About the dre project

My  sister, Andrea Kristin Jackson (affectionately known as Dre) was born  on February 26, 1978 and was surprisingly known as a quiet child. At age  four, Andrea started talking and never stopped! She grew up attending  Catholic school, and went on to attend Central Michigan University. In  true Dre fashion, she fearlessly left the nest and ventured to Los  Angeles to pursue her dream to produce movies. The pride I felt over her  free and brave spirit was immeasurable. Her exuberance and the way she  attacked the darkness in the world was admirable. She would often go  where angels wouldn’t dare to tread to pull others out of the darkness  and into the light.  We had so many plans for the future.

When  I learned of her passing, I was struck a blow that would leave me lost  and in a fog of darkness for seven years. I had lost my best friend and  partner in crime. Now, I thought, her light had been snuffed out and the  heaviness of it enveloped my spirit like a weighted blanket. I moved  through the world as if in a fog; stifled by grief and counting the days  of my spirit’s imprisonment like an inmate. One day became 2,773 and on  the morning of October 22, 2019, I awoke with a question on my heart.  What would she want for my life? What would Dre think of me and how I  had allowed the pain of losing her overtake me? She would not approve.  She would want me to turn my endless funeral march into a vibrant and  boisterous parade of joy that celebrated her life instead of mourning  the loss of it. After all, life is not extinguished; it transitions.   And just like she did when she was among us, her angelic force yanked  me out of the darkness and into the light.  

Although  I had grown up attending Catholic schools, I realized that I had never  really had a true relationship with God. Despite the many eye rolls I  received when I would speak about it, I began to explore the role that  God played in my life. I dove in head first and a world of possibility  laid itself before me. What “could be” began to replace “what could have  been” in my thinking. I became active in living God’s word and what a  beautiful gift it was. I watched my grief slowly transform itself into  joy.

Just  like anyone else, my life was continuing to go on. My daughter was  leaving for college and I was about to be an  empty-nester. What would I do with my time? I wanted to travel and do  all the things Dre and I had planned to do together but the allure was  not there without being able to do it with her. Instead, I decided to  spend my time doing something helpful. I began to lend a hand to a  single mom of three and the space in my heart that was “empty” began to  fill. Sharing the love I had in my heart did not lessen the love – it  increased it! A beautiful concept was at work in my life: It is through  giving that we receive. 

I began to figure out other ways to be of  service. I would send “happy mail” to people I knew who could use a  pick-me-up. I made meals for people who were going through a difficult  time. People began sending families my way and before long it became too  much to take care of on my own. I didn’t want to turn anyone away, so I  instead enlisted the help of others to make sure everyone was taken  care of. That led to a fundraiser I hosted in December 2020 with the  goal of delivering 30 meals a week. Within two weeks the generosity of  family and friends who knew Dre raised $3,300. We were able to serve 32  meals every week! God is good!

My  mind was buzzing with the possibilities of all that could be  accomplished and on January 4, 2021, The DRE Project was officially  launched!  

I look forward to the future and how much love, light and joy  we can spread to heal our world!

 “Now  he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply  and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your  righteousness.” 2 Corinthians 9:10

The DRE Project officially launched on January  4, 2021 with the aim of bringing light and positivity to the world one meal at a time. God has blessed us to be able to deliver groceries and home-cooked meals to families in need throughout metro Detroit. 

Each family we serve is delivered dry and essential goods to help sustain their family and ease some of the burden that they bare. So whether you or someone you know is in need, or if you would like to help us to fulfill and grow our purpose, you have come to the right place!

The idea for The DRE Project came as a result of the devastating loss of a sister. It is less ironic, and more by design that it has become the catalyst for the development of strong sisterhood bonds as the charity has grown. The outpouring of help from empathetic, talented, diverse and awesome women has been remarkable. 

Personal chefs, attorneys, web designers, and copywriters are just a few of the professions that have graciously donated their time to make The DRE Project a reality.  Because of this, we have been able to fulfill another need that we did not foresee: the empowerment of women who are providing their talents and time to make the world a better place.