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!

UPCOMING EVENTS:

Summer Bottled Water Distribution: This effort begins May 1^st, continues through September 30^th, and helps to prevent heat related illness. An average of 20 cases per day is needed; 25-30 cases during extreme heat.

Revival in Finlay Park: May 3^rd -6^th. The Revival at Finlay Park will feature different speakers each evening, plus a meal. Please note times: Thursday and Friday, 5 pm; Saturday and Sunday,

3 pm. (These dates are a change from the original calendar.)

SUMMER MINISTRY NEEDS:

Bottled Water: Churches and groups are needed to sponsor on-going water drives throughout the summer, but donations of any quantity will gratefully be accepted. Deliveries can be made to U-Haul Moving and Storage on Elmwood Ave. (see “How to Donate” page for directions and hours)

Volunteers: Volunteers are needed to provide food and fellowship each evening of the Revival. If you can help, please contact us so that food and dates can be coordinated. (See “Contact Us” page)

Clothing: At this time, there is a shortage of men’s clothing, especially pants. During hot weather, the need for t-shirts, socks, and underwear becomes critical, as frequent clothing changes become necessary.  Clothing is needed mostly for men, but also for women, children, and infants.

Other Needs: Please check the list on the “Ministry Needs” page for additional on-going needs.

The 7th Anniversary Celebration is set for Easter Sunday at 3 pm. There is still a need for backpacks; Pastor Gadsden plans to distribute 450. Volunteers are needed to prepare and bring food for the meal. The menu will be a standard holiday meal - ham, turkey, or chicken, potatoes, sweet potatoes, mac 'n cheese, vegetables, bread, desserts, and beverages. If you are able to contribute, please go to the "Contact Us" page for details. Volunteers are also needed to help serve the meal, and to offer Christian fellowship and caring. Thank you and God bless!

CURRENT MINISTRY NEEDS:
Anniversary Celebration contributions: backpacks, prepared food, and volunteers to serve.

Meals:  Local churches or groups are needed to feed (and fellowship with) 150 homeless people following worship on Sunday afternoons at 3 pm in Finlay Park. Most slots are filled at this time, but it you would be willing to serve as a back-up, please contact Pastor Gadsden. Meals will also be needed during the revival, May 29-

June 2 (See calendar.)

Financial assistance:  Monetary gifts are used to pay the rent on the men’s and women’s transitional homes, the storage unit, upkeep and gas for the van, and to fund emergency needs (prescriptions, shortfalls in donations).

Bottled Water: Daily water distribution in Finlay Park will begin the first of May and continue through the end of September. The average daily need is 15 cases of per day (25-30 cases in extreme weather).

Summer clothing: Hot weather requires more frequent clothing changes. T-shirts, socks, and underwear are especially needed.

Thank you for visiting our website! We appreciate your interest. Please feel free to e-mail us if you have any questions!

THE ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION IS COMING UP SOON! 

The 7^th Anniversary of Keepin’ It Real Ministries is coming up on Easter Sunday, April 8, 2012! The celebration will include worship (at 3 pm in Finlay Park), a meal, and the distribution of necessary items. Backpacks (new or slightly used), t-shirts, new socks, underwear, and toiletries will be distributed. Because the homeless population is ever changing, and because these items suffer much wear and tear, Keepin' It Real tries to offer these items twice a year, and in between as needed. Many volunteers are also needed to prepare and bring food. In November at the Thanksgiving bash, nearly 450 were served.

If you feel lead to organize a drive for these items, or have items that you would like to donate, please check the "How to Donate " page for details about delivering them. If you are interested in preparing food or serving on Easter Sunday, please sign up by e-mail or contact Pastor Oscar. Thank you so much and God bless!

 

 CURRENT MINISTRY NEEDS:

Warm winter clothing:  Coats, hooded sweatshirts, gloves, knitted caps (toboggans), warm socks and footwear.

Blankets:  There is a desperate need for blankets. There were almost NO blankets in storage for the winter.

Meals:  Local churches or groups are needed to feed (and fellowship with) 150 homeless people following worship on Sunday afternoons in Finlay Park (monthly or bi-monthly). Several slots are open.

Financial assistance:  Monetary gifts are used to pay the rent on the men’s and women’s transitional homes, the storage unit, upkeep and gas for the van, and to fund emergency needs (prescriptions, shortfalls in donations).

Water: Water must be stockpiled to meet the average need of 15 cases of water per day.

Summer clothing: The drive for donations of summer clothing will begin in February.