Proudly serving South Carolina and Virginia
βοΈ $1,127 RAISED. ONE INCREDIBLE COMMUNITY. SO MUCH POTENTIAL!
A HUGE THANK YOU to the University of South Carolina School of Laws Latino Law Student Association for choosing Rainy Day Fund as the beneficiary of today`s *Good Deed Wednesday* bake sale!
@uscllsa 100% of today`s proceeds went directly toward supporting our work and the individuals and families we serve. We are so grateful to the students who organized this effort and EVERYONE who stopped by, purchased a treat, and donated. You helped make this happen! β€οΈ
But we`re not stopping here!
βοΈ WE`RE ISSUING A COMMUNITY MATCHING CHALLENGE!
We`re challenging local businesses, organizations, and community supporters to help us MATCH today`s $1,127.
Can we turn $1,127 into $2,254
Even more importantly, we`re looking to build lasting partnerships with businesses and organizations that want to invest in our community and help remove financial barriers to housing, employment, and new opportunities.
Whether through fundraising, sponsorships, employee giving, or other creative partnerships, there is a place for you in this work.
Who is ready to take the challenge?
π© DM us to explore partnership opportunities!
Together, we can make a difference that lasts.
#RainyDayFund #GoodDeedWednesday #USCLaw #CommunityGiving #CommunityPartnerships #BarrierRemoval #MidlandsSC
Nov 5
Need a Will?
Check out this free Wills Clinic by the USC Rice School of Law Pro Bono Program.
Oct 24
βοΈ CELEBRATING LEADERSHIP, COMPASSION, AND ACCESS TO JUSTICE! βοΈ
We are incredibly proud to share that our Executive Director, Kieley Sutton, is the recipient of the inaugural Ellen Hines Smith Access to Justice Award, presented by the South Carolina Access to Justice Commission in recognition of her contributions to expanding access to justice for South Carolinians. π
The work we do at Rainy Day Fund is not easy. Every day, we see how financial barriers can stand between individuals and the opportunity to move forward with their lives. Whether itβs restoring a driverβs license, addressing barriers to employment or housing, or navigating the costs associated with the legal system, these challenges can have a lasting impact on individuals and families.
Kieley understands that access to justice means more than what happens in a courtroom. It means recognizing the barriers people face, meeting people with compassion, and working to create practical solutions that help them move forward.
Her leadership and vision have helped shape Rainy Day Fund into an organization committed to removing those barriers and helping people build a path forward.
Kieley, we are PROUD of you! π Your dedication to justice, service, and compassion reminds us why this work matters and why we keep showing up, even when the work is hard.
This recognition celebrates not only an incredible accomplishment, but also the importance of the work that continues every day across our community.
Join us in congratulating Kieley on this well-deserved honor!
π Learn more about the award and Kieleyβs work, visit @scaccesstojustice and click on the Ellen Hines Smith Award to meet Kieley.
#RainyDayFund #AccessToJustice #SocialJustice #CommunityImpact #Leadership #BarrierRemoval
Oct 22
Yes, we are still accepting and gathering supplies for the two Hygiene Pantries we support at the Richland Library Social Work Department and the Richland County Public Defender`s Office.
Civic engagement at its finest as these supplies were collected by our Spring Valley High School Student Representative!
The weather is changing and support is needing warmer clothing items. Some of the items can include:
Long-sleeve cotton t-shirts.
Crew socks.
Jogging pants.
Sweatshirts.
Hats.
To learn more or discuss how you can help, reach out via email to cole@raindydayfund.us or shontae@rainydayfund.us
Hand warmers.
Oct 21
π $200 can be a lot more than $200.
Just ask Destinee Wilson.
Destinee, a former Rainy Day Fund Board member, recently donated **$200 to sponsor the Richland Library Social Work Department Hygiene Pantry for the month of August.**
That $200 became:
π 16 cotton T-shirts
𧦠30 pairs of crew socks
π§Ό 365 body wipes
𧴠200 deodorant wipes
And those numbers become something much more meaningful when you think about the people who will receive them.
For someone spending their days and nights outside, a body wipe can mean a chance to freshen up.
A clean T-shirt can mean feeling a little more comfortable.
A fresh pair of socks can mean relief for tired feet.
These aren`t just hygiene products.
They`re small reminders that someone cares.
Destinee, thank you for continuing to invest in the work of Rainy Day Fund and for helping us support the Richland Library Social Work Department Hygiene Pantry this August. π
Now we`d love to see what our community can do together.
Sponsor a month of the Hygiene Pantry for $200.
Your $200 can help us purchase the everyday essentials that make a real difference and you can help support both of our Hygiene Pantries.
Ready to sponsor a month or help with donations?
π§ Contact Cole at cole@rainydayfund.us or Shontae at shontae@rainydayfund.us
Let`s turn $200 into comfort, dignity, and care.
