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Crisis Assistance Ministry

Crisis Assistance Ministry

Charlotte, NC

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Without You, Victoria Might Be Lost

Victoria knows how to stretch a dollar. But since the pandemic hit, even her usual budgeting and savings strategies have been extended to the limit. Thanks to donations from people like you, she has stable housing, cleaning supplies, and other household essentials—all with her dignity intact.

May 5, 2021

“I was raised to be self-sufficient and give service, not to ask someone else for service. It’s very humbling.” ~Victoria

Victoria, who does everything she can to make ends meet on her own

Victoria would be facing a much harsher reality without the hope and help she found here from people like you.

“Truly, if I didn’t have Crisis Assistance Ministry, I would not have survived this year. I might be in a tent in the woods,” Victoria explains. In fact, she confides, she keeps a tent on hand just in case.

Disabled by chronic health issues since 1995, Victoria knows how to stretch a dollar. She keeps a garden. She raises chickens with a friend’s help. She turns the heat off on March 15 and doesn’t turn it back on until November. In between, she says, “I just have to wear more clothes, drink tea, or have soup to stay warm.”

She lays out her budget: mortgage (less than even the most inexpensive apartment nowadays), power, water, food. All on a monthly disability check and a few odd jobs when she’s able.

“Any little thing puts me in the situation where I have to ask for help,” Victoria says. The pandemic forced her to give up outside work because of her high-risk conditions. She let her car go to avoid the cost of gas, insurance, and maintenance. She began to read by candlelight and lantern, taping light switches “off” so she didn’t turn them on accidentally. Anything to reduce costs. Still, she couldn’t keep up.

Finally, she ventured out—taking every precaution—to visit Crisis Assistance Ministry where she was glad to see CDC guidelines being observed. She found cleaning products, boots to keep her safe in the garden during early spring rains, and some kitchen tools to help transform her harvest into healthy meals. Thanks to your support, emergency payments were also made to keep her power and water flowing.

“The thing about chronic poverty is people make assumptions,” adds Victoria. “Many times your human dignity is lost. But I never felt that way at Crisis Assistance Ministry. No one here treats me in a way that would turn my humility into humiliation.”

Thank you for preventing homelessness while preserving dignity for Victoria and so many others.

Filed Under: Customer Stories Tagged With: #Challenge2021, #DoubleYourImpact, #MakeYourMatch, #PreserveDignity, #PreventHomelessness, Customer, Financial Assistance, Free Store

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Crisis Assistance Ministry

Preventing homelessness.
Preserving dignity.
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Contact Us

  • (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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