Children inspire Canton mom's DreamByRoyal giveaway ministry

CANTON − Within the community are pockets of hunger and poverty that don't know the economy is thriving.

Destiny Harde is one who helps out, recently giving away turkeys, chickens and other groceries at the Drop In-Center/Light of Christ Church at 1492 Cherry Ave. SE to help those who are struggling.

The Alliance native and Canton resident created DreamByRoyal, a nonprofit ministry that conducts several food and clothing giveaways throughout the year.

"It was my kids' idea," she said. "They came home from school, talking about people in need during COVID. They asked me, 'Can't we help people?'"

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Harde said she conducted her first giveaway out of her home.

"We did hotdogs, sloppy Joes and pop," she said. "We took donations from adults, for $5. Then, I started cooking at my mom's house. That time around, we fed about 475 people here and in Alliance. From there, it just basically took off."

She said she acquired her LLC status with help from Mark Bigsbee of the Stark County NAACP.

Harde said the nonprofit's name, "DreamByRoyal," comes from her children − My'Kel, 12, a student at St. Thomas Aquinas Middle School; My'Layha, 11, and Mykelon, 8, students at Worley School; and preschooler Mya'Skyy, 3.

"My kids call themselves 'royals,'" she said. "And they feel every kid has a dream. Every kid wants to feel like they are royals; they want to be treated equally, and they want to be treated with respect."

Now in its third year, DreamByRoyal has hosted back-to-school giveaways; fed children and senior citizens; given away food during Juneteenth; and regularly distributes free clothing to people in need.

Data USA reports that Stark County as a poverty rate of 13.4%, which is higher than the national average of 12.6%. The child poverty rate is even higher − about 30%.

"I get a lot of requests in my business in-box of people asking for food," said Harde, who works as a nurse at the My Community Health Center.

Just before Thanksgiving, Harde, with help from her sister Amirah Harde and friend Debbie Mitchell, gave away frozen turkeys, chickens and some canned goods with help from Giant Eagle, her friend Patricia Henderson and the Rev. Raphael "Ray" Cox, who co-founded the center and church 25 years ago with his late wife, Mary.

The giveaway was a clear indication of the need that persists.

"This year, a lot of sponsors didn't give as much as in the past," Harde said.

'A great work'

Cox lauds Harde's efforts.

"She's doing a great work for a young lady," he said. "We're happy to work in collaboration with her."

Cox said he sees as much need as ever, a problem exacerbated, he said, by a drop in donations from organizations that have been more generous in the past.

"I'm seeing shift in attitude − less cooperation," he said. "It seems like there's always insufficient funds when they cross the railroad tracks. I can't make folks do beyond what they they're willing to give. But by the grace of God, we're going to do what we do."

Harde grew up attending Alliance's Tabernacle Missionary Baptist Church under the Rev. Bobby Williams, the founder of Feed My Sheep Ministries.

She's already making plans for back-to-school event in Alliance.

"I did my first one was last year," she said.

Harde said she won't be doing any giveaways for Christmas in order to spend time with her children.

"Sometimes you have to recharge and re-set," she explained. "Right now, I'm only just one person. One phone, one person."

Harde has some advice for others who might want to take on a similar ministry.

"You have to be driven," she said. "You've got to understand that sometimes, you're not going to get as many grants. So, you've got to do it out of the kindness of your heart. There's sometimes you've got to come out-of-pocket. There's a lot of times with me I had to come out of pocket to make sure I'm able to help the community."

But, she said, the mission has been worth the effort. She said she intends to do more when it becomes possible.

"I'm just thankful and blessed that I'm able to continue to provide for the community and in both Canton and Alliance," she said. "I'm trying to go further, but as right now, I feel as if I'm doing the best that I can. I'm also glad that God put me in a position to be able to provide for the communities that I do."

To learn more, visit Facebook.com/Dreambyroyal; email Dreambyroyal@gmail.com; or contact Harde at 234-410-1604.

Reach Charita at 330-580-8313 or charita.goshay@cantonrep.com. On Twitter: @cgoshayREP

This article originally appeared on The Repository: Children inspire Canton mom's DreamByRoyal giveaway ministry