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Celebrate Matching Gift Month by seeing if your employer will double your donation! Have you ever wondered if your place of work makes charitable donations? What if you and your employer could both give back to your community? This month, we want to help you grow your impact by doubling your donation. Over 26 million individuals work for companies that offer matching gift programs. Simply put, when you donate to a charity, your employer will match your gift. An estimated $4-$7 billion in matching gift funds goes unclaimed every year. Many donors are unaware that their employers offer this kind of program, and those who are aware often don't know how to apply. That's where Double the Donation comes in! Through their extensive gift-matching database, they can tell you if you are eligible in just a few clicks. Go to Workplace Giving, scroll down, and select "Search Now" under Employee Matching Funds Type in your company's name and click "Let's Check" If your company is listed, you will see information on their matching program and a button to fill out a form to complete your matched gift! That's it! Workplace giving makes a difference for our organization year-round. Through Double the Donation, your gift will create twice the impact on your community!

Representatives from the furniture giant, La-Z-Boy, visited our Thrift Store this week to donate over 40 gently used furniture items. The items include sofas, recliners, and tables and are expected to bring in over $5,000 for the Mission upon their resale. Our Executive Director Travis McNeal said, "La-Z-Boy is a model partner in our community, and for over a decade we've had a relationship where they donate some of their best so that we can help people that need it the most. It's relationships like these that are impactful and make a difference in our community. That's the only way we're able to do what we do at Oliver Gospel." La-Z-Boy collected the furniture through a buy-back event they hosted for their customers. Thrift Store employees cleaned the items to prepare them for the sales floor, where the revenue made from their sales will directly contribute to funding our programs. Our relationship with La-Z-Boy dates back to the mid-2000s. The retailer donates furniture yearly and has impacted our organization even before the Thrift Store opened in 2011. Dustin Degoursey, Vice President of Sales for La-Z-Boy Southeast, takes pride in allowing his customers to support local charities. "We enjoy our relationship with Oliver Gospel because they are a local Christian organization, and they help both men and women not just get off the street, but learn how to overcome the challenges that they face and contribute to our community," Degoursey said. To learn more about how your business can contribute to Oliver Gospel, visit our website, or contact our Community Engagement Coordinator.

Columbia, SC: On Saturday morning, The Home Depot, off Two Notch Road in Columbia, South Carolina, gathered at Oliver Gospel’s center for women and children, Toby’s Place, to construct a fence around the playground. They wrapped up the project this afternoon. The hardware store is donating the funds for all the building materials and the time and labor of a team of employees to complete the project. Mark Heaton, the head of the project, says, "At Home Depot, we do everything with eight core values in mind, one of which is giving back. I'm here today as a representative of the Home Depot Foundation, and one of our goals is to give back to the community. We believe that our interaction with our customers does not end at the cashier station when they check out, but our interaction should also reach out to the community. I'm feeling great today out here with the team giving back and helping to support Toby's Place." The fence will serve as an extra measure of safety and security for the residents and their children who are living at Toby’s Place. The playground is an important part of the children’s regular activities at the women and children’s center, allowing them to get exercise, play, and spend time outside after school. This fence will allow the mothers at the center to feel safer as their children play. Mindy Jamison, Director of Transformation at Oliver Gospel, says, “We are so grateful for Home Depot and the community volunteers for donating their time and energy to build a fence around our playground to keep our children safe while they play.” About Oliver Gospel Mission: Oliver Gospel is a community-based mission that helps those experiencing homelessness, poverty, or addiction transform their lives through physical, spiritual, and relational support to lead full, healthy lives. Through our Men's Center, Toby's Place (center for women and children), and our social enterprises, we provide holistic rehabilitation, transitional housing, and career development, always aiming for permanent housing and a solid community for each person who comes through our doors.

Zach Middleton published the book to inspire future entrepreneurs throughout the Midlands to think creatively. At Oliver Gospel, we take pride in our employees that perform life-changing work daily. Zach Middleton, a Life Advisor at the Mission, made an impact on his own community by releasing his new book "Rashard Freeman: Teenage Entrepreneur." As a Life Advisor, Zach manages the front desk, assists in programming, and oversees the intake process of Refresh guests at Oliver Gospel. In his free time, he owns Grace to Cultivate, LLC, using storytelling, ideation, and investment to instill positivity in community members and encourage those around them to invest in their talents. "Rashard Freeman: Teenage Entrepreneur" tells the story of freshmen at the fictional Septima Clark High School who must raise enough funds to prevent their annual class field trip from being canceled. Structured like a teenage detective series, the book teaches financial literacy and entrepreneurial imagination through storytelling. "My passion is helping people develop in their career and vocation. At Oliver Gospel, I get to help adults. In my side venture, I have an opportunity to help young people." This is the second book Zach has published but the first of its own series. He is currently working on its sequel and plans to launch more series encouraging young entrepreneurs in the future. Oliver Gospel could not perform transformational ministry without staff members like Zach, who continuously invest in those around them. By donating to Oliver Gospel today, you invest in your own community and help those in need throughout the Midlands.

