September 2025 Newsletter

NEW SLETTER September 2025

BEYOND THE BOTTOM LINE: INVESTING IN TRANSFORMATION For Craig Penland, president and CEO of Eurolink Fastener Supply Service in Greer, faith and business are inseparable. As his company celebrates 25 years, Craig reflects not only on building a successful business but also on building a lasting legacy of generosity and community impact.

Craig and his wife, Kim, first heard about JUMPSTART SC through friends at Victor Baptist Church. What struck them most was the faith-centered mission of walking alongside men and women leaving prison. “Second chances matter,” Craig shared. “None of us really deserve even the first chance, but God keeps giving us grace. If He doesn’t give up on us, we shouldn’t give up on others.”

Eurolink’s partnership with JUMPSTART SC began through one of their social enterprises, JUMPSTART Landscaping. Craig recalls being impressed by the professionalism and character of the participants during projects they completed at his home, a cabin, and eventually their business facility.

“

ANYTIME YOU CAN WATCH SOMEONE’S LIFE TRULY TRANSFORM—IT’S A BEAUTIFUL THING.

Craig Penland, President & CEO, Eurolink Fastener Supply Service

TRANSFORMING THE LIVES OF PRISONERS FROM THE INSIDE OUT

September 2025

Page 2

Treating them with dignity and respect led to lasting relationships, even beyond the job site. What started as a business connection became a personal bond, reinforced through game nights and community gatherings with JUMPSTART SC participants.

Craig’s commitment to generosity deepened after hearing the Hobby Lobby founders share about their corporate tithing. Inspired, Craig began giving a percentage of Eurolink’s profits back to employees and to the community, empowering his staff to choose nonprofits the company would support each year. “It’s not just me deciding anymore,” Craig explained. “Our team has ownership in how we give, and it’s made all the difference.”

For Craig, JUMPSTART SC’s work resonates deeply. “Society often lets people down, but God never does.

That’s why the transformation happening through JUMPSTART is so powerful,” he said. He values us being a local nonprofit impacting all of South Carolina.

Looking back, Craig sees how faith has carried him through challenges in business, marriage, and life. Today, he is grateful for his family, his company, and the chance to use both as a platform for God’s purposes.

RESTORATION VILLAGE UPDATE From a prison cell to a front porch, Restoration Village now has its 12th home!

your support helps turn houses into homes and second-chance opportunities into lasting change.

Each home in the Village is more than just a roof over someone’s head. It is a place of hope, healing, and transformation. With this new addition, we are expanding our capacity to serve more participants in our transitional program.

Today, we still need people to believe in what we’re doing here. Every gift you give and every conversation you share moves us closer to a future where restoration is possible for every man and woman who desires it. Your generosity writes the next chapter in someone’s comeback story.

Our goal remains clear. We aim to complete Restoration Village by the end of 2026. Every home we add brings us closer to that vision. Each home in the village is a tangible promise of second chances.

For someone who once faced uncertainty on the pavement, a safe and warm room is life-changing.

One graduate shared, “That first night in a bed I could call my own, I wept. It wasn’t just a house.

It was hope.”

Will you give today to help finish the Village?

Together, let us celebrate this milestone and keep building a future filled with hope, one home at a time.

We are grateful to our legacy donors, Restoration Society members, supporters, volunteers, and community partners who continue to walk alongside us. Whether through prayer, partnership, or giving, JUMPSTART SC Newsletter

September 2025

Page 3

GOING THE EXTRA MILE Volunteers are the lifeblood of what we do here at JUMPSTART SC! Their unwavering commitment is evident not only in the hours they dedicate on the inside, guiding and encouraging those in our program, but also in the extraordinary care they show by (quite literally sometimes) going the extra mile!

