• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
Crisis Assistance Ministry

Crisis Assistance Ministry

Charlotte, NC

  • Programs
    • Basic Needs
      • Emergency Financial Assistance
      • Free Store
      • Furniture & Appliance Store
      • COVID-19 FAQ’s
    • Economic Mobility
    • Civic Engagement
      • Financial Security CLT
      • Poverty Simulations
    • Partner Agencies
  • Impact
  • Volunteer
  • Blog
    • Advocacy News
    • Agency News
    • Customer Stories
    • Donor Stories
    • Volunteer Stories
  • About
    • About Us
    • Leadership Team
    • Board of Directors
    • Join Our Team
    • Financial Reports
    • For the Media
    • Contact Us
  • Ways to Give
    • Make a Financial Donation
    • Donate Clothing & Household Goods
    • Donate Furniture & Appliances
    • Amazon Wishlist
    • Donation Drives
    • Donate Stock
    • Donate a Car or Motor Vehicle
  • Donate Now

You Were There for Shaniora

"People are really here to help you," says Shaniora, an aspiring baker who found herself needing help when chronic illness and surgery derailed her plans to support herself while finishing her degree. Thanks to the support of our community, Crisis Assistance Ministry is thankful to be here for neighbors like Shaniora.

September 16, 2019

“People are really here to help you,” says Shaniora, an aspiring baker who found herself needing help when chronic illness and surgery derailed her plans to support herself while finishing her degree.

Having already completed two years of study while in high school, Shaniora came to Charlotte on her own to finish her degree at Johnson & Wales University. She pushed through symptoms from sickle cell anemia, worked part-time, and focused on her future in an industry she loved.

But, as she was nearing the finish line, sickness tried to take over. Looking back, she remembers realizing she really couldn’t keep “doing it all.” Doctors told her she would need surgery, and that meant time off from the classroom and the workplace.

“I’m not the kind of person to tell myself ‘I can’t’,” Shaniora says. “But I don’t always like to ask for help, either.” Still, without paid time off or other benefits, her medical situation forced her to seek out resources. She’s glad she did.

“It’s nice to know help is close by,” she says of getting connected to Crisis Assistance Ministry. She worked directly with an economic mobility specialist to address her financial needs during her medical recovery.

Together, they set goals and created plans for achieving them:

  • make it through her upcoming surgery and recovery by planning, saving, and budgeting;
  • improve income by finishing school, upgrading job search skills, and seeking a new job;
  • improve professional brand to increase future earnings potential; and
  • rebuild her personal safety net with a post-recovery savings plan.

With careful planning and a little bit of emergency financial assistance, Shaniora kept her bills paid, completed her degree, and updated her résumé by the time she recovered from her medical procedure.

Thanks to her hard work and a little “hand up” from people like you, she came through it all with a “fresh start.” She landed a new job with paid time off, medical benefits, and opportunities for advancement. She began building her brand and her future once more.

She learned a few lessons along the way, too.

“I wish a lot of people weren’t so ashamed to ask for help,” she says. “I’m thankful for it . . . just from being able to talk to somebody . . . just from being heard.”

Thanks to the support of the community, Crisis Assistance Ministry is thankful to be here for neighbors like Shaniora.

Filed Under: Customer Stories Tagged With: Asking for Help, Customer, Economic Mobility, Financial Assistance

Primary Sidebar

Browse by Category

  • Advocacy
  • Agency News
  • Campaign
  • Customer Stories
  • Donor Stories
  • Special Interest
  • Volunteer Stories

Recent Posts

  • Catch Summer’s Cool(er) Vibes With a Playlist
  • 6 More Ways To Hold On To Summer
  • Good Summer Fun to Celebrate Saving Home
  • Army Vet Finds Welcome Relief from Summer Heat
  • Electrolux (and you) Help Neighbors Beat The Heat

Search

Follow

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Footer

Crisis Assistance Ministry

Preventing homelessness.
Preserving dignity.
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Contact Us

  • (704) 371-3001
  • Send us a message
  • Main Office:
    500-A Spratt St.
    Charlotte, NC 28206
  • Tax ID
    EIN 56-1416719

Newsletter

Stay up-to-date by subscribing to our newsletter.