Maxwell thought he had lost everything, but his faith proved stronger than his fears. As Maxwell walked through the doors of Oliver Gospel for the first time, he couldn’t help but feel scared. He was used to being alone, but now, in a new city surrounded by new peers, his faith was near a breaking point. Maxwell’s wife passed away two years ago. She meant everything to him; he had already lost his parents at an early age, and the relationship with his siblings was nonexistent. “That put me in a tailspin. I went to drinking hard and blaming God for it.” Unable to hold a job due to his addiction, Maxwell found himself living on the streets. His health rapidly declined from malnutrition, substance abuse, and depression. His spiral put him in a local hospital where he almost met his death, but God would not allow his story to end there. Maxwell was recommended to Oliver Gospel by a hospital staff member. The Mission offered a fresh start for someone who had been left alone for most of his life. Initially, he thought it was a terrible idea. Despite his hesitations, he reluctantly began programming, and soon Maxwell began to understand the vision God was creating for him. Within a month, he felt he was already putting his best foot forward. “When I first came to Oliver Gospel, I didn’t know why I was here. As it progressed, it was tough. Now, I have done a complete turnaround.” Maxwell feels motivated, inspired, and hopeful. He enjoys learning about his health and strengthening his relationship with the Lord through our faith-based programming. He aims to secure and hold a full-time job, get his driver's license, and continuously attend church. As the cost of living continues to rise, your donation to Oliver Gospel is needed now more than ever. By making your donation monthly, you sustain the life-changing transformation that helps men like Maxwell rediscover their love for the life around them.

Members of the Columbia International University Track & Cross Country teams gathered at Oliver Gospel on January 10 to complete a team service project. The team volunteered by painting the entrance hallway of our Men's Center and sorting Thrift Store donations. "We had a team meeting last night, and I told them my vision was to cultivate a winning culture and develop a serving attitude. One of the principles of CIU is to Make Him Known, and the best way to do that is through serving," CIU head coach Tim Thompson said. "This opportunity allows us to bring everybody from diverse backgrounds together for one unified purpose, which is to serve and give back to others." In total, over 40 volunteers across the school's cross country, indoor, and outdoor track programs participated. "The Bible says that the greatest among you will be servants of all. As CIU helps to build leadership characteristics, a big part of being a leader is serving," CIU thrower Deandre Leith said. Thompson, who became the Rams' head coach in September of 2022, plans to continue growing his team's relationship with the Mission. Thank you, CIU!

Start the new year right by taking 20 minutes to create your will through our partnership with GiftWise. The New Year is here and with it, opportunities for new beginnings and fresh starts! Whatever you resolve, one thing’s for sure. If you want to accomplish your resolution, you need to start now. If the last few years have taught us anything, the unexpected can, and will, happen. If you’ve never made a will or haven’t updated it for years, it’s important to get one done. Having a will can give you peace of mind in ensuring your financial home is in order, and your generosity will make a great impact far into the future, even after you’re gone. Most people know they need a will. Many never write one because it just feels too overwhelming. That’s where we can help out. Through our partnership with GiftWise, you now have access to an online platform where you can quickly, easily and affordably make a legally binding will and even designate an estate gift to Oliver Gospel at no extra cost. In less than 20 minutes, you can: · Create a will · Leave a gift of any size to Oliver Gospel · Assure a meaningful legacy for your family Get started on your will right here!

Just when Tamara thought she'd have to overcome ANOTHER obstacle, God graced her with a gift to keep her on the move. Tamara’s hands trembled from uncertainty as she picked up the phone to call Oliver Gospel. She had just left her home, uncertain of what she may face in the future. With no family to call and a fear of burdening her friends, she felt like there was nowhere else to turn. When she called Oliver Gospel, a light began to shine through the darkness she was facing. Tamara soon found herself among the community of women at Toby’s Place. Months later, when her work hours shifted and she could no longer catch the free public bus, Tamara feared she would lose her job. She would have to spend her hard-earned money on transportation to and from work. Thanks to the generosity of our donors, Tamara was awarded one of Oliver Gospel’s Transportation Scholarships, providing her with funds to use a ride-sharing service to get to work. Now she can save the money she makes at work to buy a house for her and her daughter, an important goal she has set for her future. “The transportation scholarship helps me get to work without worrying about how I’m going to get home because the bus doesn’t run at night. It helps me be safe. I can take that money I was spending on Lyft and put it in my bank account.” Opportunities like the Transportation Scholarship give women like Tamara the second chance they need to maintain their jobs and careers. Consider donating today so that you can provide transportation for one of our residents in need.

