The Blessing Bag Project at Ekklesia

05/18/2026

💛“We don’t just serve the homeless, they also serve us!”💛

Mark 10:45 “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

This powerful scripture resonates deeply after our recent mobile event. Many assume we simply drop off supplies to those in need, but our friends in the camps are truly that – friends! Three remarkable situations stood out, showcasing the love and respect our friends have for us.
1) One of our camp leaders is well-versed in scripture and always prays over us, expressing gratitude and ensuring everyone’s best behavior. This time, he even prayed for my husband’s upcoming mission trip.
2) At one stop, a friend warned me about potential trouble with the police, demonstrating their willingness to put our well-being first.
3) When our youngest son injured his knee, one of our guests provided first aid, sharing their supplies and concern.

I firmly believe, “Not all homeless are bad and not all bad are homeless.” These friends look out for us too, and I know they’d be there if I needed them. Their selflessness makes our efforts truly worthwhile!

05/11/2026

💛Our team is honored to serve our unhoused neighbors again with love and compassion this Saturday, May 16!💛

We will be driving around for our mobile event, providing essential items like clothing, bedding, hygiene supplies, hot meals, bibles, prayer, and fellowship to enrich lives!

This month's menu will include: homemade breakfast casserole, grits, biscuits, OJ and Chocolate milk, with desserts!

Looking forward to seeing you at a stop near you!

Interested in joining us to donate or serve and be a shining example of kindness? Please reach out anytime!!

04/30/2026

Sadly, this is the reality of homelessness. So many don’t like the way it looks, think they are dangerous, or that they can just “get a job”. But there is so much more to it than that. I pray this interview falls on the right ears so that we as a community can better help our homeless friends. 🙏

04/19/2026

“The suffering is part of the sacrifice”
Philippians 1:29 For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe in him, but also to suffer for him!

There has never been a day of ministry that has not been a blessing for all of us who serve. The public and even most of those served, do not see all the work that goes into running this kind of ministry. The endless calls and text, the constant coordination of; pickups, drop off, donations, organizing, packing, unpacking, sorting, set up, take down, clean up, etc, the trips to the DMV, Social Security office, job interviews, DSS office, meals in between, filling of propane, and the list goes on and on. And EVERY SINGLE VOLUNTEER, is just that, a volunteer. Not a single person gets paid to sacrifice all those hours. I can’t lie, in the heat, after working long hours at our real jobs, when you’re tired, miss your family, it definitely can feel like “suffering”.

But when it all comes together and you’re riding with one of our guest from their pickup, like Courtney who we have been serving for about 7 years says “Mrs. Danielle, thank you so much for driving all the way here to pick me up, but you will be so proud of me! Ever since your last event when I got baptized, my life has changed!! Things have gotten better! I’ve got a job now, a place to stay, and I love myself again! I do still struggle but things are so much better!”

Or when your another guest says “Danielle, you’ve really stuck it out with us! You’ve been there the whole time, following us from camp to camp. So many have given up and quit but you’re still here”.

It gives me God bumps and I can feel Him gently nudging me saying “See the suffering was part of the sacrifice”. My flesh grows tired and weary, but then I remember Galatians 6:9 “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” And I remember all those whose lives now have hope because we didn’t give up. Because even though it got hard, hot, our hearts broken, we kept dragging that cross a little farther. We kept showing up! We kept our promises! We kept the faith!

As another guest said “I almost came out of the wood with Melissa, but I wasn’t ready yet and I don’t believe it will stick if I’m not ready”. I told her she was right but I’m right here beside so when she is sick and tired of being sick and tired, she knows who to call. We don’t always get to see the harvest but you can never stop planting the seeds! So to everyone that helps us keep this soil fertile for planting, thank you!! It definitely takes a village because even though this ministry is my calling, I can not carry this burden alone! But with the many hands we have, it has definitely made the work lighter!

Thank you to the many individuals in the community for the donations, Berkeley County Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., The Well, Project. Love RDBNK, Berkeley County Coroner's Office, Kennedy Center Prevention, WakeUp Carolina, Bonneau Pentecostal Holiness Church, Victory Baptist Church and Youth Group, The Grove - A Christian Church, Arise Church SC Bonneau, and Santee Circle Community Church for your continued support or volunteers. Together we are giving hope to the hopeless!!

This event, 104 hamburgers and 50 hotdogs were served. We had about 60 guest attend, 30 hair cuts and showers. 🙏

To God be the glory! Thank you Lord for your provision, protection, and people!! Amen!

04/05/2026

Our next event is quickly approaching! Can’t wait to serve all our friends and give them a little bit of comfort that so many take for granted. Can’t wait to serve you or serve with you!! 💛

Hebrews 13:16: “And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased".

Project. Love RDBNK
The Well
Berkeley County Coroner's Office
Kennedy Center Prevention
WakeUp Carolina

