Family Spends Saturday at CRM

A local family shares their experience volunteering to serve food at Charlotte Rescue Mission on a recent Saturday:

Well, we’ve been talking about doing it for about a year and have just never got around to it. That is, until today. No vacations, no yard work, no birthday parties, no lazy, Saturday sleep-ins. No Excuses. Just good old family fun. Spending a Saturday with a bunch of addicts.

Former addicts, that is. Thanks to the Charlotte Rescue Mission (CRM).

Be sure to read the whole story at their blog, Heirhead. Thanks guys!

New Website Design

Our main web page has been totally redesigned. Check it out and let us know what you think.

Dove's Nest Needs Coats

Dove's Nest is in need of ladies coats in good condition. Currently they could use a petite size and several larger sizes (around 16).

Of course, it's a bit early to start talking about Christmas but our newly re-opened Dove's Nest Continuing Care Division (CCD) could use Christmas decorations.

Some other things that the women at Dove's Nest are in need of are: slippers, PJ's, gift cards, lotions, picture frames etc... See our full needs list for more details.

NRI Press Conference

Dove's Nest Gets a New Ramp

Joe Savage received his Eagle Scout rank after completing a project for Charlotte Rescue Mission. Eagle Scout is the highest rank attainable in the boy scouting program. He helped build a new wheelchair ramp at Dove’s Nest. As you can see, the ramp was literally falling down before they built the new one.
There were 23 volunteers who worked on this project with a combined total of 158 hours.

Thanks everyone!

What About the Spouse Who Never Goes to Church?

Recently, I wrote an article aimed at pastors which was the second in a series marking National Alcohol & Drug Addiction Recovery Month entitled "What about the Spouse Who Never Joins the Family at Church?"

Most of you pastors probably don't have parishioners coming to your Sunday morning service staggering in the aisle and hollering during the time of prayer. Instead, you may have a woman who comes to that Sunday service without her husband, while he "sobers up from tying one on" the night before.

Read the whole article here.

2008 Benefit Auction - Starry Starry Night

On Saturday October 25th, Charlotte Rescue Mission will host its annual benefit auction. This year's auction will be held at the Wachovia Atrium uptown at 6:00 PM.You can buy your tickets online or visit our dedicated web site for more information. If you have questions, please call Lynn Swisshelm at 704-334-4635 ext 256.

A Chance to Accept God's Gift

I continue to stand in awe of the baggage the women bring to Dove’s Nest. Abusive childhood leads to abusive adulthood. The pain of existence is numbed through the use of drugs and alcohol. Today, through the generosity of our supporters, they are learning that what was normal in their past is not a part of God’s plan for their future. Dove's Nest gives them the chance to accept the gift of His love and plan He has for their life.

Be assured they constantly tell me to tell our supporters “thank you”.

Seven More Days

I want you to remember this phrase - “seven more days”.

That is the amount of time a particular client had remaining before he would finish the Mission’s Rebound program. As we talked, he shared the challenges he would be facing upon graduation. He wanted our supporters to know that through their kindness and generosity, they had given him the tools he needed so that the streets became a “thing of the past”. I watched pain on his face as he talked about his past and hope come across his face as we finished our conversation.

The gifts of our supporters and their compassion has given him the gift of a brighter tomorrow.