By AMY FREEZE, DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR
Since 1939, The Christian Mission has been a catalyst that empowers the community to become advocates and serve those in need to achieve an improved quality of life. Through collaboration with the community, the Mission exists to break the cycle of poverty by providing crisis assistance, case management, educational programming and community engagement. The Mission serves Mooresville, Cleveland, Troutman, Mt. Ulla and Mt. Mourne.
The Mission’s core programs fall into three “buckets” – crisis assistance, ongoing stabilization and individual betterment. Crisis assistance includes rent and utility assistance, the client choice food pantry and the resource store. Last year, the Mission prevented 810 individuals from becoming homeless – almost double the number from the prior year. The client choice food pantry allows clients to choose nutritional foods to meet their needs. Last year, the Mission distributed $1.5 million worth of food into the community.
The second bucket, ongoing stabilization, offers case management. Client navigators meet clients where they are and offer one-on-one case management to help clients set goals, budget, access resources and receive referrals to other local agencies. The Mission also offers a senior companion program wherein the Mission packs senior food boxes three times a month for seniors who cannot get to the pantry. The boxes are delivered, and the deliveries also serve as a wellness check.
Individual betterment, the third bucket, is the Mission’s life skills classes. Life skills is a 10-week program offered several times throughout the year. The classes focus on topics such as budgeting and financial literacy, credit repair, resume building, job preparedness, mental health resiliency, conflict resolution, car maintenance, goal setting and more. The Mission has also begun teaching these skills in the local schools, helping students learn these skills upon graduation.
On May 1st, the Mission opened its new location at 919 N. Main Street. In this location, not only will the Mission continue these services but will also be able to expand services to help more clients and to help them more effectively. With this new space, the Mission has added a computer lab, more than 1100 square feet of classroom space, a conference room and private offices for client navigators to work with clients.
The new space also houses two partner agencies – the Iredell County Partnership for Young Children and NC Works. With these, the Mission now serves as a hub – serving ages birth to seniors.
The Mission’s work comes at a time when the need for help is higher than ever before. With the cost of living rising 20% since 2020 and the cost of food rising 30%, the Mission’s client base continues to increase. More than half of Iredell County residents struggle to afford their rent, paying more than 30% on rent alone. In fact, according to the North Carolina Housing Coalition, the fair market rent across Iredell County is $1,387. That means, one must earn $26.67 an hour to afford it. These are teachers, restaurant workers, firefighters, childcare workers who cannot afford to live in the community in which they work. We all know someone who needs our help. The Mission, then, is critical because it provides the only rent and utility assistance program in southern Iredell County. Without the Mission, these individuals and families would have no place to go.
A fun way you can help is by joining in the Mission’s 15th Annual Turkey Trot 5k and Fun Run. Held on Thanksgiving morning, this is an event for the whole family. Last year, more than 1,600 runners participated! The race begins and ends at the Mission, and the route runs through Church Street and Main Street in downtown Mooresville. If you are interested in running, sign up now! If you are interested in helping to sponsor the race, see the email below.
With expanding programs and increasing need, there are two other ways the community can become involved. One, by giving. This year’s goal shows a 13% growth over last year across all programs so that we can serve more clients and serve them more effectively. That is quite a gap in funding, and you can help fill that gap.
Two, by volunteering. There are opportunities for every skill and ability level. Opportunities for the pantry, resource store, warehouse and more are all located on our website. The Mission could not operate day to day without its volunteer base.
Celebrating 85 years this year, the Mission is so thankful for this community and its support. It is this community that steps up to help in so many ways, not just the Mission’s programs but the clients it serves, as well. Behind every number is a name, and behind every name, there is a story. Each person who walks through the doors of the Mission can be met with kindness, respect and compassion thanks to this community who provides basic needs and who offers hope.
The Christian Mission is located at 919 N. Main Street in Mooresville. For more information, visit thechristianmission.org, email [email protected] or call 704.664.2357. Hours of operation are 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays.
