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Crisis Assistance Ministry

Crisis Assistance Ministry

Charlotte, NC

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Volunteers Follow Their Hearts

Volunteering is more than slipping a shirt onto a hanger and sliding it onto a rack. Volunteering is giving back to your community, even though you may never see the results first-hand. But volunteers at Crisis Assistance Ministry go where their hearts lead them.

August 25, 2022

Volunteering is more than slipping a shirt onto a hanger and sliding it onto a rack.

Volunteering is camaraderie, and it’s about going where you’re called to go. Colleagues and church members who volunteer together often make lunch plans, or post-lunch plans.  Volunteering is giving back to your community. You might never see its results first-hand because it’s likely you won’t know which child in all of Charlotte receives that uniform, or how the uniform helps her overcome first-day-of-school-getting-dressed jitters so she can raise her hand to answer a question with authority.

“You need to follow your own heart and do what’s right for others.” Murray, who volunteered with colleagues from Dominion Energy.

“Whenever I see the opportunity to do something like this, I’m all in,” says Murray, who was on-site with a large, enthusiastic group from Dominion Energy. “You need to follow your own heart and do what’s right for others,” he says.

He has volunteered as his kids’ church basketball team coach, but he has always felt the urge to go where he’s needed. He currently lives on the Virginia-North Carolina coast, but he was in Charlotte with others from different parts of Dominion’s regional operations. He says volunteering with his community’s version of Room in the Inn left him wondering what happens along the path to economic stability.

He likes knowing Crisis Assistance Ministry’s Economic Mobility Program is available for individuals who are ready to take the next step toward financial independence and security.

Crisis Assistance Ministry wouldn’t be able to support our neighbors in Charlotte-Mecklenburg without the support of the community of volunteers. Each year, volunteers of all ages and backgrounds support our Free Store, our clothing and furniture warehouse, and projects and programs that meet families’ basic needs, help our neighbors pursue economic mobility, and engage the community in understanding the impact of poverty in Charlotte and Mecklenburg County.

Volunteers from Dominion Energy prepared clothing and household items for the Free Store the week before the start of the CMS school year. Items there, including school uniforms, jeans, and shoes are in particularly high demand due to a summer of extra expenses brought on by energy costs.

Specific volunteer roles can vary based on needs, but there are spaces for children as young as 11 years old, for individuals, and for groups of all sizes. On this day, Dominion brought about 30 colleagues, while a regular group of six from Pritchard Methodist Church also pitched in. Visit the Volunteer Portal on the Crisis Assistance Ministry website to see the most up-to-date information about volunteer needs.

As quickly as volunteers from Dominion are sorting through a large gift of brand-new shoes, the group from Pritchard is breaking down boxes and taking them to the recycling bins.

Bins, with an “s,” says Galen. There are two, not only the one that he remembers from pre-pandemic days, and the group is making its third trip outside.  

We used to do the one, Galen says, and he wipes his forehead and takes a breath. It’s a warm day outside.

But he’s not complaining. With two bins, you can get more done.

Want to get involved?

Volunteer opportunities give you the chance to follow your heart! Visit the Volunteer Page for specifics.

Filed Under: Agency News, Volunteer Stories Tagged With: #PreserveDignity, #PreventHomelessness, Dominion Energy, Pritchard Memorial

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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

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What's in your closet that could help out a neighbor in the warmer months? 
Spring has sprung here in the Queen City. That means the needs of families shopping, free of charge, at @CrisisAssistMin are changing too. 
You can help meet their needs with donations of new or gently used clothing, shoes, or household goods or by signing up as a volunteer to help receive, inspect, and prepare donations for shoppers.

crisisassistmin

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What do you do when you miss out on the big dance? 
Well, these Charlotte area #Tarheels pitched in to unload a truckload of donated goods and prepare them for families who shop free of charge in the Free Store. Thanks to these @charlottecarolinaclub #volunteers, it's always a #GDTBATH! 
THANKS for all you do to give back in #CLT.

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. #volunteers

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.

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