Dan Weidenbenner is the founder and executive director of Mill Village Ministries, a Greenville-based nonprofit launched in 2012 that works to address systemic poverty through food access, entrepreneurship, transportation and community engagement.
A graduate of Furman University, he has led the organization’s growth from a neighborhood community garden into a family of social enterprises serving thousands across Greenville each year. His organization leads multiple social enterprises: Mill Village Farms, Village Engage, Village Launch, Village Wrench, and, recently, HONE.
He and his wife live in Greenville with their three daughters and are deeply invested in the well-being and future of their community.
Interview with Mill Village Ministries founder
Q. It’s been six months since Mill Village Ministries completed the expansion of your West Greenville facility. How has the expansion aided your organization’s work?
A. The new Mill Village hub in West Greenville has been transformational for our work. For the first time, we’re able to bring multiple initiatives under one roof: healthy food distribution, bike access, entrepreneurship training, and community gatherings. This creates a level of efficiency and collaboration we simply didn’t have before.
More importantly, it’s become a beautiful place of connection. Neighbors and youth aren’t just receiving services — they’re building relationships, launching businesses, learning new skills, and contributing to the life of the community. This new hub has allowed us to deepen impact, not just expand our reach!
Q. Rising costs in recent years have impacted individuals and families all over the country. How has this affected the need for services MVM provides?
A. We’ve seen firsthand how rising costs — especially for housing, food, and transportation — are putting pressure on families who were already navigating tight margins. Many households are making difficult trade-offs, and that’s where our work intersects.
We’ve seen increased demand for affordable fresh food through our FoodShare program, as well as growing interest in entrepreneurship as a pathway to additional income. At the same time, access to reliable transportation — like a working bicycle — has become even more essential for people trying to get to work consistently. The need hasn’t just grown; it’s become much more complex.
Q. Philanthropic giving is down nationally and locally. Has your organization experienced this? If so, has it impacted operations or forced you to recalibrate the areas you focus on?
A. Like many nonprofits, we’ve felt the broader shifts in philanthropic giving. That said, we’ve been incredibly encouraged by the depth of commitment from our community by individual donors, businesses and foundations who continue to generously invest in this work.
It has required us to be more focused and strategic. We’re constantly evaluating where we can have the greatest long-term impact and ensuring that every dollar donated is used effectively. In some ways, it has sharpened my clarity around what matters most: investing in people, building sustainable social enterprises, and strengthening community partnerships that can multiply our impact.
Q. It’s been a few months since HONE, the restaurant incubator, was launched. How is that going?
A. HONE has been an exciting next step for us. It’s early, but we’re already seeing strong interest from aspiring restaurateurs who have the talent and vision but haven’t historically had access to the resources needed to launch a food business.
The goal of HONE is to create a space where aspiring restaurateurs can test concepts, build skills and access mentorship and capital in a supportive environment. Greenville has such a vibrant food scene, and HONE is about ensuring that more people, especially those who’ve been underestimated, have a pathway into this community. We invite our community to check our schedule at HONEgvl.com and try some of these exciting new restaurant concepts in West Greenville!
Q. There are many people across our community who would like to get involved but might not know how or where to start. What advice would you give them?
A. Start small and start local! You don’t have to solve everything — you just have to take a step toward your neighbor.
That could look like volunteering with our organization, supporting a local Village Launch business, mentoring someone, or simply showing up consistently at our monthly Block Parties where relationships can grow. When people move from awareness to action, even in small ways, we have seen that it creates momentum that can lead to big change!
Q. If there’s one thing you’d want the people in our community to know about Mill Village Ministries, what would it be?
A. That real change happens when people come together across differences.
Our work isn’t about providing services — it’s about creating opportunities for people to experience dignity, belonging and economic flourishing. And that only happens when neighbors, businesses and organizations all play a role. We’re grateful to be part of a village that continues to show up for one another!
