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Crisis Assistance Ministry

Crisis Assistance Ministry

Charlotte, NC

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This Great-Grandfather Is Cooking Again With Your Help

At nearly 82 years old, Frank has many stories to tell. “I’m going to hit 100,” he says. “I’m a fighter from the word go.” But, when he hit a wall financially, he turned to the community for help.

June 27, 2019

At nearly 82 years old, Frank has many stories to tell. “I’m going to hit 100,” he says. “I’m a fighter from the word go.”

He has overcome cancer, battled through a lifelong spinal condition, raised four children, and headed up a successful construction business before illness forced him to retire.

But, despite all that, Frank has hit a wall financially. No matter how much he cuts back, his expenses and his income just don’t match up. Even with an electronic device implanted in his spine to control pain, he has just applied to go back to work —as a greeter at retail stores.

“Nothing is coming to you,” he says. “You have to earn it.” At the same time, he is passionate about helping his neighbor. He talks of cooking for friends, giving rides to appointments, and training for a 5K walk in honor of his late grandson whom he lost to addiction.

In the meantime, he’s $200 short this month and his power bill is scheduled for disconnection. He’s worried about his canine companion Pheobe, about charging the controller for his spinal implant, about losing internet connectivity, and especially about his groceries spoiling. He’s a great cook, he says, and he loves to share his favorite Italian dishes.

Fortunately, help is available in the form of a caring caseworker and an emergency payment issued directly to his utility company. Because of you, Frank will stay on track with his treatment, and, he says with a glimmer in his eye, get those chicken cutlets in his fridge in the pan for supper. He rattles off the recipe from memory and decides to invite a neighbor to join him.

“You can’t give up,” he says. “You have to help each other. None of us would be here without that. It’s so important to know help is there when you need it. Thank you.“

Filed Under: Customer Stories Tagged With: Electricity, Utility Assistance

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Crisis Assistance Ministry

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    Charlotte, NC 28206
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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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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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