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Crisis Assistance Ministry

Crisis Assistance Ministry

Charlotte, NC

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Jim Middleswarth: “Just a Regular Guy” with an Extraordinary Heart

Every month, accountant Jim Middleswarth dutifully pays his power, water, and gas bills. That's not too surprising. But what he does next might be. Not too long after he joined one of the big firms right out of college, James was transferred from Philadelphia to Charlotte in the 1970s. Eventually, he ventured out into his own practice where he continues to serve individuals and small businesses.

January 8, 2019

Every month, accountant Jim Middleswarth dutifully pays his power, water, and gas bills.  That’s not too surprising. But what he does next might be. 

Not too long after he joined one of the big firms right out of college, James was transferred from Philadelphia to Charlotte in the 1970s. Eventually, he ventured out into his own practice where he continues to serve individuals and small businesses. 

He raised two children who filled his office with little momentos of their lives. A tiny clay “Top Cat” has served as a paperweight since his now middle-aged daughter brought it along on an office visit at the age of five. He got involved in church and community and quietly began to support causes that made sense to him. Crisis Assistance Ministry was one of them. He heard the stories of people helped here and, he says, he knew it would help people directly. 

But, James says, the 2008 economic downturn caused him to think about his contribution in a new context. Over the years, he says he learned from experience that “stuff happens” and very few people are able to save anything to fall back on when it does. 

“I’m just a regular guy, but when I thought about it I realized: Have I ever been hungry and not been able to do something about it? No. Have I ever been shivering cold and not been able to turn on the heat and get warm? No. Have I ever had to wonder where I would sleep at night? No.” 

“Of course I have felt hunger, cold, heat, but I’ve always had a way to address those things. So I decided this was what I could do to help.” 

After he pays his own utility bills, James matches his total utility costs with one more check to help families at risk of losing essentials like water, heating, and cooling. 

At first, he says, he thought he would just do it while the recession lasted. “But, there are still so many people who can use the help. I know where it’s going and I trust how it will be used,” James says. “So, as long as I am able to keep giving, I will.” 

It’s an extraordinary gift that has helped countless families get through challenging times.  

On their behalf, thank you, James. 

Filed Under: Donor Stories Tagged With: Donor Stories, Gift, Utilities

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Crisis Assistance Ministry

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    Charlotte, NC 28206
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THANKS for all you do to give back in #CLT.

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Happy International Women's Day!
Today we take a look at how this year's theme of Embrace Equity affects the people (and mostly the women) served here at Crisis Assistance Ministry every day.

Observed worldwide on March 8 as a celebration of “the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women,” International Women’s Day is also a global call to action for accelerating women’s equality.

The theme for this year’s observance is “Embrace Equity.” Organizers at International Women’s Day (IWD) encourage everyone to “Imagine a gender-equal world. A world free of bias, stereotypes, and discrimination. A world that’s diverse, equitable, and inclusive. A world where difference is valued and celebrated.” 

While great strides in gender equality have been achieved since women gained the right to vote in 1920, there is still much work ahead. Consider these indicators of the gender gap in the United States:
- Women full-time workers earn, on average, 82 cents for every dollar earned by men
- American women earn less than men in all industries, with the most significant pay gaps in management positions
- The construction industry has the smallest gender pay gap, but only 9% of construction workers are women
- Unpaid work like housekeeping and caring for children falls mainly to women 

Read More at the link in our bio

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The theme for Black History Month 2023 is “Resistance”, a single word that encompasses so much. Through the centuries, a long line of brave and committed Black Americans have battled injustice, some on the public stage and others behind the scenes. But for every high-profile or large-scale act of resistance, countless others go unnoticed. Every day at @CrisisAssistMin, we see brave and committed Black Charlotteans struggling to resist the forces of an unjust society right here in Mecklenburg County.
Read "Black History Month: Resisting the Status Quo" at the link in our profile.

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It was a beautiful weekend to share (more than) @onewarmcoat with our neighbors! Our friends from One Warm Coat finished up their working retreat by distributing brand new coats to families right here in our parking lot. So many smiles, a few tears of relief, and a lot of runway spins were shared.

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We 💙 💙 💙 it when community members create their own "Army" to celebrate birthdays and other milestones in each others' lives. Thanks to these #volunteers from "Eric's Army," shoppers this week found essentials like clothing, shoes, and household goods free of charge. Together, we #preservedignity for #CLT families who are struggling financially.

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crisisassistmin

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Saturday was hopping with these volunteers from an area Honor Society and @meckchurch making sure Free Store shoppers will find essentials free-of-charge this week! Thank you #volunteers for making it possible to serve our neighbors' basic needs.

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