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Crisis Assistance Ministry

Crisis Assistance Ministry

Charlotte, NC

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C4 Partnership Brings Help Closer to Westside

“In a crisis, we look to the community to show up when we need them the most,” JB says. “And Crisis Assistance Ministry does just that. It is so critical because it allows individuals who are struggling to do so with dignity by providing financial support so they can get through it and heal.”

October 14, 2020

JB and his wife Melinda lead C4, a community-based counseling center that serves as a hub connecting Westside residents to Crisis Assistance Ministry without leaving their neighborhood.

Once upon a time, Crisis Assistance Ministry helped Jarris “JB” Bell’s young family stay housed with their utilities flowing while he worked two jobs and went to school.

A decade or so later, JB leads a neighborhood hub that connects residents of the Westside to services across the county. Living in the neighborhood he serves, JB sees both the gifts and the needs of his community every day as he shops for groceries, stops for gas, and goes about the business of living. That’s what led him to found C4, a unique community-based counseling center to serve the needs of his neighbors in their own neighborhood.

Based in the Movement Center on Freedom Drive, JB says C4’s partnership with Crisis Assistance Ministry was a natural fit. “You can’t process your psychological needs when your brain is occupied by a crisis. It’s a basic need to have food, water, shelter, and if we can’t meet those first, all our counseling is in vain,” he says.

The ability to request financial assistance on behalf of a client became even more critical as COVID-19 arrived this Spring. Through Crisis Assistance Ministry’s new online portal, C4 is able to connect individuals served by a variety of Westside organizations to critical rent and utility assistance without a trip to our office.

“During a pandemic, this instant connection eliminates exposure risks, eliminates transportation barriers, and allows us to meet the spike in need without overwhelming time commitments,” JB says.

He recalls one neighbor who sought help after losing her job due to COVID-restrictions. She dropped by recently to say thank you because C4 and Crisis Assistance Ministry were able to pay her utility bill, provide her with a food referral, and help her get through her crisis—all without having to leave her own neighborhood. “She didn’t even realize that was possible,” JB adds.

All the travails of 2020 have reminded JB that “a crisis is something you cannot predict or plan for, and none of us knows when it or if it will be us who faces dramatic change.”

“In a crisis, we look to the community to show up when we need them the most,” he says. “And Crisis Assistance Ministry does just that. It is so critical because it allows individuals who are struggling to do so with dignity by providing financial support so they can get through it and heal.”

C4 is one of more than 100 Partner Agencies across Mecklenburg County who can access financial assistance on behalf of their clients through the online portal. Working together, Crisis Assistance Ministry addresses basic needs while agencies like C4 focus on the other unique services needed for their clients to achieve stability.

Filed Under: Customer Stories Tagged With: C4, Community Partners, Financial Assistance, Jarris Bell, Movement Center, Partner Agency, Partnerships

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Crisis Assistance Ministry

Preventing homelessness.
Preserving dignity.
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Contact Us

  • (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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Recent Photos

crisisassistmin

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Pssst . . . we've got plenty of room for group and individual volunteers this summer (and even this fall). These great folks from @wellsfargo helped prepare donated clothing for Free Store shoppers yesterday. Meanwhile, individual volunteers helped get customers connected to emergency financial assistance. You can find the perfect opportunity for you OR your teens by visiting our VOLUNTEER tab on our website. (link in bio)

crisisassistmin

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This volunteer team from @CareRingNC's Nurse Family Partnership brought a burst of energy Friday as they inspected and hung clothes in the warehouse and then helped stock the Free Store. We had a hard time keeping up with them, but with their help the store is now stocked and ready for up to 60 Mecklenburg County families per day to shop free-of-charge thanks to the generosity of our community. And the store looks fabulous, thanks to awesome #volunteers!

crisisassistmin

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Rising fifth-grader Haley knows what she wants. Accompanied by her mother, she combs the aisles of Crisis Assistance Ministry's Free Store looking to find just what she needs for her upcoming trip to camp. An avid reader, Haley is among 150+ area scholars who will attend overnight camp this summer with the help of @wayfindersnc. Mom Amber is focused on the basics, but then a new summer companion catches Haley's eye. Join her on her shopping trip at the link in bio: Meet Haley's New Friend

crisisassistmin

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The ONE Charlotte Health Alliance mobile unit will be back onsite Wednesday AND Thursday this week. Wednesday (9 am to 4 pm) will focus on Free HIV Testing, and Thursday (10 am to 3 pm) will include a variety of health screenings.
No appointment is necessary.

crisisassistmin

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Crisis Assistance Ministry is closed today to observe Juneteenth. But the question remains: while Juneteenth commemorates the arrival of legal emancipation for formerly enslaved people, when will we loose the chains of economic disparity and move our community toward a place of equity? Read more in today's blog at the link in our bio.

crisisassistmin

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Crisis Assistance Ministry will be closed on Monday, June 20, 2022, in observance of Juneteenth. Typical business hours will resume on Tuesday, June 21.

crisisassistmin

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Help us spread the word that NC kids under 18 can get free meals all summer long.  To find a site nearby, Just text FOOD or COMIDA to 304-304  or visit @nokidhungrync online. No ID or registration is needed, children and teens ages 18 and younger just need to show up. 

FREE: Meals are free to children and teens ages 18 and younger who come to a summer meals site.
SAVE MONEY: Free summer meals will help families save money and stretch their already tight food budgets.
NUTRITIOUS: Food served at summer meal sites follows USDA nutrition guidelines and is paid for by the USDA.
SAFE: Summer meal sites are safe places for kids and teens to go, such as schools, churches, and community centers.
FUN: Many sites offer educational and recreational activities that kids of all ages can participate in so they can eat, hang out with friends and take part in activities offered.
NO ID, NO REGISTRATION: Parents don’t need to apply to the program to get a free summer meal for their kids. Children simply need to come to a summer meals site in their community and enjoy a healthy meal without the hassle of having to fill out an application or enroll in a program. No ID or registration is needed.

crisisassistmin

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This week, we welcome back @CROSSMissions which brings youth from across the Southeast 🚌✈️to Charlotte to learn and serve. In just 3 days, they assembled 43 fleece blankets for families who shop in our Free Store for essentials. These kiddos are some of our favorite #volunteers every summer!

crisisassistmin

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We are so excited to welcome @oneclthealth to our location at 500-A Spratt St in #CLT this Thursday, June 9 from 10a to 3p. No appointments are needed and you do not have to be a @CrisisAssistMin customer to visit for free blood pressure, blood sugar, and cholesterol checks.

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