I have had several friends tell me that backpacks are 50% off at Big Lots! We are working to collect 500 new backpacks for the Thanksgiving Bash on November 8th. Although we have received some generous donations, we are still shy  of halfway toward our goal. We hope that you will prayerfully consider donating backpacks, as they usually last only about 6 months on the street, and the numbers of homeless in the city of Columbia is increasing. Oscar recently reported that the number within the city limits has grown to an estimated 5500. There is much work to be done. 

If you need the link for the wholesale backpacks please let me know. If you are interested in finding a way to participate in this ministry, I would be happy to answer questions for you.

Thank you so much, and God bless!

Jeannette Maybin

Keepin' It Real Ministries

Greetings in the Name of Jesus!

Keepin’ It Real Ministries is getting ready to celebrate its 9^th annual Thanksgiving Bash on November 8^th in Finlay Park. We are preparing to bless 500 homeless and less fortunate people with a meal, as well as new backpacks with hoodies, t-shirts, and toiletries. In order to reach this goal, we need volunteers willing to donate these items; attached you will find a list of online resources offering bulk pricing.  Help will also be needed for several Saturdays before the Bash, when we will pre-load the backpacks for the big day.

 

We will also need donations of prepared food for the meal. We are in need of turkey, ham, chicken pieces, mashed potatoes and gravy, sweet potatoes, mac n cheese, and cranberry sauce to feed 500. If you would like to commit to a food donation, please email me, and I will add you to our list.  

 

On the day of the Bash, volunteers should arrive at 2 pm. Worship will begin promptly at 2:30. During the service, we will be pre-load the meals, so that they are ready for speedy distribution following worship. There will be many tasks for volunteers that day, everything from preparing meals, to helping with backpack and used clothing distribution, and assisting with the worship service. I will be sending out lots of updates in the coming months, so we hope that you will ask your friends, church, and co-workers to participate. If you are unable to be with us that day, we hope that you will support us through prayer. Please pray that we able to share the gospel and win hearts for Jesus.  Pray that we will begin relationships with people so that we can assist them toward recovery.

 

Pastor Oscar reports that donations, including what are given as offerings on Sundays have fallen off, making it difficult to pay the rent on storage units at the U-Haul and keep gas in the van. If you are lead to make a donation, please mail it to 1037 Elmwood Ave, Box 11, Columbia, SC 29201. Donations can also be placed in the offering box during worship in the park. We worship in the Gadsden Street end of the park every Sunday, at 3 pm.

 

If you are looking for volunteer opportunities, please email us! Help is always needed sorting clothes at the U-Haul, helping to feed downtown on Thursday evenings, and I would love help plugging ministry event info into news media websites.  Let us know if you would like to help!

 

We hope that we will hear from you, and especially hope to see you in the park! Thank you and God bless!

 

Jeannette Maybin

Keepin’ It Real Ministries