Customer service can be demanding, even in the nonprofit sector. But a handful of dedicated volunteers at Crisis Assistance Ministry find it to be a rewarding experience. Their passion for community justice and generosity fuels their work.
March into a Good Cause
Forget the basketball kind of Madness, this March was all about a different kind of frenzy at Crisis Assistance Ministry – a frenzy of helping hands!
A diverse crew of volunteers from all walks of life converged on Crisis Assistance Ministry’s doors, united by a single mission: lending a helping hand to their neighbors in need. It wasn’t about competition; it was about collaboration – a beautiful display of community spirit in action.
Corporate Volunteers Strengthen Bonds & Community
With a dozen group volunteer shifts a week, Crisis Assistance Ministry is a great place for colleagues to give back and spend a little time away from the daily demands of their workplace. Workgroups find helping stabilize families through volunteerism is a great option for both team building and staying engaged in their community.
Duke Energy Brings Summer of Service Here
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.
Look to the Helpers
Nearly every day, neighbors come through our doors hoping for help during a crisis. And nearly all the time, there are helpers here to comfort them and connect them to the resources they need to get through the day and move past their crisis toward a brighter future. In addition to staff, there are hundreds of individual helpers who volunteer to keep donated items flowing into the Free Store, to make sure paperwork is complete and ready for financial assistance caseworkers, to receive clothing and household donations at the drive-thru, or to provide snacks for families as they await services.
Ed is Hopeful for the Future
Ed Holland is a grandfather, a volunteer, and an all around good guy. He’s seen plenty of struggle as he connects with people in the community, but he also sees hope.
Celebrating Volunteers
Nearly every day, volunteers share their time and their energy to support of Crisis Assistance Ministry’s critical mission: to provide assistance and advocacy for people in financial crisis, helping them move toward self-sufficiency. During National Volunteer Appreciation Week, and every week, we salute every neighbor who pitches in to strengthen this community in priceless ways.
Overcoming Challenges, Reclaiming Purpose
After watching dementia slowly take her mother, battling her own depression, and ultimately retiring due to health difficulties, things got hard for Deborah. Loss of income and grief overtook her, and before long she was, in her own words, “sitting alone in the dark, with no lights, no food, and too much pride to ask anyone for help.”
That’s when the master’s prepared social worker found herself somewhere she never imagined: sitting across the desk from another social worker, seeking help to dig herself out. There, she remembers being met with kindness, concern, and hope.