Today we’d like to introduce you to Sandra Bullock.
Hi Sandra, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Around 2017, I had a vision for a program that would help low-income individuals and families, including those experiencing homelessness. In 2019, at 75 years old, I resigned from my job to pursue that vision and dream. I have always felt that people were not treated with the respect and dignity they deserved when trying to access services. People are already in crisis when they go for help, and I believe that those in crisis deserve extra empathy.
I was once in the system myself, so I understand what it’s like to ask for help. That experience taught me that everyone deserves to be treated with kindness. My vision was to make it easier for families in my community to get the assistance they need.
We began by providing crisis intervention, information, and referral services helping individuals find jobs, housing, child care, and more. We continue to serve as a resource center, and in 2020, Greenville County Redevelopment Authority awarded us a grant to open our food pantry. Since then, we have received funding to build the greenhouse and riser gardens in the back of our building and have expanded our food pantry to become almost the largest food pantry in the area. We also do a monthly wellness program for minority women called Women of Worth (W.O.W.).
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
One of our biggest challenges has been securing enough operational dollars to keep our programs running. We have a small staff and rely heavily on volunteers, but there aren’t always enough hands to meet the growing needs of our community. Food insecurity in our area continues to rise, which means more families are coming to us for help every day. While we are blessed to receive donations, there are some items we rarely receive, such as canned goods, cereal, paper products, and baby supplies. Sometimes it is a struggle to have the funds to purchase these necessities. Despite these challenges, we remain committed to serving our community with dignity, compassion.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about First Impression of SC?
First Impression of SC is a nonprofit social service agency that predominantly serves Greenville County. We specialize in providing comprehensive support to individuals and families in need through information and referral services, food assistance, case management, and follow-up support.
What sets us apart is our commitment to treating everyone who comes through our doors with dignity, respect, and empathy. We understand that people seeking help are often in crisis, and we work to make their experience as supportive and compassionate as possible.
We are also proud to partner with Bootprint, an agency that focuses specifically on serving veterans, ensuring that our veteran community members have access to specialized resources and support.
Our brand is built on trust, compassion, and results. We want our community to know that when they reach out to First Impression of SC, they will find more than a helping hand they will find a team that genuinely cares. We are committed to serving our community, addressing food insecurity, and connecting people to the resources that can truly make a difference in their lives.
Can you talk to us a bit about the role of luck?
In my life, I’ve experienced both good luck and bad luck, but as I approach 82 years old, I feel truly blessed. I’ve been given the opportunity to continue doing the work I love and to pay it forward to others in my community. When I look at my personal life and my work with First Impression of SC, I see more good than bad. Every blessing, every opportunity, and even the challenges I’ve faced have allowed me to serve others with compassion and purpose. Everyone knows me as Sandra Bullock, the original, and that is my mantra. I want to continue being the person God has blessed me to be.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.1isc.org
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FirstImpressionSC
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/1iscgvl
