RaGina Saunders is a mother of two, Gullah Geechee descendent, outreach warrior, and Soul Food Chef.

RaGina was born into modest circumstances. Her bright and talented mother worked as a cook at a seafood chain restaurant, instilling in her daughters a love for food and hard work. There were times RaGina remembered crashing on extended families’ couches, wearing hand-me-downs, and eating warm meals served by local friends. Community uplifted RaGina’s family; it provided solace despite disadvantage. RaGina witnessed faith, hope, and love, three grounding personal values that would eventually be the founding blocks of Destiny Community Cafe.

From 16 on, RaGina worked countless jobs from Business in Computer Software to Human Resources to independent sales and T-Mobile franchise ownership. All the while, she continued to reach people from these unique spaces, usually through homemade comfort food. The consistent positive feedback on her cooking inspired her to open a restaurant downtown, which thrived until an unfortunate flooding incident forced closure. Yet even still, the love for community and food persisted, so with family support and countless volunteers, RaGina founded Scott’s Grand Reception and Corporate Center in 2011.

Something was still missing. RaGina stumbled upon One World Everybody Eats, a national community of cafes working to increase food security for all by providing a local approach to our global hunger crisis through a pay-what-you-can nonprofit restaurant model. Food and community all in one? Her calling became clear.  Destiny Community Café officially opened in April of 2015. This café remains the only pay-what-you-can restaurant in South Carolina and the only one in the United States providing Gullah Geechee soul food.