Rockin' fun for kids!

Many of the children our volunteers have served this month have gotten an extra special treat thanks to our friends at the Union County Community Arts Council -- rock painting kits!!!

These fun arts projects are being handed out to families with children who come to one of our evening pantries throughout the county. We can't tell you how many SMILES we've seen with these special gifts!

Barbara Faulk, executive director of the Arts Council, said her 40-year-old nonprofit organization donated about 230 of the kits and is "pleased to support Common Heart’s mission to serve the vital needs of our community" with adding some art enrichment.

"Our organization believes that the arts fulfill a basic human need to create, design, explore and engage in an activity that brings joy and happiness through challenging times," Barbara said. "It is our pleasure to support Common Heart’s mission by showing our love, compassion and kindness."

 

Did you know the Arts Council also provides: 

.  Arts in Education – cultural arts programs and services serve all Union County schools by promoting education, character and moral development.  Programs address bullying, inclusion, diversity and self-esteem.  Over 45,600 students were served in 2020 through UCCAC arts education programs.

.  Community Programs – Community outreach is a goal of UCCAC, sponsoring dozens of cultural events each year.  Over 130,000 residents received the benefit of community events in 2020.

.  Grant Programs – offering grant opportunities for Union County artists and art organizations and for system-wide teacher and school projects related to the arts.  Over $160,000 was awarded to artists, artists organizations, schools and community organizations in 2020.

For more details, visit www.unionarts.org or find the Arts Council on Facebook!   

THANK YOU ARTS COUNCIL!!

Common Things -- we're going online!

As our regular shoppers know, we were transitioning into ShopPhilanthropic Boutique when COVID hit which stopped us in our tracks. 

BUT it's not goodbye!!         

We saved the "best of the best" from our brick & mortar shop and you'll see many of those items for sale online in the coming months via Ebay and our our newly created Facebook auction group! You can join now (for FREE!) -- just search for Common Heart Auction Group and click "join." We'll be launching our first online auction fundraiser soon.

And YES items can be shipped to winners nationwide (with shipping charge) or you can pick up from our office in Indian Trail, NC. Invite your friends and family to join us! 

Like always ... every purchase will help feed our neighbors in need and support other programs to help families living in poverty!

Regular shopper Tina says Common Things was her "favorite shopping place" and she "can't wait" for the auctions to start!
Sharon posted "I am just heartbroken about the closing but I will continue to support you online." 

We'll also be selling shirt & pant hangers in bulk and still have a few rolling shelving fixtures for sale. If you're interested in either of these, email Kara.Lopp@CommonHeart.org.  

For almost 10 years, we have loved getting to know YOU -- our amazing Common Things shoppers & donors -- and hope you'll continue to follow and support us during this transition. For many, Common Things was their first introduction to the life-changing work of Common Heart. Your purchases have helped fund this "small revolution of kindness"... and we're not done yet!! Many thanks to all our volunteers and staff who served so diligently over the years!

**We aren't able to take any donations at this time. We recommend our friends at Turning Point's Second Chance Boutique (with locations in Monroe & Waxhaw).

Moving into Marshville

Have you heard??

We've moved supplies and furniture into what will soon be the East Union Economic Empowerment Center in Marshville and the place is really taking shape!

This 3,850 square-foot facility located at 6022 West Marshville Blvd., will serve as a staging area for this small revolution of kindness for our eastern Union County food pantries and outreaches. It will bring needed food resources to the most underserved areas of Union County. It will also become a hub of activity for volunteers and serve as collaborative space for partnering agencies to reach out to these communities.  

Our new addition in Marshville!
6022 W. Marshville Blvd.

It will be a beacon in this community for Economic Empowerment lifting folks out of poverty and creating new future stories for families living in survival 
mode.

Since April, we started a more concentrated effort of serving in the area thanks to a partnership with our new friends at Wingate Baptist Church. The church hosts a drive-thru food pantry every Tuesday evening and our neighbors in need are taking note! 

One neighbor messaged us last week to say she couldn't believe how "nice and friendly" our volunteers were. She didn't feel like a number...she felt like a person! She felt like someone cared about her struggles (we do!).

We're committed to help not only the current needs of our neighbors with food, but provide the tools and resources to help people get back to work and out of poverty.


In the coming weeks, we'll be starting the hunt for volunteers who would like to serve in this new food pantry space. To get involved, email Volunteer@CommonHeart.org.

 Shelving is going up and the nonperishables are moving in!