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Crisis Assistance Ministry

Crisis Assistance Ministry

Charlotte, NC

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C4 Partnership Brings Help Closer to Westside

“In a crisis, we look to the community to show up when we need them the most,” JB says. “And Crisis Assistance Ministry does just that. It is so critical because it allows individuals who are struggling to do so with dignity by providing financial support so they can get through it and heal.”

October 14, 2020

JB and his wife Melinda lead C4, a community-based counseling center that serves as a hub connecting Westside residents to Crisis Assistance Ministry without leaving their neighborhood.

Once upon a time, Crisis Assistance Ministry helped Jarris “JB” Bell’s young family stay housed with their utilities flowing while he worked two jobs and went to school.

A decade or so later, JB leads a neighborhood hub that connects residents of the Westside to services across the county. Living in the neighborhood he serves, JB sees both the gifts and the needs of his community every day as he shops for groceries, stops for gas, and goes about the business of living. That’s what led him to found C4, a unique community-based counseling center to serve the needs of his neighbors in their own neighborhood.

Based in the Movement Center on Freedom Drive, JB says C4’s partnership with Crisis Assistance Ministry was a natural fit. “You can’t process your psychological needs when your brain is occupied by a crisis. It’s a basic need to have food, water, shelter, and if we can’t meet those first, all our counseling is in vain,” he says.

The ability to request financial assistance on behalf of a client became even more critical as COVID-19 arrived this Spring. Through Crisis Assistance Ministry’s new online portal, C4 is able to connect individuals served by a variety of Westside organizations to critical rent and utility assistance without a trip to our office.

“During a pandemic, this instant connection eliminates exposure risks, eliminates transportation barriers, and allows us to meet the spike in need without overwhelming time commitments,” JB says.

He recalls one neighbor who sought help after losing her job due to COVID-restrictions. She dropped by recently to say thank you because C4 and Crisis Assistance Ministry were able to pay her utility bill, provide her with a food referral, and help her get through her crisis—all without having to leave her own neighborhood. “She didn’t even realize that was possible,” JB adds.

All the travails of 2020 have reminded JB that “a crisis is something you cannot predict or plan for, and none of us knows when it or if it will be us who faces dramatic change.”

“In a crisis, we look to the community to show up when we need them the most,” he says. “And Crisis Assistance Ministry does just that. It is so critical because it allows individuals who are struggling to do so with dignity by providing financial support so they can get through it and heal.”

C4 is one of more than 100 Partner Agencies across Mecklenburg County who can access financial assistance on behalf of their clients through the online portal. Working together, Crisis Assistance Ministry addresses basic needs while agencies like C4 focus on the other unique services needed for their clients to achieve stability.

Filed Under: Customer Stories Tagged With: C4, Community Partners, Financial Assistance, Jarris Bell, Movement Center, Partner Agency, Partnerships

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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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Recent Photos

crisisassistmin

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We had an unusual 🐿️ visitor this morning. While we DO specialize in stabilizing families through emergency basic needs and financial empowerment, our services are designed for neighbors of the human variety! 🤣 
Fortunately, our little squirrel buddy has been successfully relocated to the outdoors where they can continue to take care of their family too 😁 🎉

crisisassistmin

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Pulitzer Prize-winning author Matthew Desmond’s thought-provoking message will help us understand the systemic issues contributing to poverty and inspire us to be part of the solution here in our own community. Tickets are free, but required. Seating is Limited. <Link in Bio>

crisisassistmin

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We aren't throwing a big party, but we ARE asking friends and neighbors to make a direct contribution to help stabilize families facing a financial crisis. Your help with this Non-Event will make more stories like this one possible. Join us with a gift to help neighbors avoid eviction and loss of utilities and to empower more people with the tools to rebuild financial stability for themselves. Don't Save a Date . . . Save A Future.

crisisassistmin

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We love sharing our mission with corporate #volunteers like this team from @humana today. Thanks to their help, families will find essentials like clothing, shoes, school supplies, and household goods—free of charge— in our store while they continue to build financial stability. #thankful

crisisassistmin

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Instead of planning a fancy gala, we're inviting you to skip the party (and all those costs) and instead make a direct contribution to stabilize families experiencing financial crisis right here in Charlotte-Mecklenburg.
It's our NonEvent 2023, and your gift will help hardworking neighbors escape the threat of eviction or loss of utilities while empowering families with the resources to stabilize their families . . . and their future.
SAVE A FUTURE: https://crisisassistance.org/mobility

crisisassistmin

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What a wonderful day to welcome #volunteers from @DukeEnergy during their Summer of Service. Nearly 100 Duke employees spent part of their day helping with everything from painting barrels to inspecting donations and stocking the store. A GREAT way to spend a Friday here in the Queen City!

crisisassistmin

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This might look like a #Barbie appreciation post, but actually it is a shout out to Team @duke_energy and the 100+ folks who spent their day as #volunteers here today!

crisisassistmin

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Starting the day with a wonderful snack ministry from @elevationchurch for day 6 of #loveweek2023! Thank you for making sure families seeking help today have a little nourishment along the way.

crisisassistmin

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Today's LOVE WEEK 2023 #volunteers from @elevationchurch created no-sew blankets for families who shop here free of charge, staffed the checkout counters in the store, and prepared newly arrived clothing from corporate donors for future shoppers. With help like this, more than 80 people per day find essentials to help stabilize their families when they visit our Free Store. #thankful #loveweek2023

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