Of the more than 1 million items that pass through the Free Store each year, a good number are new items donated by Walmart, thanks to a longstanding partnership with Second Harvest Food Bank. Recently, Walmart made a generous $20,000 donation to Crisis Assistance Ministry to support families struggling to meet life’s basic needs.

Thanks to donations made by generous supporters like you, Crisis Assistance Ministry not only met the 2019 Challenge set by Atrium Health, but also surpassed our goal. The money raised has already been put into action to prevent homelessness and preserve dignity for neighbors with limited financial resources.

On May 4, Crisis Assistance Ministry joyfully celebrated the graduations of a new class of Customer Advocates. New graduate Kimberly reflected on her journey from customer to empowered advocate saying: “I have found my voice and will utilize it to the best of my ability to help families like mine understand that there is hope, that life happens to everyone, and that we must not give up but continue to move forward.”

Even in Spring, school uniform items are among the most frequently requested items by families visiting the Free Store. School clothes aren’t just needed in August. Some public schools follow a year-round calendar. Sometimes children grow in December. And, inevitably, that last pair of khakis sprouts a hole on the 15th of May. You can help.

For a limited time, special funding is available for Mecklenburg County households needing assistance paying their rent and utility bills. While county residents can always seek emergency financial assistance at Crisis Assistance Ministry, now through June 30, additional funds are available to assist families in need.

As a new exhibit opens at the Levine Museum of the New South, entitled Legacy of Lynching: Confronting Racial Terror in America, participants from the recent trip to Montgomery, Alabama, reflect on what they learned about the past, present, and future of racial justice in America, including right here in Mecklenburg County.

You can change lives by joining Al, Andrea, Lea, Andrew, Carol and Dick with a gift that celebrates all the GOOD we can do together. It’s about extending a hand to moms, dads, sisters, brothers, children, veterans, seniors, and survivors who just need a little help to regain financial security.

Over the last five years alone, volunteers have given almost 250,000 hours here in support of people with urgent financial needs. It’s a gift that exceeds $1 million in value annually. During National Volunteer Week, and throughout the year, we are grateful for the many caring individuals and groups who perform one-quarter of the work here at Crisis Assistance Ministry!

Joy and her son needed help and hope during a health emergency and looming eviction. Your support of Joy and other families is crucial and you can #doubleyourimpact during #Challenge2019 with a gift today.

Atrium Health is proud to extend its mission to improve health, elevate hope, and advance healing for all by matching every donation to Crisis Assistance Ministry up to $250,000, now through April 30.

A diverse group of about 90 Charlotte residents traveled to Montgomery, Alabama to explore America’s complicated history and ongoing story of racial injustice and social change. “We have to learn our history, ” reflected one participant, “so that we can pass it on to our children.”

Crisis Assistance Ministry was the 2018 winner of Apparo’s Website for Good Award which provides the winning grant applicant with a custom website valued at $20,000. Rabell Creative worked with Apparo and Crisis Assistance Ministry to provide a website that is well-designed to help the nonprofit better engage with clients, volunteers, and donors.