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Crisis Assistance Ministry

Crisis Assistance Ministry

Charlotte, NC

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Advocacy

April 2, 2026

The Cycle of Poverty, Eviction, and Mental Illness

Defining the connection between poverty and mental illness is a chicken-and-egg scenario: does mental illness create an inability to overcome a state of poverty, or does poverty increase or perpetuate the occurrence of mental illness?

Filed Under: Advocacy Tagged With: Charlotte, Crescent and Wedge, Economic Mobility, Leading On Opportunity, Mecklenburg County, Mental Health, Mental Health America of Central Carolinas, NAMI, Rethink Poverty

March 16, 2026

New Report Reveals Deepening Pressure on Charlotte Mecklenburg Families 

The newly released 2025 State of Housing Instability and Homelessness report confirms what many neighbors already feel. Housing pressure across Mecklenburg County is intensifying.

Filed Under: Advocacy Tagged With: housing cost burden, housing instability, State of Housing Instability and Homelessness

February 26, 2026

The Benefits Cliff: When Progress Costs Too Much

For most people, getting a raise at work is cause for celebration.

But for thousands of hardworking families, a raise can trigger something unexpected – and dangerous – called the benefits cliff.

Filed Under: Advocacy, Customer Stories Tagged With: Benefits Cliff, Economic Mobility

Tax prep time

February 9, 2026

VITA Free Tax Prep Meck

Free Tax Prep Meck is back. IRS-Certified tax preparation at no cost to qualifying individuals.

Filed Under: Advocacy, Agency News Tagged With: Ada Jenkins Center, Free resources, Free Tax Preparation, Free taxes, tax prep, Taxes, VITA

January 12, 2026

Your Guide to MLK Day of Service 2026 in Mecklenburg County

As we approach Martin Luther King Jr Day Charlotte 2026, residents across the Queen City are preparing to turn the holiday into a “day on, not a day off.” Whether you are looking for volunteer opportunities in Mecklenburg County for yourself, your company, or your family, this year’s calendar is packed with ways to serve. […]

Filed Under: Advocacy, Volunteer Stories Tagged With: #CharlotteVolunteers, #DayOfService, #FamilyVolunteering, #MecklenburgCounty, #MLKDay2026

January 12, 2026

2026 MLK Day of Service Resource Kit: Free Downloads for Charlotte Families & Teams

On January 19, 2026, the Queen City will unite to honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. by turning a federal holiday into a powerful “day on, not a day off.” Whether you are leading a corporate team, a classroom of students, or your own family, you are part of a massive movement […]

Filed Under: Advocacy, Volunteer Stories Tagged With: Day of Service, Dr. King, Martin Luther King Jr, MLK Day

October 15, 2025

Hispanic Heritage Month: Honoring Community and Resilience

Hispanic Heritage Month, celebrated each year from September 15 to October 15, is a time to honor the rich tapestry of cultures, traditions, and history that Hispanic and Latino* communities bring to the United States. This gives us an opportunity to reflect on the contributions and challenges faced by Hispanic communities across the country, including […]

Filed Under: Advocacy Tagged With: Civic Education, Community, Community Education, Economic Opportunity

September 15, 2025

National Clothing Insecurity Awareness Day Sheds Light on a Hidden Crisis

September 15, 2025 marked the inaugural National Clothing Insecurity Day. While you have likely heard of housing, food, and financial insecurity, have you heard of clothing insecurity? Probably not. This often-hidden insecurity is when someone lacks access to clean, properly fitting, and appropriate clothing. Millions of American families struggle with this challenge, and it is […]

Filed Under: Advocacy Tagged With: #PreserveDignity, Amazon Wish List, Free Store, National Clothing Insecurity Day

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  • 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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  • Matthew Sharp headshotCrisis Assistance Ministry Names Matthew Sharp Chief Housing Stability Officer 

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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

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When the basics are free, the rent gets paid. 💵

Shopping at the Free Store means parents can use limited dollars on housing, medicine, or gas instead of clothes and dishes.

Donated items turn into breathing room for families trying to stay housed - drop off your gently used or new items or shop our Amazon gift registry today!

crisisassistmin

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🧾 Live in Mecklenburg County and need help filing your taxes? Today is your last chance to join a TAX-A-THON. Walk-in only at Ascend Nonprofit Solutions.

crisisassistmin

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Congratulations to Sil Ganzó, from @ourbridgeforkids, for being named the 2025 Charlotte Woman of the Year!

At Crisis Assistance Ministry, we are honored to see her recognized alongside two leaders from our own history: founding CEO Caroline Love Myers and current CEO Carol Hardison who were both named Charlotte Woman of the Year.

All three women share a powerful common thread: they listen closely to neighbors who are often overlooked, create spaces where every family can belong, and turn urgent community needs into lasting change for Charlotte.

We are deeply honored to share this legacy and to celebrate Sil Ganzó as the 2025 Charlotte Woman of the Year.

crisisassistmin

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Years after getting help to keep a roof over her kids’ heads, Jennifer now leads Wells Fargo volunteer teams in our Free Store. The same place that once helped her through a hard season is where she now shows up for other families.

Want to see why serving here means so much to her?
👉 Read her full story at (link in bio).

crisisassistmin

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Zoom in to read 🔍

Swipe through and share this love-letter series to honor the people quietly holding our community together.

crisisassistmin

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#WorldHealthDay, but make it spring cleaning. 🌱

Our Free Store helps neighbors find clothes, shoes, and everyday essentials—without spending a dime—so they can put more toward rent, meds, and keeping the lights on.

Freshen your closet, boost a family’s health. Want to see how the Free Store works and what we’re stocking this season?

Head to our bio to learn more and find out how your spring clean‑out can help fill the shelves. 💛

crisisassistmin

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Name a better group activity than pulling up with @presenthelpmovement to inspect donations and stock shelves at @crisisassistmin. We’ll wait. 🙌🏽

These volunteers are making it easier for neighbors to find what they need—for free—at @crisisassistmin.

Got a group that wants to do some good together? Come volunteer with us. 💛 (Link in the usual place 😏)

crisisassistmin

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This is our official statement regarding the recent post. There’s more to the story than what appeared on your screen.

Thank you for standing beside us as we unpack it.

crisisassistmin

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If you’re looking for our impact, follow the lines.

Each ribbon on this carousel leads to one way neighbors, donors, and volunteers kept Charlotte families stable in FY 2025:

1️⃣ 43,927 neighbors received help when they needed it most.
2️⃣ 1.7 million items of clothing, household goods, and appliances were distributed free of charge.
3️⃣ $3.6 million in emergency rent assistance helped prevent eviction and homelessness.
4️⃣ 100% of Financial Empowerment graduates remained housed 12 months later.
​
These aren’t just numbers. They are meals on tables, lights that stayed on, and leases that didn’t get broken.

👉 Swipe through, follow a line, and see how your support keeps Charlotte families housed, hopeful, and moving forward.

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