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Crisis Assistance Ministry

Crisis Assistance Ministry

Charlotte, NC

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Blog

March 20, 2023

Four Ways to Help Families This Spring

As seasons change, many families discover the need to refresh their wardrobes: children have grown, last summer’s shoes are worn out, and there’s not a matching set of socks to be found. For low-wage earners, these needs can wreck a carefully balanced budget. Here are four ways you can help these neighbors meet their basic needs this season.

Filed Under: Agency News, Volunteer Stories Tagged With: #PreserveDignity, #PreventHomelessness, Financial Assistance, Free Store, Volunteers

March 20, 2023

Will Medicaid Expansion Help Mecklenburg?

This long-awaited move by North Carolina will provide welcome relief to many low-wage earners who often are not offered health insurance through their employers. Considering the struggles of working families here in Mecklenburg County, there are certainly thousands who will benefit from Medicaid expansion in our own community. Based on evidence from other states, it’s likely all of us will reap the benefits of improved community health, lower eviction rates, and a stronger safety net for our neighbors.

Filed Under: Advocacy, Agency News Tagged With: #PreserveDignity, Economic Mobility, Medicaid Expansion, NC, NCGA

Four women who appear to be Black and varying ages hug themselves to illustrate "Embrace Equity"

March 7, 2023

International Women’s Day 2023: Embrace Equity

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.”

Filed Under: Advocacy, Agency News Tagged With: #embraceequity, Civic Engagement, Gender Pay Gap, International Women's Day, Retink Poverty, Women's History Month

February 16, 2023

Put Yourself in Someone Else’s Shoes

With two kids to care for, aged 7 and 9, there is a zero percent chance my family can pay these bills on time. Should I fall behind on rent payments and risk eviction? Should I ignore the electric bill and risk the power being cut off? How will I be able to afford groceries for the coming week? All of these questions spiraled through my mind as I came to a harrowing conclusion: my family and I could likely end up homeless very soon.
Suddenly, I heard a whistle blow, and a hush fell over the room.  It was over.

Filed Under: Advocacy Tagged With: Civic Engagement, Community, Federal Poverty Line, Missouri Action Network, Noah Howell, Poverty Simulation, Poverty Simulations, Preserve Dignity

Black History Month 2023 Logo

February 14, 2023

Black History Month: Resisting the Status Quo

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. At Crisis Assistance Ministry, every day, we see brave and committed Black Charlotteans struggling to resist the forces of an unjust society right here in Mecklenburg County.

Filed Under: Advocacy Tagged With: #PreserveDignity, Black History, Charlotte, CLT, Community, Economic Mobility, Mecklenburg County

January 25, 2023

Welcome New Board Members for 2023

Like many nonprofits, Crisis Assistance Ministry is fortunate to have the leadership of passionate and committed community members who serve on our Board of Directors. Meet the new members of this team of volunteers who bring a diversity of knowledge, skills, and experience to their oversight of our agency.

Filed Under: Agency News Tagged With: Deborah Brewer, Deidre John, Ed Holland, John Magnuson, Yog Hari

January 25, 2023

Can Baby Bonds Ease the Racial Wealth Gap?

The impacts of wealth inequalities are quite evident every day at Crisis Assistance where we see people, through no fault of their own, struggling to pay rent, keep the lights on, and afford clothes for their children. In a community that is majority white, the overwhelming majority of people who seek help with basic needs here are Black and Hispanic. But the reality is that the nonprofit sector can only do so much to address the long-term struggles of the economically disenfranchised. Systemic policies have created and sustained the continued wealth gap, and it will require a systemic approach to reverse that impact.

Filed Under: Advocacy Tagged With: Asset Poverty, Baby Bonds, Charlotte-Mecklenburg, Columbia's Center on Poverty and Social Poverty, Cory Booker, Mecklenburg County, Racial Wealth Gap, Systemic Racism

King Memorial Statue

January 13, 2023

Transforming Unjust Systems: MLK Day 2023

Martin Luther King Day, the only federal holiday designated as a day of service, is observed on the third Monday of January, near his birth date of January 15. It is a time to not only reflect on his life and legacy but also to find ways to further his work toward racial and economic justice. Fifty-five years after his death, Dr. King’s dream has yet to come true. Although progress has been made in many areas, there is still much work to be done.

Filed Under: Advocacy Tagged With: King Center, Martin Luther King, MLK Day, MLK Day 2023

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  • Four Ways to Help Families This Spring
  • Will Medicaid Expansion Help Mecklenburg?
  • Four women who appear to be Black and varying ages hug themselves to illustrate "Embrace Equity"International Women’s Day 2023: Embrace Equity
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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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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.

crisisassistmin

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Saturday was hopping with these volunteers from an area Honor Society and @meckchurch making sure Free Store shoppers will find essentials free-of-charge this week! Thank you #volunteers for making it possible to serve our neighbors' basic needs.

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