Written by Curtrell Gadson, MSW, LMSW
Our Day Begins
A little after 8:00 am on a gloomy Thursday, folks gathered for their first meal of the day at Christ Central’s Hope Plaza. I met Regi- at his car where he gave me the run down on how our day would go. It was going to be a long and exciting day. I followed Regi- inside the fellowship hall where many were gathered together at round tables eating a hot breakfast. Regi- walked through the room greeting everyone and saying hello to old friends. But he also came bearing gifts, handy compact aluminum can openers that he gave out to those who could use them. Before heading out, we stopped and spoke with some of Regi-’s friends that he had made while being homeless himself.
They bonded over the times when Regi-’s friend Kimi and her puppy, Peppy, made friends with everyone living on the streets. Now Regi- has his own partner in crime named Speck, a two-year-old chihuahua that hits the road with Regi- any chance he gets to help fulfill the mission of Needful Things, Regi’s non-profit. The conversation shifted to a much heavier place and Regi-’s friend shared how she’d been arrested for falling asleep in Finley Park. This is just one of the many ways those suffering from homelessness are criminalized. As we said our goodbyes, a staff member of Christ Central was sharing a message of hope and redemption to anyone who would listen. We then headed to St. Luke’s Episcopal Church where they had a food pantry whose doors are open various times throughout the week. When we arrived, there was a group of folks gathering around the back door. One of the folks who worked the pantry was running a tight ship and got everyone organized in two lines so that they could start serving. St Luke’s also offers showers and does laundry for those needing these services as well.
A Thursday Too early
Our next stops were in the Lower Richland community. Regi- knew the importance of expanding his resource lists beyond Lexington and Columbia so hitting the ground and building relationships in this area was necessary. We made our way to a couple of churches that both had food pantries in the area. Beulah Baptist Church of Hopkins where they had a food pantry every 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Thursday of the month from 10:00 am – Noon. When we pulled up the parking lot was empty, and we realized we were a Thursday too early. It was in that moment I realized how challenging, yet imperative it is to be in the know of all the places you can go to get food if you’re in need. The resources seem plentiful yet, sporadic which makes it difficult to navigate at times. Since we were in the Hopkins area, I mentioned to Regi- that Richland Library had two branches out that way and suggested we make a stop at the Southeast branch as we headed back toward town to our next stop. Regi- was game so we pulled up about five met with one of the kindest staff members located right in the foyer of the lobby. We introduced ourselves and told her all about Do Good Columbia’s Project ART and the wonderful work Regi- was doing with Needful Things. She expressed how often they get all sorts of questions about various resources that Regi- had listed on his resource list. She was happy to share the lists with anyone who was in need.
Lessons in the Field
Our next stop was a KFC that was just a few doors down from the library. With the help of Ms. Carla from Food for All, Regi- had successfully built a partnership with KFC where he could pick up any overage that was kept from the prior week. We got out and started loading up the coolers with tons of frozen pot pies, chicken, and biscuits. Regi- would take this food and deliver it himself to organizations who served those in need who were in need themselves. Of course, this made my heart smile because this is what it was all about. Working as a collective to better serve those in need. I thought to myself, Regi- could certainly teach a class at the College of Social Work on grassroots work and community organizing because this is the stuff that our professors and mentors preach to us about.
Just like with KFC, Regi- had collaborated with Ms. Kemmy with Freedom in Righteousness and Equality- FIRE, in working with The Fresh Market on Two Notch Road to collect the overage of bread and desserts to organizations serving those who are homeless. At this point, Regi-’s car was so full of goodies that we had to start loading up some in my car. This was a great problem to have. Because Regi-’s primary focus these days with Needful Things was to expand further out, he owed a visit to Oak Grove Baptist Church in Elgin. Oak Grove offers a food pantry to its surrounding community Mondays and Wednesdays from 10:00am-12:00pm and the 1st and 3rd Thursdays from 11:00am-2:00pm. But when we arrived the pantry was temporarily closed until next week. So, we jumped in our cars and on the interstate back to town to deliver the food haul we were able to pick up while in the field.
It’s Busy Downtown
First stop was the infamous Soup Kitchen ran by Washington Street UMC. I was able to meet one of the individuals who runs the Soup Kitchen and share with them what’s happening with Project ART. After that, Regi- and I loaded them up with a bunch of goodies we snagged from Fresh Market. We were also able to give out some to those who were hanging out along the sidewalk in front of the church. Just before lunch, we made our way to a few of the larger more well-known organizations that that serve the unhoused like Oliver Gospel Mission, MIRCI, and Christ Central Ministry to promote Project ART.
