On an extremely hot day in August, nearly 100 Duke Energy employees swarmed Crisis Assistance Ministry with energy, enthusiasm, and genuine concern for their neighbors. Led by Harry Sideris, executive vice president at Duke Energy, colleagues from their Customer Experience, Solutions & Services group inspected and prepared donated items, stocked the store with new and gently used clothing and household goods, and spruced up donation barrels for use in the community.
Over boxed lunches provided by the utility company, volunteers heard about real neighbors who found help with community support like Duke Energy’s Share the Light Fund. In the most recent fiscal year ending June 30, 2023, Crisis Assistance Ministry helped to stabilize over 18,000 families, including 444,734 individuals, by providing emergency rent and utility assistance, coaching and counseling to improve financial stability, and clothing and household goods to meet their basic needs. Volunteers help make this impact possible by extending the reach of the agency further into the community.
Thanks to a full day of volunteerism by this team, families will find clothing and other essentials free of charge in Crisis Assistance Ministry’s store.
Volunteers also prepared collection barrels for use by groups of all kinds who carry out drives in their neighborhoods, workplaces, schools, and places of worship.
Get Involved
Volunteer opportunities are available for individuals and groups year-round. Families, workgroups, youth groups, civic organizations, and groups of all kinds enjoy the chance to make a difference while spending time together. To find out more about upcoming opportunities, visit our volunteer portal.
Duke Energy
Duke Energy (NYSE: DUK), a Fortune 150 company headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., is one of America’s largest energy holding companies. Its electric utilities serve 8.2 million customers in North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Indiana, Ohio, and Kentucky, and collectively own 50,000 megawatts of energy capacity. Its natural gas unit serves 1.6 million customers in North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Ohio, and Kentucky. The company employs 27,600 people.
Crisis Assistance Ministry
The mission of Crisis Assistance Ministry is to provide assistance and advocacy for people in financial crisis, helping them move towards self-sufficiency. Specifically, Crisis Assistance Ministry helps stabilize Mecklenburg County families experiencing financial crisis by providing for basic needs including emergency rent and utility assistance, clothing, appliances, and household goods; fostering economic mobility through one-on-one coaching and strategic collaborations that help families rebuild financial stability; and educating and engaging the community to increase understanding of the complexities and challenges of poverty. On a typical day, more than 120 families seek assistance through the independent, nonprofit agency located in Charlotte, North Carolina.