Ask anyone—staff, volunteer, or participant—and they’ll tell you: release day is always unpredictable. So much depends on factors outside our control. Without our village of people serving, providing care on these days would be impossible across all 19 prisons. Take Dave Ebert, for example. Dave first connected with JUMPSTART SC through a friend at the Christian Motorcyclists Association. Intrigued, he came to see the ministry in action and was quickly “hooked,” recognizing the value of ongoing relationships after release. He shared recently how God worked in a situation on release day at Kershaw: “As we discussed on the phone, this is how I ended up on a solo trip to pick DJ up. On July 29th, I received the Inside the Impact newsletter... which reminded me that there were going to be recent JUMPSTART SC graduates getting out of Kershaw soon. I immediately sent Don a text offering to go with him or to go by myself if he wasn’t available. I no sooner hit send when my phone rang. It was Greg Sobieski asking if I could go to Kershaw because Don was out of town, and he wouldn’t be available either. I told him that I just got done sending Don a text offering to go, so I’d handle it!”

“It’s a great thing to be part of a dedicated group of volunteers and staff who want to make a difference in the lives of people both inside and outside of prison who want to make the most of a second chance in life,” Dave shared.

And Dave is not alone. He serves alongside a faithful Kershaw team that includes Robert Daggett, James Gaither, Thomas Gillis, Alan Loeser, Don Schacher, Greg Sobieski, and Dr. Bill Stroup. Together, they embody what it means to show up, step in, and walk with participants from the moment they step outside prison gates.

Stories like these remind us that volunteers don’t just fill gaps; they are being vitally used by God in someone’s story! Thank you to all those who serve with willingness to coordinate, serve, and foster lasting relationships to ensure that those we serve thrive in their transition.

We’re excited to welcome 12 new participants joining us this September! Would you prayerfully consider supporting them in their transition here at Restoration Village?

Become a personal mentor for a graduate released from prison to help them reintegrate into society.

Discover impactful ways to engage with JUMPSTART SC or volunteer inside prisons to share, engage, and inspire participants during our 40-week discipleship program. Your involvement can make a profound difference in the lives of those seeking a fresh start.

Not everyone can volunteer, but everyone can make an impact. Will you give a gift today to help the men and women we serve take their next step toward a future greater than their past?

Scan to Donate Now

Or Text GIVE to 833-308-2670

JUMPSTART SC Newsletter

September 2025

Page 4

DATES YOU DON’T WANT TO MISS! We are thrilled to announce that we will be hosting a variety of special events designed to foster connection and strengthen our vibrant community throughout the remainder of the year.

Each event will offer a unique opportunity to come together, share in meaningful fellowship, delicious food, and support one another as we grow.

We warmly invite our entire JUMPSTART South Carolina family to join us—your presence makes every occasion even more memorable. Invitations will be sent out as each event gets closer, but in the meantime, we encourage you to save the dates. Let’s make the rest of this year unforgettable as we continue to transform lives.

27

MEN’S EVENT

Indigo Hope Center | 9:00-11:30am

NOV

5

VOLUNTEER APPRECIATION

30

EMPLOYER APPRECIATION

14

GATHERING

7

WOMEN’S EVENT

20

GRATITUDE LUNCHEON

10

GATHERING

29

FOOTBALL WATCH PARTY

28

VOLUNTEER APPRECIATION

12

CHRISTMAS GATHERING

SEP

SEP

OCT

OCT

OCT

Indigo Hope Center | 11:30-1:00pm

Indigo Hope Center | 6:00-8:00pm

Indigo Hope Center | 5:30-7:00pm

Indigo Hope Center | 6:00-8:00pm

NOV

NOV

NOV

DEC

Columbia, SC | Time TBD

Indigo Hope Center | 5:30-7:00pm

Indigo Hope Center | 11:30am-1:00pm

Indigo Hope Center | Time TBD

Indigo Hope Center | 5:30-7:00pm

Scan to Learn More JUMPSTART South Carolina PO Box 1050 Spartanburg, SC 29304 888-403-3815 info@jumpstartvision.org

JUMPSTART SC Newsletter