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Crisis Assistance Ministry

Crisis Assistance Ministry

Charlotte, NC

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You Helped Patricia and Her Son Rebuild Their Lives

When her husband walked out on her, Patricia and her 15-year-old son Jamil were plunged into an unfamiliar world of financial distress. Fully disabled after a surgical mistake years earlier, Patricia had relied on the income from her husband’s job to pay the mortgage and other bills. Left with only her monthly Social Security disability payments, she soon found the situation unmanageable.

January 11, 2019

When her husband walked out on her, Patricia and her 15-year-old son Jamil were plunged into an unfamiliar world of financial distress. 

Fully disabled after a surgical mistake years earlier, Patricia had relied on the income from her husband’s job to pay the mortgage and other bills.  Left with only her monthly Social Security disability payments, she soon found the situation unmanageable. 

When child support payments suddenly stopped, Patricia desperately took out a title loan on her car.  Then a second and a third. Soon, nearly half of her income was going toward the interest. With her house on the brink of foreclosure and her utilities scheduled for disconnection, she found her way to Crisis Assistance Ministry for help. That day, your support provided emergency payments directly to the utility companies to keep power and water on.  

With the immediate crisis averted, Patricia enrolled in the agency’s Economic Mobility Program and met regularly with a caseworker over the next 90 days. Working together, Patricia set personal goals and laid out a plan of action. Over time, Patricia successfully refinanced her mortgage, eliminated one title loan, and reduced the amount of another. 

When Patricia shared that her stove was broken and she was making do with a crockpot and fast food, a replacement was provided. Soon, Patricia and Jamil were eating home-cooked meals in their kitchen again. “They gave me a brand-new stove,” she said.  “I was so grateful.” As winter approached, she was able to shop free-of-charge for shoes and coats to keep them both warm. And finally, when Jamil was being repeatedly bullied at school, Patricia found the courage to demand better treatment for her son. 

She credits the one-on-one coaching sessions with empowering her to make changes not only financially but also personally.  In fact, she has become an active volunteer with the agency, sharing her story in hopes of inspiring others to reach their full potential.   

Patricia is so grateful for the help she found here, thanks to you. 

“It’s more than I ever expected. It’s a beautiful place to find help.” – Patricia 

Filed Under: Customer Stories Tagged With: Customer, Economic Mobility, Family, Financial, Furniture

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Crisis Assistance Ministry

Preventing homelessness.
Preserving dignity.
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  • (704) 371-3001
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  • Main Office:
    500-A Spratt St.
    Charlotte, NC 28206
  • Tax ID
    EIN 56-1416719

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Meet Stacey! Her journey at Crisis Assistance Ministry has been truly transformative. Just like Stacey, you can be a part of positive change.
🎁 One donation of any amount can keep families stably housed and warm during these chilly months. ❄️
🎉 Your generosity is a lifeline to our neighbors experiencing the threat of eviction or loss of utilities. You can restore the hope, warmth, and light of home on our website today.

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Come feel the JOY at Steve's Coats for Kids collection going on right now at @WSOCTV!  It's a great day to celebrate 20 years of keeping kids warm. Thank you @SteveUdelson!

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Are you a Mecklenburg County homeowner with rising property taxes? Mecklenburg County HOMES grants are available to offset a portion for qualifying homeowners. MANY more people qualify than have applied and these $ really can help families stay in their homes. Take a look and see if you or someone you know might need to apply:  https://www.wfae.org/business/2023-11-30/lots-of-tax-relief-available-but-not-many-takers-among-mecklenburg-homeowners

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What a great day to celebrate 🎉 Loved Ones and help spread hope and warmth too! It was a 🐻 #beary good time with volunteer extraordinare @janehixson and friends. We even got a visit from founder Caroline Love Myers!

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🎉Today is Giving Tuesday, a global celebration of generosity and kindness. Join us in making a difference by donating items that directly help those in need. 

👕🧣🎒From clothing to household goods, your contributions will have a tangible impact on many lives. 

Let's make this Giving Tuesday a day of extraordinary kindness and giving. Share, participate, and be a part of this global movement of generosity!

Check out our Wish Lists!

https://crisisassistance.org/donate/donate-clothing-household-goods/ 
https://crisisassistance.org/donate/donate-via-amazon-wishlist/

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Crisis Assistance Ministry will be closed Thanksgiving weekend beginning Thursday, November 23. All areas will be closed to customers, donors, staff, and community members on Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.  Typical business hours resume on Monday, November 27.
ONE MORE THING: We are so grateful for you and the role you play in creating a community that lifts up struggling neighbors. Here's to a holiday filled with as much hope, warmth, and light as you have provided others! 
https://crisisassistance.org/2023/11/22/thanksgiving-and-the-spirit-of-community/

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It turned out to be an IDEAL morning for hot beverages and pastries. @oakstreethealth  sponsored this visit from @jesskakesllc's Sweet Truck, providing hot coffee, hot chocolate, and assorted pastries (free of charge) to families seeking assistance here @CrisisAssistMin today.  #Volunteers from Oak Street and the @MecklenburgCounty Attorney's office helped out in sometimes pouring rain to be sure everyone was warm and well-nourished. SO #THANKFUL every day for the support of our business community as we work together to stabilize Charlotte-Mecklenburg families.

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We are ALWAYS #thankful for corporate #volunteers like this team from @ally! They helped stock the store with clothing, shoes, warm weather gear, and other household items offered at no cost to shoppers from Mecklenburg County homes. With the help of folks like this, an average of 80 families daily find the essentials they need to meet their basic needs and rebuild financial stability for the future. THANK YOU!

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Heading into this week of #thankfulness, what would it be like at your house without warmth, without light,  without the joy that comes from celebrating gratitude and hopefulness in a safe home?
What do we really mean when we ask you to Give Hope, Warmth, & Light to area families? 
It means lifting up neighbors like this mom of three, who is SO grateful to be in stable housing, to be rebuilding her family's stability, and to regain hope for a brighter future for her little ones. It means coming together as a community to share resources and encouragement with hardworking neighbors who need a little help to get through a financial crisis and move back toward self-sufficiency.
Learn more about their story, and how you can help this season, on our website or the bio link.

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