Meet Aaron Comstock | Founder: Uplift Charleston

We had the good fortune of connecting with Aaron Comstock and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Aaron, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
When I first moved to Charleston, SC and was working and teaching in North Charleston, I noticed a large amount of homelessness and suffering. It bothered me deeply that in the “Holy City” so many were in need and sleeping on our streets. I started out helping on my own but slowly became a community activist and I began to ask for assistance from our community to get the clothing, food, and toiletry assistance that was desperately needed. I then began to build an online group and presence to get the word out, raise awareness, and encourage volunteers to help. Through these efforts we built a community of those willing to love those in need and the homeless. We inspired other groups to be formed as well to lead this effort.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I started Uplift Charleston in 2018 because, as an activist, I was invited to and attended many meetings about what our community needed to do to create equity and social justice but there was rarely action. I wanted to create an action group that not only discussed the problems we were witnessing but also did something about it. I am proud of not only the work and action Uplift Charleston has performed to enact change but also how we have inspired other groups to do the same. Now there are many groups and organizations doing much needed work to serve those in need in the Lowcountry. I am also very proud that we have raised awareness about the issue of extreme poverty and homeless through the media so that those we love and care for are not forgotten in hopes others will be inspired to volunteer and advocate for these wonderful people.

The road has not been easy. It is not a volunteer opportunity that only happens on the weekends but an every hour of every day operation. I get so many requests for help that it is something that consumes me and my time daily. It is overwhelming to know so many are hurting and struggling and there are not many ways to get the assistance that they need. Many reach out and I help who I can or try to point them in directions for help but too often they are turned away. Most of the resources they need are dried up. We then rely on community volunteers to pick up the slack where state and local governments have failed. To also encourage and demand our local and state elected leaders to do their jobs and represent all of the people they serve, including the homeless and underserved. These challenges exist but also the challenge to get volunteers to help our mission of service, With so much on all of our plates and time and money being scarce, it is often difficult to get volunteers to assist us but I am honored to have those volunteers we do have who dedicate their time and money to help us serve those we love.

I want the community and world to know that homelessness can happen to any of us at any time. That those who are suffering from homelessness are wonderful people not looking for charity but for someone to love and care about their well being. It is what Jesus would do for the “least of these” and what we should do as well. The smallest level of love shown to our fellow man can change a person’s day or even life. It is the kind of kindness that that we would want shown to us when we are suffering. So I hope and pray our community and state will finally do what is right and help these people we serve and love. That they will finally solve homelessness.

The lesson I have learned through this journey is that you cannot make someone care about those they could and should. You can only do what you can in your capacity and hope and pray it makes a difference, inspires others to do the same, and makes someone’s day or changes their life.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
If my best friend was visiting the area and I wanted to show them the best time ever, I would take them to Downtown Charleston and Folly Beach. I would show them the beautiful places and the history of our city. I would take them to the sea islands and through the waterways and marshes. I would take them to eat fresh local seafood and see local bands throughout the city like Sufferin’ Moses on a Sunday at the Tattooed Moose on Johns Island. I would take them to Lewis Barbeque for beef ribs and brisket and Home Team Barbeque for smoked wings with Alabama white sauce and their amazing mac and cheese. I would take them to the wonderful local breweries to drink to their heart’s content. Sounds like a perfect week to me!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I’d like to send a shout out to all of our volunteers, leaders, donors, followers, and supporters who allow us to do what we do in our communities to bless others. We are Uplift Charleston, a group of over 14,000 local citizens and volunteers in Charleston, SC & the Lowcountry dedicated to serving neglected and marginalized communities, those in need, and the homeless. Without their love, sacrifice, and support, we couldn’t do what we do and make the amazing impact we’ve made in the Lowcountry. We love our supporters and we love all of our friends we serve.

Website: www.upliftcharleston.com

Instagram: www.Instagram.com/UpliftCharleston

Facebook: www.Facebook.com/UpliftCharleston

Other: CharlestonUplift@gmail.com