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Crisis Assistance Ministry

Crisis Assistance Ministry

Charlotte, NC

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Thanksgiving and the Spirit of Community

Beyond the sumptuous feasts and festive parades, Thanksgiving embodies the power of community and the spirit of giving. Here at Crisis Assistance Ministry, we see that power every day as you reach into our lobby and offer help, hope, and understanding to neighbors who are struggling to make ends meet.

November 22, 2023

As the leaves turn golden and the air grows crisp, Thanksgiving arrives, reminding us of the importance of gratitude and community.

This cherished holiday is the perfect time to slow down, reflect, and appreciate. It’s also a great time to enjoy your favorite food and celebrate with some of your favorite people.

But beyond the sumptuous feasts and festive parades, Thanksgiving embodies the power of community and the spirit of giving.

Communities these days aren’t just about the people next door, they’re online, too!

Whether it’s face-to-face or over the internet, what’s important is we’re all looking for a place to belong and ways to care for each other. With so much happening in the world, sticking together and building these connections is more vital than ever. They’re the foundation that keeps us strong and pushes us forward to make things better.

Here at Crisis Assistance Ministry, we see the power of community every day as you reach into our lobby and offer help, hope, and understanding to neighbors who are struggling to make ends meet. Each day, you lift up more than 100 families who seek assistance to stabilize their homes, keep a roof over their heads, and maintain the basics of life in the face of a financial crisis.

Thank you. Let’s spread that warm, thankful generosity even further.

So, in the spirit of togetherness, let’s continue to reach out to people who need the support that a thriving community can provide.

Why not make room for a few more at the (real or metaphorical) table this Thanksgiving? Whether you make a financial gift to an organization like Crisis Assistance Ministry, plan to volunteer to help agencies that serve others, provide warm coats for children who will wait at bus stops this winter, or offer a smile and a “hand” to someone who could use it, you’re doing more than just having a feast. You’re living the true spirit of the holiday.


Looking for a simple way to embrace community and generosity?

Make a gift today to ensure neighbors can enjoy the hope, warmth, and light of home during the holidays and beyond. You can even order holiday cards to honor your loved ones, instead of purchasing one more commercial gift this season.

Illustration of cards and inserts available depicting a beacon of hope, warmth, and light
Button with watercolor background a foreground lantern with the words Give Hope, Warmth, Light with the Crisis Assistance Ministry logo

Filed Under: Agency News, Campaign Tagged With: #Holiday2023, #PreserveDignity, #PreventHomelessness, Community, Giving, Gratitude, Holiday Cards, holiday giving, Holiday2023, Thanksgiving

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  • Group of people standing and talking in the Crisis Assistance Ministry lobby during the 2025 alumni eventCrisis Assistance Ministry Welcomes New Board Members 
  • A Tale of Two Customers 
  • The Cycle of Poverty, Eviction, and Mental Illness
  • New Report Reveals Deepening Pressure on Charlotte Mecklenburg Families 
  • The Benefits Cliff: When Progress Costs Too Much

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Crisis Assistance Ministry

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  • (704) 371-3001
  • 500-A Spratt St.
    Charlotte, NC 28206
  • Tax ID:
    EIN 56-1416719
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crisisassistmin

Open post by crisisassistmin with ID 18440646022139634
Help us welcome our newest Board members: Sherry Ferguson, Jay Herring, and Allison Hoffman. 💛

Our Board is a volunteer group of community leaders guiding housing stability and financial assistance work across Charlotte‑Mecklenburg. They bring expertise from finance, healthcare, housing, law, and grassroots organizing, all grounded in a shared commitment to neighbors in financial crisis.

New Board member Allison Hoffman put it this way:

“It is such an honor to join the amazing board at Crisis Assistance Ministry. I'm looking forward to learning more about the important work they are doing in our community, and raising awareness about the financial hardships our neighbors are facing.”

We are grateful for Sherry, Jay, and Allison’s time, talents, and heart for this mission.

crisisassistmin

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Spring cleaning meets summer sun. 🌼☀️ This week’s most needed items on our Amazon Wishlist are Fabuloso and sunscreen, helping neighbors keep their homes fresh and their families protected as warmer days approach.

