McAdams is Making it Happen Last October, the civil engineering firm McAdams treated guests at the Howard Levine Men’s Shelter and Lucille Giles Center to a cookout. The Charlotte McAdams office focuses their philanthropic efforts on housing and hunger through the McAdams SHARES initiative. They’ve been partnering with Roof Above since 2018. The team supports Roof Above through financial contributions, …
Season of Hope Invitation Will you join us for a Season of Hope? Between now and the end of the year, we will be sharing weekly content that explores the many facets of hope. This isn’t meant to be prescriptive. There are multiple entry points into this invitation: Moments of inspiration and response on social media. Minutes or more, with …
Season of Hope Invitation Will you join us for a Season of Hope at Roof Above? Between now and the end of the year, we will be sharing weekly content that explores the many facets of hope. This isn’t meant to be prescriptive. There are multiple entry points into this invitation: Moments of inspiration and response on social media. Minutes …
The numbers are staggering. 500: the number of bag lunches provided EVERY DAY by volunteers for Roof Above shelter programs. 3,500: the number of bag lunches provided EACH WEEK for our friends in dorms, motels, and winter shelter. That’s more lunches than a child carries to school from kindergarten through high school graduation! Wait, there’s more! A typical lunch includes …
“911, do you need Police, Fire or Medic?” “I need an ambulance for a man who says he is having chest pains.” Not a typical Room In The Inn night at Avondale Presbyterian Church. Jim, the overnight host, had noticed that Walter had enjoyed his dinner and conversation but was now moaning in the men’s room. Jim wanted to respect …
What is the backbone of Room In The Inn? It is our host sites. RITI would not exist without the involvement of our host sites which provide a home where our neighbors can feel safe, have a hot meal and most important … be treated as they deserve— as a member of the Charlotte community. This month, Holy Comforter let …
As a Room In The Inn volunteer, I worked with Andy and his forever friend, Sandy. The following is Andy’s story as I know it. When I walk down the street, no one will look me directly in the eye. Are they thinking I will ask for money or are they afraid of me? Do they think my clothes look …
Room In The Inn helps people experiencing homelessness by coordinating emergency shelter in partnership with faith organizations during the winter months. .. but this story is not about statistics or the number of homeless individuals that have been helped by this program. It is about the people. Over the next few months, you will hear about Room In The Inn …
Neighbors using Room In The Inn (RITI) this season ranged in age from 5 months old to 89 years old, and that’s really the story of RITI and our community. As affordable housing continues to be out of reach for so many, we are seeing increased numbers of families and older adults. A single man arrived with his 7-month old …
Diversity, community, and storytelling have become common buzzwords as of late. Flying around, circling in, out, and through our conversations. And for good reason. The power that comes through putting these words into action can create lasting change. On March 2nd, at Urban Ministry Center, these three words came to life through the power of art. Local artist Edwin Gil, …
It’s hard to believe, but we’re half way through the Room In The Inn season! The numbers are in and the hard work of volunteers at over 100 host sites have made them possible.
For over a decade, the community garden at our College Street campus has provided nourishment for the spirit and the body, for both neighbors and volunteers alike; but last year it began to offer a new purpose and importance for UMC programs. As the recreational therapist for our SABER (Substance Abuse Education & Recovery) program, Laura McCarthy helps men in …
Byron was 20 years old and attending CPCC studying small business with the support of his mom, when she became ill in 2007. He quit school to care for her, but in 2009 she had to be moved to a nursing home where she passed away soon after. The house was willed to Byron, but he was unfortunately unable to …
Ten years ago Sandy Vermillion, Carol Rousey, Roger Coates, and their fellow church members attended a work day at the Urban Ministry Center’s College Street Campus. While serving, they met new staff member Joann Markley who told them about a brand new program, Homeless To Homes, that could really use their support. On that day in 2008 a new partnership …
Everyone’s experienced something ‘going around’ at work or school before—suddenly it feels like half your staff is out sick. That happens here at the Urban Ministry Center College Street campus sometimes, but what almost always happens simultaneously is that we see sick neighbors too. And while we usually have over-the-counter medications to help them–pain relievers, cold and flu medicine, cough …
Imagine seeing your own artwork framed up on Tryon Street for all to see! ArtWorks 945 artist Kevin had just that pleasure recently when the McColl Center for Art + Innovation included a print of his painting on their signs. Kevin created the piece with McColl Center artist-in-residence, Marion Wilson. She talks about the collaboration in the McColl Center blog, …
No one would ever describe volunteering for Urban Ministry Center as a ‘day at the beach,’ but that’s exactly what our coordinators hoped to treat our most valued partners to at the annual volunteer appreciation dinner, April 22. The annual event gives volunteers a chance to be served and loved on by our staff, enjoy time with their UMC volunteer …
You can see from the smiles that October’s Wellness Challenge Picnic is a much anticipated event for many Moore Place tenants! From June to September, tenants collect badges by participating in one of the 7-8 wellness opportunities offered each week—art, yoga, cooking, walking, etc. Collect four badges for the month and they are invited to a Wellness Reception with a …
We seldom receive phone calls from London here at the Urban Ministry Center, but that’s what happened one day a few weeks ago. She said her name was Sayo Ayodele and she was with Leaders’ Quest, an international leadership development organization based in London, New York and Singapore. She said she had been reading about us and wanted to visit …
For many families, this past weekend marked “moving in” day for their college students. My family spent a steamy Saturday afternoon hauling items up many flights of stairs (and on the elevator when we could get it!) into my daughter’s new dorm room. Throughout the move, I kept saying to myself, “Wow, where is she going to put all of …
Volunteer Jerry Levine says working at the front desk of Urban Ministry Center for the past 3+ years makes him feel lighter and being here helps him tap into himself in a unique way. He cares more, is humbled, and believes it helps him regain perspective about what truly hurts him and what he’s grateful for in his own day …