The story of Tracy and Sunshine Gantt Ministries did not begin with a nonprofit organization, a church, or a homeless shelter.

 

It began with two people whose lives were forever changed by God's grace.

 

Tracy and Sunshine met as teenagers at the ages of 18 and 14. On Valentine's Day 1999, they were married at the ages of 22 and 18. Like many young couples, they had dreams and plans for their future. However, those dreams were soon overshadowed by addiction, gang involvement, poor choices, and the challenges that followed.

 

Approximately two years into their marriage, the couple separated.

 

During those years apart, both Tracy and Sunshine experienced homelessness for different reasons and faced some of the most difficult seasons of their lives. Tracy ultimately served a two-year prison sentence. While incarcerated, God began working in his life in a powerful way. During that time, Tracy felt God revealing that his testimony would one day be used to help others struggling with homelessness, addiction, and life's hardships.

 

At the same time, God was working in Sunshine's life as well.

 

After eight years of separation, God reunited Tracy and Sunshine in 2009. What seemed impossible became possible through faith, restoration, and God's grace.

 

In 2012, the Gantts became business owners, operating thrift store locations in Easley and Marietta, South Carolina (Delight$ 4 a Dollar). Their Easley location was recognized with the Easley Patch Readers' Choice Award for Best Children's Clothing.

 

In 2013, after being encouraged by a local pastor, the couple made a life-changing decision. They closed both thrift stores, moved their inventory into the local pastor's church, and began giving it away free of charge to individuals and families in need.

 

As Tracy continued serving in ministry, that same pastor took him under his wing, mentored him, and eventually licensed him to preach the Gospel.

 

Two years later, in 2015, that pastor passed away. Tracy was called to serve as Senior Pastor of New Deliverance Church in Easley, South Carolina. That same year, Tracy and Sunshine officially founded Tracy and Sunshine Gantt Ministries and began expanding their outreach efforts throughout the community.

 

Following the formation of the ministry, Tracy and Sunshine dedicated themselves fully to serving others. What started with giving away clothing expanded into community cookouts, food distributions, holiday assistance programs, and outreach initiatives designed to meet practical needs while sharing hope with those facing difficult circumstances.

 

One of the ministry's earliest community events was a cookout held to introduce Pastor Tracy Gantt to the community as Senior Pastor of New Deliverance Church while also bringing together local residents and law enforcement during a time of heightened tension throughout the nation. The event received local media coverage and reflected the ministry's commitment to building relationships and strengthening the community.

 

The ministry also launched programs such as Prison Mommies, which provided Christmas gifts for children of incarcerated mothers. In 2016, the organization began hosting its annual Back-to-School Bash, an outreach that has grown to serve thousands of children and families throughout Pickens County. Over the years, additional outreach efforts included free yard sales, block parties, food distributions, clothing assistance, and community events designed to meet both practical and spiritual needs.

 

Through these outreach efforts, Tracy and Sunshine quickly realized that many of the challenges facing individuals in the community were interconnected. Food insecurity, poverty, addiction, unemployment, and homelessness often went hand in hand.

 

Then something happened that would change the course of the ministry forever.

 

Homeless individuals began attending church services seeking help. Wanting to connect them with local resources, Tracy and Sunshine began searching for a homeless shelter in Pickens County.

 

To their surprise, they discovered there wasn't one.

 

They drove throughout the county looking for options. They spoke before Easley City Council, Pickens County Council, and South Carolina state leaders. Everywhere they turned, they found the same reality: there was no local solution for individuals experiencing homelessness in Pickens County.

 

Rather than accept that reality, they began gathering others who shared the same passion and burden for helping those in need. A dedicated team formed around a common vision: creating a place where people experiencing homelessness could find hope, stability, and support. While several of those early team members have since passed away, their contributions helped lay the foundation for what would eventually become Pickens County Shelter of Hope.

 

In 2018, the organization located a building in Pickens County and began the long process of transforming it into a shelter. After nearly two years of renovations, planning, and preparation, Pickens County Shelter of Hope received its Certificate of Occupancy in March 2020.

 

Just days later, the COVID-19 pandemic brought much of the country to a standstill.

 

After receiving approval from the State of South Carolina to operate as an essential service, Pickens County Shelter of Hope officially opened its doors on April 4, 2020, becoming the first and only emergency to transitional housing program serving Pickens County.

 

Since opening, the shelter has provided housing, meals, showers, laundry services, employment assistance, recovery referrals, transportation to rehabilitation programs, and supportive services to individuals working to rebuild their lives.

 

Today, Tracy and Sunshine Gantt Ministries continues to serve the community through outreach programs, annual Back-to-School Bashes, community events, and Pickens County Shelter of Hope.

 

What began as a story of brokenness, homelessness, addiction, incarceration, and separation has become a story of restoration, service, hope, and second chances.

 

Because we believe that no life is beyond redemption.

 

And because we know firsthand that one act of compassion can change a life forever.