New Board Member.

You may recognize our new board member! ;)  

We're so glad Kate decided to step into this new role with Common Heart!

Kate Simon joined the board as the special events advocate after spending a year serving as Common Cupboard food pantry manager. The Wesley Chapel resident says she's eager to take that experience and years of volunteer experience with Common Heart as the newest member of the board.

“I started volunteering at Common Heart several years ago because I was looking for a volunteer opportunity that involved helping those in the local community,” she said. “Once I became involved, I fell in love with this organization, the volunteers, and the people we serve.”              

Kate Simon

Kate and her husband, Tom, want to “lead by example” for their children Owen, 9, and Julie, 7.

Kate has a bachelor's degree in American studies from Wellesley College, and a law degree from Rutgers University School of Law. While living in New Jersey, she worked for five years as a staff attorney in the Central Appellate Research Division of the New Jersey judiciary.

The family moved to North Carolina in 2011 and are members at St. Francis United Methodist Church in Charlotte. 

Our new Stewardship Manager

We'd like to introduce you to Mary Kate Postle, our new Stewardship Manager! 

Mary Kate joined Common Heart in July 2015 after volunteering for almost a year as a delivery driver for the Common Cupboard.                                         

Mary Kate & Jacob Postle

The Wesley Chapel resident has a bachelor's degree from Clemson University in materials engineering with an emphasis in graphic design, but it's her 9 years of experience working in the procurement department at Charlotte Pipe that are helping with her new role here. There, she helped with United Way fundraising campaigns securing corporate sponsors for events and is excited to do the same thing for Common Heart.

“I love the challenge of it and I'm excited to help Common Heart grow and go to the next level,” she said.

Mary Kate said she “fell in love” with Common Heart because of the relationship-based service and how volunteers try to make sure every donation they receive is put to good use. “Very little is wasted and I think there are not a lot of local nonprofits that can say that,” she said.

Mary Kate and her husband, Jacob, have two sons, Clayton, 3 and Ian, 5. They attend Union United Methodist Church in Wesley Chapel where Mary Kate teaches high school students. She enjoys running and is “trying to be a gardener.”  

Gleaner's Market Friday August 28, 2015

Announcing our first Gleaner's Market this Friday August 28 from 10:30 am - 12 noon.  This outdoor "market" is an experiment for Common Heart. At least four times a year we have an abundance of food that we need to give out and we can not do it through out normal channels.  So, we decided to try our own version of a farmer's market.

We will have fresh vegetables, fruit, and baked goods such as bread, cakes and cookies. During this one we will also have a some frozen meat that we will be able to give out as well.  There is no cost.  All participants will need to fill out an application and will need to either receive food stamps (SNAP) or make less than 200% of the federal poverty level.  Here is a link to the 200% FPL standard. We also ask that your family currently have a need for groceries so that everyone who has a need can get what they need.

All households wishing to participate should begin arriving at 10 am (please, no earlier). The location is our community resource center, The Commonplace. 116 Business Park Dr, Suite A, Indian Trail, NC 28079.   If you have questions or would like more information you can contact us at CommonHeart@TheCommonplace.org or 704-218-9060.

If you would like to attend, you can pre-register here.

Exciting Common Cupboard news!

Barbara Anglin-Law

There's a new face at our Common Cupboard food pantry! 
We'd like to introduce you to our new Cupboard manager, Barbara Anglin-Law. Be sure to give her a hearty welcome the next time you stop in.
Here's a little bit about Barbara! 

Barbara joined Common Heart in July 2015 and has more than 20 years of experience in the human services field, most recently as a supervisor with the Cabarrus County Department of Human Services.

She first learned about Common Heart by attending one of the organization's Serving U workshops.

The south Charlotte resident said she's “excited about the opportunity” to join this small revolution of kindness.                                                                         

“Even though I'm not dealing directly with clients, I actually feel like I'm helping,” she said. “This is why I went into this field and that gets lost sometimes when you become a supervisor working behind a desk.”

A native Charlottean, Barbara and her husband, Richard, have two grown sons, Norris & Preble, and a 16-year-old daughter, Jade. They have one grandson, James. Their family also includes a 200-pound Great Dane, Shakespeare, and schitsu, Chloe. 

You can reach Barbara by emailing Barbara.Anglin-Law@thecommonplace.org. 

Newcomers at Common Cupboard at Mill Grove

Our communications guru, Kara, made her first trip to our Common Cupboard at Mill Grove this week and is eager to share about her experience. 

After hearing so many inspiring and encouraging stories about the Common Cupboard at Mill Grove food pantry, I knew I would enjoy my time there Monday. But I didn't expect to walk away with so many stories of my own to share.      

I was there -- camera at the ready -- to take photos for our annual newspaper and Facebook page. I snapped away as volunteers sorted and organized food on tables in preparation for those in need to "shop" for what they wanted. Bread goes here, fruit and veggies there, desserts over there. There was yogurt and juice, too. Everyone got their choice of meats and could also choose between eggs or pizza. No one left without some nonperishables, too.              

After the "shopping" started, I was pleased to be able to put the camera away and help out in small ways, like helping people search for the kinds of bread they liked. I enjoyed sifting through the wrapped loaves donated by local grocery stores in search of particular favorites: pumpernickel, rye, sliced whole wheat for sandwiches, bagels for breakfast. Oh and did we have any tortillas? We did, but they were buried and it took some digging to get to them.

Asking people "What kind of bread do you like?" as they approached the table was, I think, unconsciously a way for me to tell these neighbors in need that I am no different from them. Though they may be struggling to buy groceries, they have likes and dislikes, too. They have favorite flavors and I wanted to help them find items they would enjoy.

Before I stationed myself at the bread table, I was standing just inside the doorway waiting for things to begin. I was approached by a local senior woman who said it was her first time at the Cupboard and she didn't know what she was supposed to do. She seemed hesitant, maybe even a bit nervous. I shared that it was my first time there, too, and I had no idea what the process was. We both laughed together.

Of course, we found fellow volunteer, Rick, who got her squared away. On her way out, I asked "So, what did you think?" She replied "I loved it! I want to volunteer!"

Someone who came for help herself wants to help us? WOW!

My only regret is that I didn't go see what all the fuss was about sooner.

Want to serve on Monday nights? Fill out our volunteer application here: http://thecommonplace.org/#/volunteer-donate/volunteer