40% Increase in the Emergency Winter Shelter Meals

As the Charlotte Rescue Mission serves the majority of the Emergency Winter Shelter meals they’re foreseeing increasing numbers rise even higher through April 30, 2008 when the Shelter closes its doors for the season.

Executive Director of the Charlotte Rescue Mission, Reverend Tony Marciano says,

“We get lots of cakes and pastries from our supportive community, but now we need the following in order to feed the rising numbers of homeless neighbors in our area. We need meat, chicken, fresh fruits and vegetables, grocery store gift cards and financial donations to maintain the feeding programs”.

When planning the budget for 2008 there was no idea meals would take on a 40% increase. The Charlotte Rescue Mission,(CRM) is committed to serving homeless men a hot meal at the Emergency Winter Shelter. Last year, in the Fall of 2006, 6,605 meals were prepared by Charlotte Rescue Mission and served at the Emergency Winter Shelter. Since the EWS opened on October 1st of 2007, the meals served through December 31st were 12,963.

“Just comparing November and December 2006 versus the same months in 2007 saw an increase of 2,602 meals” says Marciano.

Within a normal year the Charlotte Rescue Mission, (CRM) will serve their 200,000 meals. Some of those meals are served to hungry, homeless men at the Emergency Winter Shelter.

“The Rescue Mission needs the community to help with donations so CRM can keep up with the rising numbers of homeless in Charlotte" says Marciano. “The Mission will be as grateful as they have been since 1938.”