Scan the QR code in the graphic or use the link in our bio to shop our wishlist and have essentials sent directly to Crisis Assistance Ministry. Every item you give makes a real difference for a local family. 💛

crisisassistmin

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Change happens when we show up and speak out.

Earlier this week, Carol Hardison @carolinthehouse stood before @cltgov  City Council to support “The People’s Budget” – a vision for a city budget that centers care, dignity, and justice for all of Charlotte, not just a few.

Every day, we see neighbors pushed to the brink by rising housing costs, low wages, and impossible choices. In the last fiscal year, 52,625 evictions were filed in Mecklenburg County.

Carol uses her voice publicly and consistently so those realities are not ignored, calling for investments in housing stability and the services families rely on. Leadership means being willing to be seen, to listen, and to speak up for those who are too often left out of the conversation. We are grateful to have a leader who does exactly that for our entire community. 💛

crisisassistmin

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According to a national study, renters who believe they’re likely to be evicted in the next two months have more than double the odds of experiencing depression and anxiety compared with renters who feel secure in their housing.

Even the threat of losing a home can keep families up at night. This Mental Health Awareness Month and Affordable Housing Month, we’re working so that more Mecklenburg County neighbors can worry less about eviction and focus more on healing.

crisisassistmin

Open post by crisisassistmin with ID 18097959908119732
This could have been a novel full of obstacles, but it’s a real story of hope, resilience, and strength.

In “A Tale of Two Customers,” Mandy and Shawn walk through the same lobby at Crisis Assistance Ministry carrying very different burdens and find the same open door to help and a way forward. Their journeys reflect what so many of our neighbors face when life unravels: past‑due notices, hard choices, and the fear of losing home and stability.

But there’s light at the end of the tunnel.

During our Challenge Match, every dollar you give is matched dollar for dollar, so your generosity goes twice as far—twice the help, twice the impact, twice the hope—for families like Mandy’s and Shawn’s. Tap the link in our bio to read “A Tale of Two Customers” and make your matched gift today.

crisisassistmin

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This group surprised us in the best way 💛

The Child First team from Children’s Home Society of North Carolina showed up with a gentle approach and fierce tenacity, carefully inspecting donations that will soon support local families — and somehow made it all look fun and effortless at the same time. We’re so grateful for partners whose mission to strengthen children and families aligns so closely with ours, and we can’t wait to welcome them back again soon.

crisisassistmin

Open post by crisisassistmin with ID 18119533483581596
We’ve been looking for you everywhere — our favorite financial supporter! We checked X, we peeked at Bluesky, and look at that … we finally found you here on Instagram. 

Every dollar you give to our Challenge Match is matched dollar for dollar (up to $1 million!) turning one act of generosity into two. Your gift goes twice as far: twice the help, twice the impact, twice the hope for neighbors who are doing everything they can to keep the lights on and a safe place to call home.

Ready to make your generosity do double duty?

🔁 Your donation is matched 1:1
❤️ Twice the impact for families in crisis
📲 Give today and help keep the lights on, the rent paid, and hope alive

Tap the link in our bio to donate now and watch your gift be doubled for our community.

crisisassistmin

Open post by crisisassistmin with ID 18089886851462106
Then: median rent around $145.
Now: about $1,600.

Wages didn’t keep up. Housing costs did.
Neighbors we serve today earn about $25,000 a year and spend most of it just to stay housed.

Since 1975, 2.5 million people have found help here when the math just didn’t work anymore.

The year changed. The zip codes changed.
The need for a safety net in Charlotte didn’t.

crisisassistmin

Open post by crisisassistmin with ID 17919929730353761
Children’s mental health isn’t always shaped by school, friends, and family—sometimes it starts with a notice on the door, a packed suitcase, and another bedroom they’ll only sleep in for a few months.

Help keep children safely housed by supporting Crisis Assistance Ministry’s Challenge Match. Your gift will be matched dollar for dollar (up to $1M) and will support a neighbor who’s choosing between essentials and rent. Link in Bio

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