Announcing our next Bridges Out of Poverty workshop!

Want to make a difference in our community for those in poverty? Join us Aug. 13 to get the training and tools you'll need to get started! 

We're excited to announce our next Bridges Out of Poverty workshop is Saturday, Aug. 13 from 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. at St. Francis United Methodist Church, 4200 McKee Road, in Charlotte.    

Bridges Out of Poverty is based on the book of the same name and helps prepare community members to address poverty more effectively. It is through the understanding of the issues of poverty that we can become more effective in removing barriers and helping families as they journey to self-sufficiency. This workshop is truly paradigm-shifting!

Bridges Out of Poverty provides concrete tools for a community to prevent, reduce, and alleviate poverty.  

Materials used and strategies developed are focused on:  

• Moving individuals from poverty to self-sufficiency  
• Reducing social costs related to crime, poor health, and welfare  
• Strengthening educational attainment and job skills  
• Improving on-the-job productivity  
• Revitalizing neighborhoods  
• Building a sustainable community where everyone can live well

Cost is $50 with book and workbook or $25 with workbook only. Repeat students may attend for $10. Register today.

Learn how to better serve people in poverty

Have you ever wondered how you can help people in poverty get out of "survival mode" and into stability?

Our Executive Director Keith Adams will be sharing a "Bridges Out of Poverty"-inspired message this Sunday (June 19) during the 8:30 and 10:30 a.m. services at St. Francis United Methodist Church, 4200 McKee Road in Charlotte. All are welcome!

Using Scripture from Deuteronomy and the Gospel of John, Keith will share the mental models of poverty, class & wealth and how they can affect our lives. He'll help us understand the barriers for people in poverty and how we can better serve them.

"We want to mobilize the faith community to understand poverty and equip people to serve," Keith said.

Our Daily Bread (literally!)

We're so very thankful to our friends at St. Matthew Catholic Church for highlighting our Common Cupboard food pantry in their current e-newsletter. Faithful St. Matthew volunteers pick-up and deliver excess bread and other bakery treats from local stores to help us feed our neighbors in need through their Our Daily Bread ministry.  

Check it out!

http://files.ctctcdn.com/0b300250101/f621a7f2-86b5-4101-9c37-b2fc55e18161.pdf

Catch the Cupboard on the go!

Our Common Cupboard food pantries will be on the move this month, bringing fresh produce, bread, meat and nonperishables to Waxhaw and Marshville.

The “mobile” food pantries are part of the federal TEFAP (The Emergency Food Assistance Program) and are open to any local resident who receives food stamps or has a household income less than 200% of poverty. (Visit http://TEFAP.CommonHeart.org to see if you qualify).

All sites will be open 10 a.m.-Noon.

-Monday, June 13: Amazing Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church, 1416 N. W. Main St., Waxhaw

-Wednesday, June 15: Christ Bible Discipleship Worship Center, 1019 Unarco Road, Marshville

-Wednesday, June 29: Christ Bible Discipleship Worship Center, 1019 Unarco Road, Marshville

The mobile pantries are in addition to weekly TEFAP walk-in food pantries: Mondays from 7-8 p.m. at Mill Grove United Methodist Church, 7311 Mill Grove Road, in Hemby Bridge and Thursdays from 7-8 p.m. at Union United Methodist Church, 6315 New Town Road, in Waxhaw. A raffle system is used to determine order of service, so guests are encouraged not to arrive before 6:45 p.m.

For more information, call 704-218-9060.

Please share with anyone who needs food!