03/27/2026

A MOMENT OF TRANSPARENCY… Most of my ministry updates are positive, uplifting, and rejoicing. Sadly, after our event this past Saturday, I have struggled to find those kind of words. I have actually been struggling the past few weeks. Ministry is hard!! It is even harder when it’s not a paid position, but you do it because you know you are called to. Being a pastor, leader, founder, coordinator, whatever the title of your church or ministry is, it’s like living in a fish bowl. Everyone is always watching. Everyone is always looking for a moment of weakness so they can point out your flaws, call you a hypocrite, or criticize. I’ve lived my life boldly and firmly. I’ve went against the grain. Listened to those who thought I was crazy, told me I’m a woman and shouldn’t be leading ministry, that my ministry is dangerous, that I’m careless for allowing homeless people around my home and children, and so much more. But so many don’t truly know what it’s like to truly live for Christ. To take up your cross, to sacrifice endlessly, to truly put yourself last. Jesus asked the rich man to sell all his possessions, give them to the poor, and follow Him. How many Americans would honestly do that? To truly sacrifice your comforts, have less, live simpler, and deny yourself? I have honestly been living that out for years, opening my doors to those I feel led to house, running in the woods chasing the lost, refuse to give up on those that most ignored, fighting to advocate for those who have lost their voice, climbing mountains and breaking down walls to make a way when they say “there’s no way”, to boldly live like Jesus. And it hurts!! Every person I have tried to help that decides to relapse, when you have them so close to their new life but they decide to go back to the woods, when you get the call in the middle of the night that another friend has died and to come to their side, to raise funds to bury a young friend because his mother doesn’t have the means but you want them to have the same respect you would desire if you were in the same situation, to mourning, pray, and crying for the salvation of those you are trying to witness to. Ministry is full of disappointments, heartbreak, pressure, and weaknesses. Everyday, I try to juggle my real job, my family, my farm and home, my marriage, my health with autoimmune diseases, and my relationship with Christ. I am tired, the phone rings constantly, I get overwhelmed, stressed out, feel used, at times taken advantage of. I say to myself “this isn’t my job” why do I keep doing this?! But then, I remember the starfish story. Walking down a beach full of washed up starfish, trying to pick them all up, and throw them back into the sea to save their life. You know you can’t save them all but to the one that you can, it’s worth it because it mattered to that one. So every time I get tired and want to throw in the towel, I remember how many have came to me and said “thank you for not giving up on me. It’s because of you that I am here!”. Of course, I give all glory to God because He definitely uses me as His vessel to get His job done. So if you are struggling with your walk or ministry, no matter how big or small; just remember “To the world you may be nothing, but to someone you may be the world!”. God bless all my tired brother and sisters in Christ, trying to drag that cross, one more day! You are not alone!! 💜✝️

03/16/2026

💛Our team is honored to serve our unhoused neighbors again with love and compassion this Saturday, March 21!💛

We'll be driving around for our mobile event, providing essential items like clothing, bedding, hygiene supplies, hot meals, bibles, prayer, and fellowship to enrich lives!

This month's menu will include: homemade chicken pirleau, Mac and Cheese, green beans, biscuits, and desserts!

Looking forward to seeing you at a stop near you!

Interested in joining us to donate or serve and be a shining example of kindness? Please reach out anytime!!

02/02/2026

TODAY WE CELEBRATE #38 MAKING THE CHOICE TO COME OUT THE WOODS AND INTO SOBRIETY!

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;

Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.
-Robert Frost

I think this is the most appropriate poem and scripture for today. We are all so proud of Gerald aka “G” for makimg the hard decision to choose the road less traveled. It is so easy to stay the same, to stay sick, to stay homeless. It takes hard decisions, work, and sacrifice to better yourself. It also takes someone believing in you and being the support system you need to make the connections. G has had that with The Blessing Bag Project, Project. Love RDBNK, and Kennedy Center Prevention. We absolutely love our partnership with CLM but unfortunately that ministry isn’t a one size fits all solution. With G’s special circumstances, we are blessed to have Kennedy Center beside us to find other better suited options. After 10 years of homelessness, 3 months of waiting, a cold baptism, and surviving the snow, I picked up this 62 year old tired man from the woods this morning with hot coffee waiting, and we drove all the way to Columbia to start his new road! It wont stop here! We will continue to follow up and support him finically on this journey. Once he completes the program, we will help secure a job and his finances, housing, and continued mentorship. This journey is one we stay for as long as they let us. We love watching our people grow and prosper! To God be the glory! He>i and He is the reason I leave the 99 for His 1!

Matthew 7:13-14Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 14 But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.

01/28/2026

When you contribute to The Blessing Bag Project, this is what you are being part of!! Your donations do not go to paying someone’s salary or helping a corporation get richer. You are enriching lives!! You are giving HOPE in what can seem like a HOPELESS place. You are part of testimonies to complete recovery! You provide shelter, propane to keep our friends from freezing to death, hot homemade nutritious meals, and so much more! The pictures here are just a very few of the lives changed and propane tanks filled because of you! So I can never say thank you enough for believing in me and our ministry!! It’s takes a village to make this happen.

** Praise report!! This coming Monday, I will pick up #38 and #39 from a local homeless camp and drive them to Columbia and Spartanburg to rehabilitation centers to start their new lives!! This starts with you! 🙏🙌 To God be the glory for His people, helping His people!!

1 John 3:17-18: "If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person? Let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth".

01/24/2026

In case anyone needs a warm place tonight! Stay safe!
Project. Love RDBNK

Due to the cold weather, the following area warming centers will be open this evening, Saturday, January 24:

➡️𝐇𝐨𝐥𝐲 𝐂𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐌𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐚𝐭 𝐀𝐥𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐠𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐌𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐭:

📍1444 Remount Road, North Charleston | Admission is 7-9PM.
🚫🐾Pets are not permitted.

🚌Transportation: CARTA Route 13 will provide drop-off and pick-up at Remount Road and Allison Avenue.

➡️𝐒𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐨𝐚𝐬𝐭 𝐂𝐡𝐮𝐫𝐜𝐡 - 𝐒𝐮𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐞 𝐂𝐚𝐦𝐩𝐮𝐬:

📍301 E. 5th North Street | Admission is 7-10PM.
✅🐾Pets are permitted.

🚌Transportation instructions: Individuals may board CARTA Route 10 outbound at either Meeting Street and Sheppard Street or Meeting Street and Johnson Street. Riders should inform the driver they are traveling to the warming center. Passengers will transfer to TriCounty Link at the T-Mobile location at 8751 Rivers Avenue. Pick-up times from that location are 4:10PM; 5:16PM; and 6:30PM.