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Crisis Assistance Ministry

Crisis Assistance Ministry

Charlotte, NC

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6 More Ways To Hold On To Summer

There’s still plenty summer fun that can ease you into late August and early September - without breaking the bank. Take a look at our suggestions, and then take a moment to make a gift to help save home for other families.  

August 9, 2022

We got carried away.

When we sat down to make a list of fun summer activities that wouldn’t break the bank, we didn’t realize there would be enough for a whole other list. And though you might be preparing for the start of school and Third Summer (aka fall), there’s still opportunity for summer fun that can ease you into late August and early September.  

Drumroll …

Porch-sitting is a fine tradition. Sprucing up the paint on your rocking chairs will add a fresh look to your home and make your porch or deck so much more inviting. Test out a few colors, or keep it simple with classic red or black.

A tomato sandwich is a classic around these parts, and it’s a money-saver, as well.

Tomatoes and gardens, part 2: It bears repeating that gardening is good for your wallet AND your mental health. And as we pointed out in the first list, this time of year FEELS like an odd time to plant, but it’s a good time to get your fall garden going. It’s also a good time to take stock of what’s still going strong in your current garden. Tomato vines can produce fruits for months. If you still have a bumper crop of Bigger Boys or Heirlooms, or a kind neighbor who shares – well, you were raised right, so you know what to do. Slice them, add Duke’s, white bread, salt and pepper. This meal is a classic around these parts, and it’s a money-saver, as well. And go ahead and fry the green ones.

It’s really for the birds: Chair-painting aside, the home-project bug kicked in for some of us during the pandemic. However, have you thought about your feathered friends? Birds need homes, too! Help out our resident chickadees, Eastern bluebirds and mourning doves with a house that you make for them. Softwoods such as redwood, fir, pine or cedar can be found at your local Lowe’s, and the agents on hand will be happy to cut them down to size using an online pattern and help you find nails and hammers. Add paint after you finish!

Keep looking up: On August 27, the planet Mercury will be at its greatest Eastern elongation. Translation: you’ll be able to see it well because it’s at the highest point above the horizon and is the farthest from the glare of the sun. Look westward after sunset. You might catch a few lingering meteors from the Perseid shower, too.

Create a time capsule: Gather up whatever is lovely and beautiful and will remind you of right now, pop it all into a shoe box, and put the box away for a year, two years, 10 years. When you open it, you’ll have a memory that we hope will make you smile.

People LOVE to get mail! Surprise them with a hand-written letter.

This one is radical: Write a letter. People LOVE to get mail that isn’t a bill. Create a template for a letter if you or the kids aren’t sure what to write, or freeform it. You can make an entire day of this by crafting your own letterhead or stationery. Use whatever’s at hand – paints, pens, markers, magazines – and let those creative juices flow. Stamp them and mail them off. Your recipients are sure to be tickled when they check their mailboxes.

We hope you’ve had the chance to enjoy some of the suggestions from the first list, or that you’ve come up with your own ideas. Share what you’re doing! Hashtag us at #CLTsaveshome, #savehome, or tag us at @crisisassistance on Facebook, or @crisisassistmin on Instagram or Twitter.

And please don’t forget the real reason for these lists. With all the time and money that you’ve saved, you can still #savehome for other families with a gift by Aug. 31 to help more Charlotte families stay safely housed with their utilities on and their basic needs met.

Help #SaveHome with a Gift Today

Filed Under: Agency News, Campaign Tagged With: #CLTSavesHome #NonEvent2022 #SaveHome, #NonEvent2022, #PreserveDignity, #SaveHome

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Crisis Assistance Ministry

Preventing homelessness.
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  • Main Office:
    500-A Spratt St.
    Charlotte, NC 28206
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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

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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

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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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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.

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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.

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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.

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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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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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