What started in 2016 as a grassroots mission to serve the Lowcountry with purpose has grown into a decade-long movement — ten years of service, ten years of impact, ten years of joy. And we are just getting started. I Serve with Joy is officially launching its 1,000 Acts of Joy campaign — a movement built on the belief that kindness shows up in many ways. Whether you donate, volunteer, or simply show up — every single act fuels the greater work we do every day. Our 10-year anniversary arrives this fall and the journey starts now.
A Decade of R.E.A.C.H.
It all started underneath a bridge. Ten years later, it has grown into a decade-long movement touching lives across the Lowcountry and beyond.
When Joy Campbell discovered people living underneath a bridge, she did not look away — she simply showed up, and that act of showing up with joy became the heartbeat of everything I Serve with Joy stands for.
Since 2016, I Serve with Joy has been a Lowcountry staple — known for coat drives, hygiene kits, back-to-school drives, and community baby showers. Over the past decade, thousands of Lowcountry families have been touched by the organization's work. From COVID-19 relief to the 2026 Steps Toward Mobility initiative, we have shown up in every season for seniors, veterans, youth, and families in need. The Joy Market — a community commerce fundraiser — has become a cornerstone event connecting local vendors, donors, and neighbors in a shared act of giving.
R.E.A.C.H. — Rebuild hearts. Empower youth. Advance communities. Help the underserved.
How to Show Up — Every Act Counts
The 1,000 Acts of Joy IS the campaign — the umbrella over everything:
• Donating = an act of joy
• Volunteering = an act of joy
• Ordering the featured dish at Mex 1 in May (West Ashley or Sullivan's Island) = an act of joy It does not matter how you show up — just show up. Every act of joy moves us forward.
Ready to join the movement? Sign up to log your Act of Joy at iservewithjoy.org. Every act counts toward our goal of 1,000.
Follow us and tag us @IServeWithJoy on social media to stay connected throughout the campaign.
A Partnership Rooted in Purpose
I Serve with Joy is honored to welcome the South Carolina Commission for Community Advancement and Engagement — formerly the South Carolina Commission for Minority Affairs — as our 2026 Regional Impact Partner. Their dedication to strengthening rural and under-resourced communities and commitment to Engage, Empower, Evolve aligns deeply with our mission.
Our Community Partners
I Serve with Joy is grateful to the community partners who have come beside us to make this campaign launch possible — Dr. Pamela S. Imm, Ph.D., Rose Pearlz Events, the Carlos Dunlap Foundation, Z93 Jamz, 95SX, Magic 107.3, Fairytales Not So Fairy, Mex 1, SPEAK! FOR GOD, Ann Taylor Loft, and generous anonymous donors. Ready to join them? Sign up at iservewithjoy.org and add your act of joy to the movement.
A Message from Our Founder
"We are about six months away from something big," said Joy Campbell, Founder of I Serve with Joy. "May is just the beginning. We want the whole community running this race with us — donate, show up, pass the joy along. Let's celebrate 10 years together this fall."
Dine with Purpose All Month at Mex 1
I Serve with Joy is partnering with Mex 1 all May long. A portion of proceeds from a specially selected dish will support women and children served by I Serve with Joy.
"$1 from every Mango Salsa Shrimp Taco sold will go toward supporting women and children through I Serve with Joy." Every order is an act of joy.
- Mex 1 — Sullivan's Island | 2205 Middle St, Sullivan's Island, SC 29482
- Mex 1 — West Ashley | 817 Saint Andrews Blvd, Charleston, SC 29407
Upcoming Events — Join Us This May
Senior Day at Citadel Mall
- Friday, May 1, 2026 | 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM
- Citadel Mall, Charleston, SC
- Come celebrate and connect with our senior community. I Serve with Joy invites you to join us for a special Senior Day at Citadel Mall. Your presence is an act of joy.
Nonprofit Resource Days
- May 5–7 & May 10–14, 2026
- Planning a summer event? We may have resources for you. Contact us to set up an appointment — text NONPROFIT to 347-774-0155.
1,000 Acts of Joy Kickoff at Mex 1
- Saturday, May 16, 2026 | 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM
- Mex 1, Charleston, SC
- Join us for our official 1,000 Acts of Joy Kickoff at Mex 1. Come out, connect with the community, and order the Mango Salsa Shrimp Taco — every one sold is an act of joy and a dollar toward our mission.
The Joy Market at Mex 1 Charleston
- Sunday, May 31, 2026
- The Joy Market is hitting the road — first stop, Mex 1 Charleston. Join us for a day where community, culture, and purpose come together.
- Now accepting vendors — spaces are limited. Text VENDOR to 347-774-0155 to reserve your spot.
To see how I Serve with Joy is taking over the month of May, visit iservewithjoy.org for the full calendar of events.
The Journey Starts in May
This campaign builds toward our 10-year anniversary celebration this fall — an event like none other. The 1,000 Acts of Joy campaign is what makes it possible for I Serve with Joy to truly celebrate a decade of impact. Every act — big or small — gets us there.
Join us. Show up. Do your act of joy.
For more information, visit iservewithjoy.org or follow I Serve with Joy on social media.
About I Serve with Joy
I Serve with Joy is a Charleston-based 501(c)(3) founded in 2016 by Jefferson Award-winning community leader Joy Campbell. Guided by R.E.A.C.H. — Rebuild hearts, Empower youth, Advance communities, Help the underserved — the organization has spent a decade delivering essential goods, dignity, and community connection across the Lowcountry and beyond. Learn more at iservewithjoy.org.