Schawniekaw has worked three jobs sometimes to keep a roof over her family’s head. Still, it’s not enough. With the threat of eviction looming over her head, she turned to the community for help.
Full Circle Moments Inspire Employee of the Year
“I know I am lucky. So many people need that kind of help and don’t have family and friends who are able to give it,” says Dywoine Massey. “I can relate to the situations moms and dads are in when they come here. That could have been me.” That’s what motivates him to keep coming back every day to his role coaching individuals and families beyond their immediate crisis toward economic mobility.
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.
Small Miracles Lead to Big Impact
Kim is a portrait of resilience and persistence. After a medical emergency and a job layoff left her and her children at risk of eviction, she turned to Crisis Assistance Ministry for help. Thanks to community support, she found a way forward and few “small miracles” along the way.
Walmart Works to Strengthen Community Through Collaboration, Philanthropy
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.
Finding a Voice and a Way Forward, with Your Help
For over twenty years, Sheila worked at the same fast food restaurant, making salads for little more than minimum wage. After all that time, she earned just a dollar an hour more than the day she started. When a cut in her hours brought her to Crisis Assistance Ministry seeking assistance, her path began to change.
Welcome Our Newest Graduates
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.”
For Abigail, A Place To Reclaim Her Purpose
A survivor who proudly proclaims her identity as a “person with a purpose,” Abigail arrived at Crisis Assistance Ministry in the coldest part of winter. Thanks to you, Abigail finally has a place to reclaim her purpose: not just to receive, but to give.