Join Our Mailing List

Search Our Site

Recent Photos

crisisassistmin

Open
It's the little things! We're so grateful to #volunteers who sift through donations, inspect and hang them, sort them into sizes and genders and adult vs. children and so much more. Did you know that volunteers as young as 11 can help out onsite with adult supervision and 16-year-olds  can volunteer on their own?
Many volunteer roles are urgently needed to help provide for the basic needs of our neighbors while preserving dignity for struggling families. Check out the volunteer tab on our website to find your spot!

crisisassistmin

Open
While getting out of town is great, you shouldn’t knock the staycation. You can have good old summer fun right in your own backyard. Here are today's ideas for summer fun that keeps you close to, or at, home. (Bonus: these adventures won’t break the bank so you’ll have a little left to help more families #savehome with a gift by August 31.) 
1. Watch the fireflies.
2. Visit one of Charlotte-Mecklenburg's splash parks, or run through a sprinkler.
3. Clean your closet (we promise this is fun). Bring gently used uniforms to Crisis Assistance Ministry, and we will add them to our Free Store.

crisisassistmin

Open
With a few precious weeks of summer left, it’s time to get out there and HAVE FUN!

This week, we're sharing a whole list of inexpensive summer adventures close to home—some even in your own backyard. 
Bonus: they won’t break the bank, you’ll have a little left to #savehome for more families during #CLTSavesHome, our Non-Event fundraiser, by August 31.  Tag us @crisisassistmin or hashtag us at #CLTsavehome and let us know what you're doing! 

Want the whole list right now? ---> https://bit.ly/3JG5H1v

crisisassistmin

Open
With a few precious weeks of summer left, it’s time to get out there and celebrate summer with this list of inexpensive summer adventures close to home—some even in your own backyard. 
Bonus: since they won’t break the bank, you’ll have a little left to #savehome for more families during #CLTSavesHome, our Non-Event fundraiser, by August 31. (You can get to the list through our bio) Tag us @crisisassistmin or hashtag us at #CLTsavehome and let us know what you're doing!

crisisassistmin

Open
With a new school year quickly approaching, many families in @charmeckschools could use help getting their youngsters ready for the classroom with uniforms in the right size and  right color, especially after a summer of extra costs. There are several ways for you to help your neighbors and community members - with time to spare before school starts. Visit the link in the profile for ideas.

crisisassistmin

Open
You do not want to miss Saturday's benefit concert featuring @kennyroby of @6stringdrag, Randy Franklin & the Sardines, and more local musicians in a Tribute to the Art of Song benefiting families served here at @CrisisAssistMin! Grab your tickets now using the Quick Link in our Bio.

crisisassistmin

Open
It feels like #LOVEWEEK flies by each year! Join us in giving huge thanks to these #volunteers from @elevationoutreach for their joyful energy this week. Teams from @elevationchurch helped inspect and prepare donated clothes for our free-of-charge store and provided refreshments for our customers. What a way to pour LOVE over Charlotte's nonprofits and the people we serve!

crisisassistmin

Open
Happy National Interns Day! We've had the privilege of hosting three amazing college-age interns this summer.  Eleanor and Will helped launch Benefits Access for customers awaiting assistance, while also pitching in with volunteer coordination.  Katelyn (& her whiteboard) planned communications for our School Uniform drive that kicked off last week. All three are heading back to college shortly and we are going to miss their smiling faces and willing spirits. Watch for their individual blogs about their summer over the next few weeks!

crisisassistmin

Open
HUGE thanks to our friends at @metrotech.automotive and @Loweshomeimprovement for sponsoring our 2022 NonEvent: #CLTSavesHome! 
You can join them by making a gift to help #savehome for other families in Charlotte-Mecklenburg without interrupting your summer. (link in bio)

© 2022 · Crisis Assistance Ministry · Charlotte, NC · Privacy Policy · Site by Rabell Creative