To watch the story visit: ABC Columbia WACH Fox 57 Facebook From the Richland County Sheriff's Department, December 7th, 2022: Richland County Sheriff Leon Lott held a press conference on December 7th, joining the Knights of Columbus Council of Our Lady Of The Hills Catholic Church to present a donation. The Knights of Columbus were represented by the Council's Grand Knight, Frank Rozonkiewiecz, and other knights who presented a clothing donation collected by their parish at Our Lady Of the Hills Catholic Church. The parish funded a donation of 71 new coats, including both adult and child sizes. The organization contacted Sheriff Lott to donate the items to RCSD to be distributed to community members in need. Representatives from [Oliver Gospel's] Toby's Place and Sistercare were present at the press conference and accepted the coat donation to be used for those under their care. Toby's Place, part of the Oliver Gospel Organization, houses homeless women and their children. Sistercare offers services and housing to women and children who are survivors of domestic violence. "It's always special to receive such a thoughtful donation from a group in our community," Sheriff Lott said. "It's hard to think about leaving everything you know behind and in some cases, these women take whatever they can fit in one bag. In other cases, they leave with nothing at all. These coats will ensure that the women and children in need can be warm this winter." Oliver Gospel is deeply grateful for the generosity of Our Lady Of The Hills and Sheriff Lott and his team at the Richland County Sheriff's Department. Thanks to their compassion for those who are hurting, women and children in our community will feel warmer and more joyful this winter. To donate to Oliver Gospel Mission, click the button below:

A fashion-forward boutique is setting a new trend: Generosity. Charley's Clothing is a boutique in Lexington, SC, owned by two young women, Jordan and Taylor. Last year, they blessed us with 8 years' worth of excess inventory, including brand-new clothes for us to give to our residents. They have a heart for serving the community and especially the women in our programs at Toby's Place. For Giving Tuesday 2022, we collaborated with Charley's to show support for their small business AND the work being done at Oliver Gospel's Toby's Place. A group of our residents made the trip out to Lexington for a fashion show, where they modeled outfits from the store and talked about the boutique and their experiences at Toby's Place. The video went live on Charley's Clothing's Instagram on November 29th with a caption that encourages their following of almost 20,000 people to support Toby's Place. The caption says: "Giving Tuesday represents the best of all of us as we seek to give back to those in need and help make a difference in the communities we love. This year, @charleysclothing is partnering with Toby’s Place, a transitional housing development seeking to provide women with the skillset to obtain and maintain stable and secure housing for themselves and their children. Toby’s Place is an outgrowth of Oliver Gospel Mission and the women who graduate from their programming have gone on to break cycles of homelessness and generational curses of abuse, addiction and dependence. The women we had the privilege to meet at Charley’s Clothing were beautiful, inspiring and downright courageous- armed with determination and a sense of Jesus’s great love for us all- they are working day in and day out to change the lives of their children and themselves. These women came in to showcase our clothes but they ended up changing our hearts. We pray that as you listen to them speak, you too, will be drawn to these mothers whose love for their babies, their God, and each other- is worth every penny we can spare." This is a beautiful example of community partnership. The women at Toby's Place had a blast trying on the clothes and the proceeds from the sale will go towards providing all the supplies these women need to thrive: diapers and formula for their babies, clothes, and resources to continue the programming at Oliver Gospel. If you are inspired by Jordan and Taylor's generosity, check out our Give Items page or contact us at (803) 254-6470 to learn more! If you want to help support the women at Toby's Place, click the link below:

Have you ever changed the course of your life? Cody did. Cody is an orphan. With no real place to call home and no close family left, he was forced to live on the streets or bounce from shelter to shelter. To numb the pain and make some money, Cody began using and selling drugs. His addiction drowned out reality, causing a constant fog to consume his mind. Cody walled up his heart and didn’t allow himself to feel his emotions. He could faintly see the path his drug addiction was taking him, but his pride didn’t let him admit that he was in danger. “I was extremely reserved and shut down. My ego ruled my life.” He felt he would amount to nothing if something didn’t change. This summer, as Cody slept outside the Post Office on Assembly Street, he watched the men come and go from Oliver Gospel. He wondered what it might be like to ask for help, to lay down his ego, and to clear the fog in his mind. A week later, Cody stayed at Oliver Gospel for the first time. He stayed in our 30-day program, Refresh, not fully convinced that he wanted help. But to his surprise, he started to build relationships with the staff and residents. Two of our residents, Darren and Clay, made a big impact on Cody. They helped him to see that letting go of pride and addiction could change his life. They encouraged him to join them in the Recovery program. When he began the Recovery program at Oliver Gospel, it wasn’t just about having a place to stay. He decided he was done living the way he had been and wanted a chance to start over. Oliver Gospel gave him that. Cody knew God existed, but all his life, he didn’t feel any connection with Him or know how to follow Him. Through the community he found at Oliver Gospel, the course of his life was changed. He was freed from addiction through the power of Christ’s love. In October, Cody decided to follow Jesus. “Knowing Jesus is like when you know someone has your back…I don’t have to be so wound up, worried, or concerned about things anymore.” He has learned that with Jesus and with sobriety, he can focus, think, and feel again. He is no longer an orphan. He is a child of God. His heart has been opened to give and receive love from Jesus and the community around him. And he is ready to share it with anyone who will listen! “I want to be the kind of person who helps someone without thinking about it. I want to have the courage to step up and serve others.” There are many men like Cody who need a place to practice sobriety, grow in the community around them, and find hope in Jesus. Consider supporting these men today by clicking the button below:

On this day of giving, we invite you to give to your neighbors experiencing homelessness. Click the button below to donate!