Because sometimes the smallest things can mean the most. π
#RainyDayFund #HygienePantry #DignityMatters #CommunityCare #GiveLocal #NeighborsHelpingNeighbors
Sep 11
When we ask our community, you show up. π
A few weeks ago, we shared a simple ask: Rainy Day Fund needed a place where our small team could gather for a full day of administrative work while we continue our search for a permanent office space.
We were overwhelmed by the response. The suggestions, connections, encouragement, and offers of support reminded us once again that we are surrounded by a community that believes in the work we do.
And one of those offers came from South Carolina Appleseed Legal Justice Center.
We are incredibly grateful to SC Appleseed for opening their conference room to our team and sharing their space with us. This gives us the opportunity to step away from the usual hustle, work together in one place, and spend some much-needed time strengthening the foundation behind Rainy Day Fund.
Because the work doesn`t happen only when we`re meeting with clients. There is a lot that happens behind the scenes such as planning, grant writing, organizing, building systems, and making sure Rainy Day Fund is positioned to continue serving our community well.
Thank you, South Carolina Appleseed for making room for us. And thank you to everyone who responded to our original request, shared our post, offered suggestions, or simply cheered us on. This is what community looks like. People making room for one another so the work can keep moving forward. π
We are grateful. @appleseedsc
Aug 28
**UPDATE*-Correction made to the flyer**
Social Work CEUs are pending.
Aug 18
π **A little local love can go a long way.**
We have some exciting news!
@smallsugarsc saw our Hygiene Pantry post and reached out to help. They are now hosting a donation box for our Hygiene Pantry! π
We dropped off the box this morning, and now we`re asking our community to help us fill it.
So, the next time you`re stopping by smallSUGAR:
ποΈ Shop local.
𧴠Bring a hygiene item.
π¦ Drop it in their donation box.
π Know that your purchase AND your donation are helping support our community.
We`re currently looking for items including cotton T-shirts, socks, body wipes, travel-size body wash, shampoo, deodorant, lotion, sunscreen and lip balm.
**Thank you, smallSUGAR, for opening your doors and your heart to this effort. We are so grateful for businesses that don`t just see a community need, they step up to help meet it.
Now, Columbia...let`s fill that box!** π
#RainyDayFund #smallSUGAR #ShopLocalGiveLocal #HygienePantry #CommunitySupport
Aug 17
π§° WHATβS IN YOUR TRAUMA RESPONSE TOOLKIT?
Knowing what to say matters.
Knowing what not to say matters.
Knowing how to connect someone to safety and resources matters.
And sometimes⦠the first contact can make all the difference.
Rainy Day Fund is bringing attorneys, social workers, advocates and helping professionals together for a FREE Trauma Response Toolkit training focused on:
π§ Trauma-Informed Care
βοΈ Advocacy
π€ Cross-system collaboration
π‘οΈ Safety
π Resources
π
Friday, August 21, 2026
β° 9:30 AMβ3:00 PM
π Richland Library β Main Branch
1431 Assembly Street, Columbia, SC
π 5 SW CEUs APPROVED
βοΈ CLEs pending
β Breakfast snacks + lunch provided
π FREE to attend
Featured topics include stalking response, trauma-informed advocacy, and understanding how the systems we work in intersect with the experiences of the people we serve.
If you support people navigating trauma, crisis, violence, or complex systems β this training belongs in your calendar.
π² Scan the QR code on the flyer and REGISTER TODAY!
Tag a colleague who needs to be in the room. π
#RainyDayFund #TraumaResponseToolkit #StalkingAwareness #CommunityResources #ColumbiaSC
Aug 16
βοΈ What if you couldn`t escape the heat?
Imagine spending 24 hours a day, 7 days a week outside in South Carolina`s heat, humidity, and sun.
No cool shower.
No air conditioning.
No fresh clothes waiting for you.
Now imagine what it might feel like to finally wash up, put on a clean T-shirt and fresh socks, apply some lotion or lip balm, and have a little relief from the elements.
Those things may seem small to us. They aren`t small to someone who has been without them.
We`ve received wonderful support in the past, but donations have slowed down. We`re hoping to get the shelves and the community moving again.
We need help with some specific items for the Hygiene Pantry:
π Cotton T-shirts, unisex if possible, colors other than white
𧴠Travel-size body wash
𧴠Travel-size shampoo
𧴠Travel-size lotion
βοΈ Travel-size sunscreen
π Lip balm
𧦠Socks
Want to help?
π§ Contact Cole or Shontae: cole@rainydayfund.us, shontae@rainydayfund.us
Donate an item. Organize a collection. Share this post. Because dignity can look like something as simple as a clean shirt. π
#RainyDayFund #HygienePantry #DignityMatters #CommunityCare
Aug 11
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