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Crisis Assistance Ministry

Crisis Assistance Ministry

Charlotte, NC

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When Need Is Great, Numbers Are Subjective

Walter and his furniture-construction partner, Nick, have lost count. They’ve been deep into Ikea instructions, constructing drawers, adding liner paper, and hauling dressers to sit with the others that volunteers from True Homes have made. Was it five dressers they constructed? Six? They can’t recall. But 22 newly constructed dressers and 24 tables were added to Crisis Assistance Ministry’s Furniture & Appliance inventory.

December 13, 2022

Walter and his furniture-construction partner, Nick, have lost count. They’ve been deep into Ikea instructions, constructing drawers, adding liner paper, and hauling dressers to sit with the others that volunteers from True Homes have made.

Was it five dressers they constructed? Six? They can’t recall. But 22 newly constructed dressers and 24 tables were added to Crisis Assistance Ministry’s Furniture & Appliance inventory.

46 pieces of furniture, 3,000 hygiene kits, and so many no-sew blankets. The blankets and hygiene kits will be added to the Free Store, where customers shop for essentials free of charge. The furniture will find a new home with Partner Agency-referred customers who may be transitioning into a new place to live after experiencing a time of homelessness or other financial hardship. It, too, is provided free of charge.

It sounds like a lot, although “a lot” is subjective, particularly when need is great. The super-soft blankets are favorites with children. They quickly get scooped from the Free Store. Hygiene kits are in vast demand with customers of all ages. Need across the board has been higher this year.  

The newly constructed furniture that Walter (left), Nick, and other volunteers make will find new homes with Partner Agency-referred customers who may be transitioning into a new permanent housing after experiencing a time of homelessness or other financial hardship.

The needs of the community and the importance of volunteering are high on True Homes’ list of values, Nick says. “It’s built into the culture, the DNA,” he says. And while True Homes encourages all to volunteer as they can, he says there’s something different about volunteering alone versus volunteering with your colleagues.

“The folks here probably went into work early,” Nick says, “and when we leave here, they’ll work some this afternoon and evening, to make sure the business side is taken care of. But it’s important to them to be a part of the community.”

It makes you feel good to volunteer, he adds, but it also helps you understand the importance of a few hours of time.

“You’re helping somebody who’s having probably the worst crisis of their lives, at no fault of their own,” Nick says.

One paycheck from disaster

Throughout Charlotte-Mecklenburg, and the entire country, most people live one paycheck from financial disaster.

According to CNBC and a September 2022 collaborative report between Pymnts and LendingClub, “63% of Americans were living paycheck to paycheck.” This is close to the historic high of 64% in March. A year ago, LendingClub reports, “the number of adults who felt strained was closer to 57%.”

Weak wage growth, says Anuj Nayar, financial health officer for LendingClub, has hurt the average American consumer so much that having a job simply isn’t enough.

“Wage growth has been inadequate, leaving more consumers than ever with little to nothing left over after managing monthly expenses,” Nayar said in the CNBC story.

Weak wage growth, says Anuj Nayar, financial health officer for LendingClub, has hurt the average American consumer so much that having a job simply isn’t enough.

Fifty-nine percent of consumers who are living paycheck-to-paycheck and having issues with their monthly bills said they have seen “significant rises” in the cost of utilities over a 12-month period. Almost half ­– 48% – of consumers who are struggling to pay their bills also must pay for health insurance. Inflation has pushed the average grocery bill up 11%. The average retail cost of gasoline is $3.504, according to numbers from the YCharts investment and analytics blog. While this is lower than the June high of $5.107, it still is 0.75% higher than a year ago, YCharts shows.

Volunteers’ assistance behind the scenes means the Crisis Assistance Ministry staff can focus more of their time on serving customers directly.

Blankets go quickly

Volunteers like Hope and her dad, Jeff, often return. The two of them, along with one of Hope’s children, made 15 no-sew blankets just before Thanksgiving. The blankets have already been claimed, so today, Hope and Jeff have found a quiet corner to work on more.

Hope and her dad, Jeff, fold one of the six no-sew blankets that they made while volunteering with other True Homes employees.

They have a system. Jeff’s a retired cabinetmaker, and he uses his precision skills to cut the strips for the blankets. He does this with great patience. Hope ties them.

Most years, Hope says, she brings her kids with her to volunteer. But after Jeff came with them at Thanksgiving, he was happy to come again with the larger group.

“I like hanging out with my daughter,” he says.

Plus, Hope says: “It’s fun. Good times spent with good people. For a good cause.”

They’ve got a system, but Hope has a goal.

“We’re making 15 [blankets] again today,” she says, and she glances at her dad.

He laughs.

Visit our volunteer page
to find your perfect
opportunity to give back!

Filed Under: Volunteer Stories Tagged With: #PreserveDignity, Corporate Volunteers, Free Store, Furniture, True Homes, Volunteers

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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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We've got a special shout out to @championhouseofcare and @beyoubegreatnonprofit for their tireless commitment to helping the seniors displaced from Magnolia Apartments since Christmas Day. @CrisisAssistMin is proud to be working alongside these passionate grassroots organizations and @housingcollab_ to help craft individual plans to get our neighbors back into stable housing while ensuring their basic needs continue to be met.

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These community-minded Deltas celebrated Founder's Day last week by inspecting and preparing donated goods for Free Store shoppers. With their help, families shopping free of charge will find essentials to help them live with dignity this week.

crisisassistmin

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The King Center's theme for MLK Day 2023 is "It Start's With Me: Cultivating A Beloved Community Mindset to Transform Unjust Systems." Fifty-five years after his death, we still see the impacts of unjust systems every day at Crisis Assistance Ministry.  Read more in this weekend's blog (link in bio)

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Crisis Assistance Ministry will be closed on Monday, January 16 in observance of  Martin Luther King Day. The office will be closed to all customers, volunteers, staff, and donors. Typical hours resume on Tuesday, January 17, 2023.

crisisassistmin

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Families in Charlotte, and across the country, are struggling to make ends meet. Inflation has outpaced wage growth. People are working harder than ever but still falling behind on rent and utilities. People need more money. But could we use policy to get more money into the hands of those who need it the most? This week's blog takes a look at the potential for Guaranteed Basic Income here in the Queen City. (Link in bio)
📷 courtesy of @stocktondemo

crisisassistmin

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Just one more day before we're back to "normal." So, @CrisisAssistMin is closed January 2, 2023,  and will return to typical business hours tomorrow, January 3.
(Financial assistance 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Free Store by appointment 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Donation drop off 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.)

crisisassistmin

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Wishing you hope, warmth, & light in the new year and beyond.
(P.S. @crisisassistmin will be closed tomorrow, January 2, and reopen with typical hours on Tuesday, January 3, 2023.)

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"Everybody wants to have that light shine."
Nikki shares what the holidays mean to her family as we reach the end of the year.  Looking back, she's grateful for the help of the community to get her through a financial crisis and back on her feet moving toward economic mobility.
Thousands more families will seek that same kind of help -- to stay safely housed, to keep utilities flowing, to provide clothing and household goods, and to rebuild financial stability -- in 2023.
Visit our quick links to learn more and to make a tax-deductible year-end gift to help more of our neighbors in the coming year.
Oh, and HAPPY NEW YEAR!

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Crisis Assistance Ministry wishes the hope, warmth, and light of home to all those who celebrate Kwanzaa this week.

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