OVERSTOCK SALE

We've been overwhelmed with community donations lately (THANK YOU!), so it's time for a sale! Saturday, Jan. 16 through Saturday, Jan. 23:

• Clothing priced $3.99 and under = $1
• Clothing priced $4 and over = 50% off
• Shoes = 50% off
• Jewelry = 50% off 

*LIMIT 10 children's and 25 adult clothing items per person, per day. Limit 5 pairs of shoes per person, per day. (Sorry, the sale doesn't include yellow tag items, accessories, winter wear (Dept 13), intimates or scrubs).

Common Things Thrift Store
321 Indian Trail Road North, Indian Trail 

(next to Indian Trail Laundromat -- Look for the bright blue building!)
Open Tues.-Sat. 10 a.m.- 5 p.m.


*All proceeds help us feed our neighbors in need!

Gleaner's Market Jan. 29

Spread the word!

Announcing our next Gleaner's Market Friday, Jan. 29 from 10:30 a.m. to Noon. 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 an outdoor farmer's market.                 

We will have fresh vegetables, fruit, and baked goods such as bread, cakes and cookies. 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 10:30 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 call us at 704-218-9060.

The results: Our Christmas Wish

Thanks to generous community supporters, our Common Cupboard food pantries now have a working walk-in cooler and a walk-in freezer. YEAH!

We raised $12,060 during the Our Christmas Wish fundraising campaign which meant repairs for the walk-ins and much more storage space for perishable groceries like meat and produce for those in need. (Our goal was $15,000 -- if you'd like to help close the fundraising gap, you can donate online at www.commonheart.org).                          

“We're so very thankful to our friends who stepped up during the holiday season to help us make these repairs and prep for our work in 2016,” Executive Director Keith Adams said.

Remaining money from the fundraiser will be directed to feed more hungry families and the launch of the CONNECTS program and community educational workshops, known as Serving U. Common Heart's theme for 2016 is Kindness Connects.

“We know kindness connects people. The vision for our CONNECTS program is that our nonprofit can serve as a connecting point in our community. We want to connect our neighbors in need to resources and connect those individuals, churches etc. who have a heart for service with ways they can help,” Adams said. Part of that connection will happen this winter with Common Heart being chosen as a participating agency for Duke Energy's Share the Warmth program to help low income families pay for their heating bills.

You can find more information about us online at: http://CommonHeart.org.

Free tax service starts Jan. 30!

Thanks to our generous community supporters, we're busy prepping to kick off our annual free tax service on Jan. 30!

This is the fifth year we've offered free tax services, which are completed by trained and certified volunteers as part of the national Volunteer Income Tax Assistance, or VITA, program. Individuals and families with an annual household income of $53,000 or less are eligible for the free assistance. You don't even have to live in Union County to qualify!                

In 2015, our tax service volunteers filed an astonishing 279 income tax returns -- 121 more than last year. The service saved residents an estimated $65,000 in tax preparation fees and got them more than $360,000 in total refunds! Though Common Heart receives a small federal grant for the program, we depend on donations from the community to keep the free service.

“Our free tax service helps take the stress out of tax time and allows our hard-working neighbors to use the money they save on tax preparation fees for other needs, like food, rent or medical bills,” Executive Director Keith Adams said. “We serve people from all walks of life – college students, teachers, hair stylists, retail staff, local government employees and retirees.”

The free service at 116 Business Park Drive, suite A in Indian Trail, starts Saturday, Jan. 30 and is available by appointment only on Tuesdays from 3 to 8 p.m., Wednesdays from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. through April 15. To make an appointment, residents should call 704-684-9007.

Volunteer Site Coordinator Susan Ochs, of Marvin, said as she approaches her fourth year at the free tax service, she's eager to connect with new and old friends.

“We have a lot of people who come back from year to year and you kind of get to know them. You sort of catch up,” she said. “For those who we haven't served before, I want them to know that yes, it really is free. There is no catch. We prepare state and federal taxes, e-file them and they just have to sit back and wait for the return.”

Want to learn more? Visit http://CommonHeart.org.

It's not too late to become a trained tax service volunteer! Email Susan.Ochs@CommonHeart.org