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Crisis Assistance Ministry

Crisis Assistance Ministry

Charlotte, NC

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You Were There for Shaniora

"People are really here to help you," says Shaniora, an aspiring baker who found herself needing help when chronic illness and surgery derailed her plans to support herself while finishing her degree. Thanks to the support of our community, Crisis Assistance Ministry is thankful to be here for neighbors like Shaniora.

September 16, 2019

“People are really here to help you,” says Shaniora, an aspiring baker who found herself needing help when chronic illness and surgery derailed her plans to support herself while finishing her degree.

Having already completed two years of study while in high school, Shaniora came to Charlotte on her own to finish her degree at Johnson & Wales University. She pushed through symptoms from sickle cell anemia, worked part-time, and focused on her future in an industry she loved.

But, as she was nearing the finish line, sickness tried to take over. Looking back, she remembers realizing she really couldn’t keep “doing it all.” Doctors told her she would need surgery, and that meant time off from the classroom and the workplace.

“I’m not the kind of person to tell myself ‘I can’t’,” Shaniora says. “But I don’t always like to ask for help, either.” Still, without paid time off or other benefits, her medical situation forced her to seek out resources. She’s glad she did.

“It’s nice to know help is close by,” she says of getting connected to Crisis Assistance Ministry. She worked directly with an economic mobility specialist to address her financial needs during her medical recovery.

Together, they set goals and created plans for achieving them:

  • make it through her upcoming surgery and recovery by planning, saving, and budgeting;
  • improve income by finishing school, upgrading job search skills, and seeking a new job;
  • improve professional brand to increase future earnings potential; and
  • rebuild her personal safety net with a post-recovery savings plan.

With careful planning and a little bit of emergency financial assistance, Shaniora kept her bills paid, completed her degree, and updated her résumé by the time she recovered from her medical procedure.

Thanks to her hard work and a little “hand up” from people like you, she came through it all with a “fresh start.” She landed a new job with paid time off, medical benefits, and opportunities for advancement. She began building her brand and her future once more.

She learned a few lessons along the way, too.

“I wish a lot of people weren’t so ashamed to ask for help,” she says. “I’m thankful for it . . . just from being able to talk to somebody . . . just from being heard.”

Thanks to the support of the community, Crisis Assistance Ministry is thankful to be here for neighbors like Shaniora.

Filed Under: Customer Stories Tagged With: Asking for Help, Customer, Economic Mobility, Financial Assistance

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Crisis Assistance Ministry

Preventing homelessness.
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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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crisisassistmin

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Happy St Patrick's Day!  This big ole batch of 400+ granola bars will provide a little bit of sustenance to waiting families thanks to @MeckKidz from @meckchurch. Youth used "Meck Bucks" earned for participation in activities to purchase bars for the snack ministry here @CrisisAssistMin

crisisassistmin

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We loved hosting these visiting Bisons from @howard1867 as they lived out their motto of Excellence in Truth & Service here in #CLT. Thanks to them families will find essentials, free of charge, here in the @CrisisAssistMin Free Store

crisisassistmin

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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

crisisassistmin

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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.

crisisassistmin

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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.

crisisassistmin

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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.

crisisassistmin

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We're excited to have @QCfamilytree share their expertise as our staff digs into the impact of systemic racism here in Mecklenburg County and its impact on the people served here. Thanks Greg, Helms, & Shamaiye for taking time to help us begin these important conversations.

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.

crisisassistmin

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We are so #grateful for the team of dedicated #volunteers who volunteer their time & expertise on our Board of Directors. Today we welcome five newly elected members: Deborah Brewer, Yog Hari, Ed Holland, Deirdre John, and John Magnuson. (Learn about them through our linktree)

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