After lunch we met at Transitions and dropped off postcards about Project ART to the case-managers. In the lobby we struck up a conversation with someone who wanted to know if there was someone who could help him with his SNAP benefits. Regi- and I both blurted out simultaneously the Social Workers at Richland Library would be able to help. He mentioned how he was so ready to leave Transitions and that he had just got a job. I congratulated him and told him that he was that much closer to reaching his goal. He shared that he was from out of state and ended up in Columbia because he moved to help a relative with their land and he ended up homeless. This reminded me of Regi-’s story and how this Californian ended up in the Soda City.
The Phone Call
In the late 80s Regi- got a call from a friend who was in dire need of his help. He was sick and dying from AIDS and had no one to care for him. Regi- literally answered to the call and hopped on a Greyhound bus from one coast to the other to arrive in Columbia. Regi- cared for his friend until he passed in 1995 and from there continued to do the work to spread awareness about HIV in his spare time. The Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) had heard about Regi-’s great efforts and offered him a job as an information specialist on the spot. Regi- had worked for this cause for over 20 years until funding with DHEC had run out. He took a job as a janitor and soon fell ill himself. This resulted in him needing a cane while working. As you can imagine, this made it difficult for Regi- to fulfill his duties as a janitor and was soon terminated. He ended suing his employer and won. Sadly, not long after Regi- lost his job he lost his apartment shortly after and bounced from boarding homes, to couches, to shelters. He even endured living in the woods. During this time, he had begun the process of applying for disability which took years to get approved. While living at Transitions he got a call from his best friend who told Regi- to pack up all his belongings because he had a room waiting for him at his place. That call meant the world to Regi- and as he shared this with me, he was overcome with an immense amount of gratitude for his best friend.
A couple years after SSI Regi- was able to own a home and car of his own after six years of homelessness thanks to an inheritance passed down from his mother. Although Regi- was grateful for the generous offering, it came as a surprise as him and his mother had a very estranged relationship. Certainly, a one-of-a-kind outcome for most suffering from being unhoused in the Soda City. It was in those six years of homelessness when the start of Needful Things became so, even before having a formal name or mission. Starting out Regi- had only a dozen places on his list. Now in 2023 there are over 135 organizations and entities that he has built relationships with to keep his community informed of what resources are out there available to those suffering from homelessness.
Final Stops
We had about two more stops to make before the productive day came to a close. I followed Regi- down a secluded road and we approached a building that was highly secured with a barbed wire fence and security actively patrolling the premises. I got the car and asked Regi- where we were and to my surprise we had arrived at Columbia’s Rapid Shelter. I was struck by how institutionalized it appeared to be. We introduced ourselves to the security and staff and shared information about Project ART. We then shared the remainder of the food we gathered from KFC and The Fresh Market. They were all very grateful for the donation and begin to ask if there was any housing available in Columbia. I shared with them that unfortunately we are beyond a point of a housing crisis in Columbia and that affordable housing options are scarce but shared information about Project ART and other resources that may be useful. While the resources offered to the unhoused are helpful, safe and affordable housing options sadly aren’t readily available, leaving a growing population of folks facing homelessness every day.
Our last stop of the day was in the parking lot across from the Columbia Police Department just off Washington Street. We were a bit early, but this lot was where Pastor Oscar with Keepin It Real Ministries came out every Thursday at 4:00pm to serve dinner to those who needed a meal. While waiting, I hopped in the car with Regi- to reflect on our extremely busy yet productive day. I was anxious to know how he does it all? How he drives about a hundred miles every day to do what he does with Needful Things? What was his secret and how is he able to sustain? His answer was accommodated by a slight chuckle “I… I don’t do anything for myself.” And I got to see that firsthand just moments before. We had just parked and some had already begin gathering in the parking lot. Many know Regi-’s car, so a couple of guys came over wanting to know if Regi- had something to cure their sweet tooth. Regi- searched his car but initially didn’t find anything left over. Looked on his front seat and saw a huge, iced lemon blueberry cake slice that he was saving for himself. He gave to them along with a fork. I had thought about it and also realized I too had a cake slice that Regi- gave me earlier. They both walked away with delight and a cake slice each.
Needful Things is recognized self-funded by Regi- and recognized by South Carolina as a service organization but is not yet recognized federally as a 501© 3. Outside of donations, this is a desperate need for Regi- as it would open the doors for more funding opportunities and really contribute to his sustainable efforts. It’d make it to where Regi- won’t always have to give away his slice of cake. To support Needful Things, you can visit their site here for more information on how to donate and also get access to a resource list that is plentiful and updated often.
