On Saturday, Oct. 17, runners and walkers will gather at McAlpine Creek Park for the 10th annual Strides for Shelter 5K. Some will come to chase a personal best. Some will walk alongside friends, coworkers, or family. And some will simply show up because they believe everyone deserves a safe, stable place to call home.
But for the neighbors Crisis Assistance Ministry serves, every step can mean something more.
It can mean a parent choosing school clothes for a growing child without having to decide between a winter coat and a utility bill. It can mean a family decorating a new home after a period of homelessness. It can mean one less expense standing between someone and the stability they are working so hard to rebuild.
Crisis Assistance Ministry is honored to be the 2026 beneficiary of Canopy Housing Foundation’s Strides for Shelter 5K. Proceeds from this year’s event will support a refresh of our Free Store, an investment in a space that has helped Charlotte neighbors meet essential needs for five decades.
For 50 years, the Free Store has turned community generosity into practical support. Donations of clothing, shoes, household goods, blankets, and toiletries become resources for people navigating financial crisis. Items donated through our drive-thru are sorted and shared with neighbors who need them most: warm clothes for a child, interview attire for a job seeker, or the everyday essentials that help a family make a new home feel like home.
The Free Store has always been about more than things. It is about dignity. It is about choice. And it is about easing the financial pressure that can push a household closer to eviction, utility disconnection, or homelessness.
Now, through Strides for Shelter, that legacy can move forward.
Funds raised will help Crisis Assistance Ministry revamp the Free Store, creating an upgraded shopping experience for individuals and families. The transformation will help us continue to provide essentials in a welcoming space, helping neighbors lower everyday costs, preserve limited income for rent and utilities, remain in their homes, and take meaningful steps toward rebuilding their lives.
This October, your run, walk, donation, or team support can help make that future possible.
Join us at 8:30 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 17, at McAlpine Creek Park, 8711 Monroe Road. Register, donate, or support a participating team at stridesforshelter5k.com.
Every step matters. Every dollar helps.
Use the special code (just for our supporters!) to receive 10% off the registration fee: CAM2026
