An Angel of Service and Stability in the Lowcountry

Meet Daily Point of Light Award honoree Katrina Carpenter. Read her story, and nominate an outstanding volunteer or family as a Daily Point of Light.

Katrina Carpenter, founder and executive director of Jean’s Angels, is a force of nature in the Tri-County area of South Carolina, providing a critical safety net for families facing hardship. Motivated by a selfless spirit and deep dedication, Katrina’s organization tackles the devastating impacts of homelessness, food insecurity, poverty, trauma and illness in Berkeley, Dorchester and Charleston counties. Katrina herself volunteers an astounding 70 hours per week (about 280 hours per month), overseeing everything from food pantry operations and emergency housing support to managing their mobile shower and laundry trailer. Her vision is clear: to build a stronger, more resilient community where no one is left hungry, unsheltered or unheard.

The impact of Katrina’s work is immeasurable. In the past year alone, the organization has distributed 1,800 winter coats and over 15,000 toys, served 5,611 hot meals and provided crucial hygiene and shelter, including 1,785 showers and 96 hotel stays for those in crisis. Beyond these immediate needs, Jean’s Angels offers specialized support, operating a resource center for cancer patients and their families that provides counseling and essential household items. The numbers speak volumes about the need and Katrina’s ability to meet it: in 2024, Jean’s Angels served a total of 32,651 individuals, including 16,011 children, through direct service and outreach.

Katrina’s extraordinary leadership shines through her ability to maximize every resource, stretching every donation to serve as many people as possible. Her efforts extend to coordinating emergency shelter, leading community outreach events and ensuring all programs meet the complex needs of vulnerable individuals. The organization has specifically made strides in helping children and youth, having served 1,200 unhoused children with clothing and school supplies and provided 75 weighted blankets for children with medical needs. Additionally, their mobile unit for individuals experiencing homelessness provided 811 showers and 1,811 loads of laundry, restoring dignity along with hygiene.

The incredible work of Jean’s Angels hasn’t gone unnoticed. Last year, the organization was honored as a recipient of a Lowe’s Hometowns grant, a program administered in partnership with Points of Light that supports community improvement projects. This recognition spotlighted the national significance of the grassroots efforts Katrina has championed, which restore dignity and stability for thousands in the Lowcountry.

Tell us about your volunteer role.

I am the founder of Jean’s Angels. It’s my full-time job, and all of us are volunteers, because no one receives payment. I founded it in 2015. I’d lost my mom to ovarian cancer, so I started pouring into our youth who have lost a parent due to a terminal illness, or maybe dealing with a terminal illness, or domestic violence or gun violence. We also started by working with our senior citizens, because a lot of times I would take my mom to her appointment, I noticed a lot of seniors who were there by themselves. I wanted to pour into them.

Every year, we take a group of kids who are dealing with a parent with a terminal illness, and we mentor them, giving them emotional support during school or just different things that they need. Then we end the year with a trip to Disney World, where we take 25 kids for seven days. Every year. We cover everything, so then that way they’re rewarded, but then also they get to spend time with other children who are fighting the same battle or going through the same emotions that they’re going through. We also do an annual back-to-school giveaway. It started off with us selecting 50 kids and providing book bags and school clothes. Now, that has grown to where we are providing for over 7,000 individuals. Our back-to-school giveaway includes household appliances, clothing, shoes, book bags. We give it away, and it’s absolutely free. We have an after-school tutoring program. We do summer reading and math programs.

We also have mobile shower trailers, which have three showers. We have a barber shop, kitchen and laundry, too. The laundry trailer that we provide is for our unhoused population. In 2020, I lost two brothers a month apart, and one wanted to work with unhoused populations, so we built those trailers and started providing those services. We also opened a facility that has showers and beds, so if anyone is in need, they’re able to come to that facility, get a hot meal, take a shower, rest and get clothing.

With the money that we received from Lowe’s Hometowns, we built a resource center for cancer patients. They and their families can come in and get brand new clothing, shoes and household appliances. We have comforters, beds, mattresses – you name it. We have a food bank too, and they’re able to come through and shop. So today, for instance, we had all breast cancer survivors and patients come through, and they were able to shop absolutely free. Last year, we also gave away 15,000 toys and over 450 bikes.

What inspires you to volunteer?

What inspires me to keep going is what I went through when I lost my mom and dad. I was still devastated, but then I was also dealing with three kids while going through a divorce. It was just a lot. So just imagine, you know, the 6-year-olds, the 8-year-olds who are going through this, who do not know how to channel their hurt or their anger. They have questions. Why my parents? Why? I’ve been there.

No matter how hard it gets, or if we don’t have funding to do anything, my husband and I will make sure things are taken care of because I don’t want the children to not have a place that they can come and get that help. Come and meet other kids who are going through similar challenges. While going through my divorce and losing my mom, I made a vow to God that I will make sure I’m able to be a resource for anyone that’s in need.

What are your long-term plans or goals with the organization?

In the next few years, I’d like to see an overnight shelter actually built. Currently we have a day shelter, but I want an overnight shelter that would house individuals. I also want to have transitional homes, so that we don’t become a crutch for anyone. I want to be able to be that leg up that you need to get you moving forward, standing on your own two feet.

What’s the most rewarding part of your work?

The most rewarding thing for me is being able to see the transformation. A lot of times, when people come in and they take their showers, they come in kind of rough, but when they come out, they’re rejuvenated, they’re happy. They’re smiling. They have their dignity. It makes me happy knowing that when they walk down the street, people are going to respect them. Everyone deserves respect, but at the end of the day, people look at you and judge you. So being able to smell fresh, have a fresh haircut… you just feel like yourself. It makes you want to do more. It makes you want to be around people. That’s a good thing.

Last Sunday, I was feeling a little down, and I walked into Walmart, and this young woman stopped me. She asked if I was the lady with Jean’s Angels. She had her three little children with her, and she just kept crying. She said, “You don’t even know us, but the things that you were able to provide us meant the world to our family.” She and I just cried and cried. In the middle of Walmart, just balls of tears. Those things reassure me and let me know that what I’m doing matters to people. It’s all actually helping. It’s spreading God’s love, and that’s my mission.

What have you learned through your experiences volunteering?

The lesson is to listen. I think it’s very important to provide people with the services that they actually need, and not what we think they need. I’ve had people tell me that they’ve observed differences in their toiletry bags, and I’ve made adjustments based on what they need. When we built the shower trailer, I saw a need for a hydraulic lift for special needs people. It’s so important to listen and respond to the actual needs. It makes the impact greater.

Why is it important for others to get involved with causes they care about?

It’s one thing to say, “I donate my money,” but it’s another thing to interact with people. A lot of times, issues are out of sight, out of mind. It does something to you. Providing these services in a hands-on way changes you. You don’t say, “I gave money and it looks good.” You actually become familiar with the issues as well as the impact you’re creating in the community. Seeing it firsthand will make you want to work harder for people.

Any advice for people who want to start volunteering?

I would tell them to just start. Know your passion first, and make sure it matches with who you are. Find an organization and get involved. It opens you up to see how you’re helping provide services. It changes your life. My encouragement is to wake up every day and be that difference.

Do you want to make a difference in your community like Katrina? Find local volunteer opportunities.