John 1:14, “The Word became flesh and blood, and moved into the neighborhood.”
At the Neighborhood C.A.R.E Center in Cornelius, NC, you’ll find faith-based programs and a hope-filled environment – all served with a generous helping of love!
Since opening in 2016, the center has been empowering neighbors to take steps towards a stable future, offering both immediate and long-term solutions to enrich their quality of life.
“The Neighborhood C.A.R.E. Center is a plant from Grace Covenant Church in Cornelius. Lead Pastor Farrell Lemings, Pastor Michelle Holverson and other church leaders had a vision to be the hands and feet of Christ, in the heart of the town of Cornelius,” shares Director Manny Rosado. “We share property lines with Smithville, one of the oldest African American communities in Mecklenburg; and on the east, we serve the area where Cornelius Elementary is located. Basically, we serve from the Cashion Gas station on Route 21 to the Cashion on Route 115.”
The group has a roster of more than 300 families with whom it stays in contact and also a large Hispanic population it guides and serves. This time of year brings so much opportunity to share hope, faith and love.
“November is a big deal for us with Thanksgiving the focus. We call it LoveGiving,” Manny adds. “In December, we host our biggest Manna for Life food distribution with an event every second Saturday of the month. We celebrate Christmas Manna that comes with grocery bags and Food Lion Feed Boxes. Our youth serve hot grilled sandwiches and hot chocolate; and during the month, we also engage in an angel tree that serves more than 200 neighborhood kids.”
Beautifully named, LoveGiving is built around churches and organizations signing up for delivery to an area in the Smithville community, reaching approximately 190 families. Names, contact information and family size are provided to each organization, and community leaders assist each group with delivery. This year’s delivery will take place November 23rd from 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. and will include, at minimum, enough to feed a family of four.
Year round, most of the C.A.R.E. Center’s learning programs are instructed by volunteers who live in the community. Working with Manny, the center has a paid staff of one full time employee onsite and one part time employee. Flor Jankowiak is the faith and community coordinator who also works with youth.
Manny finds working with volunteers his biggest inspiration!
“Their attitudes towards making a difference in people’s lives is commendable; their dedication to sharing their knowledge to teach with excellence also challenges me to strive to be the best I can be,” he shares. “I’ve been working in the nonprofit sector for 21 years, and empowering neighbors by helping them develop their God-given gifts and talents is a passion. Age doesn’t matter. Faith, hope, options and opportunities is my formula. The C.A.R.E Center is the place where our neighbors experience these things.”
Some of their life-changing outreach programs include the Gear Up Bike Shop, where kids learn and earn bikes through community service; the Power Up Electrical Class that provides hands-on skills training for adults and future job options; The Table – an outreach focused on seniors (the group is presently assisting at Renaissance at Antiquity; an over-55 affordable housing apartment complex); Financial Education Freedom – a class where students learn the fundamentals of money management through financial literacy classes; and Y-Life Dreams, where kids have the opportunity to go to summer camp, on retreats and mission trips.
“We have one student, Ismary Sanchez, who was delivering with Uber Eats but not making much money. After graduating in April of 2024 from our Power Up Electrical Class program, Ismary is progressing in life. She started working with Elevated Staffing as an apprentice and, three months later, received the company’s employee of the month award. Ismary was offered a job with the company she was working with through Elevated, accepted the position and now is earning $25 an hour. This is empowerment that inspires.“
Any time the center is open, you’ll likely find folks from the neighborhood using computers and WiFi to complete resumes and job applications.
It’s a clearcut mission that truly changes lives! “Connect people in need to community resources and volunteers to community partners. Advance people with life skills and recovery programs. Reduce pressures on single parents and families in distress. Equip the next generation for success.”
The Neighborhood C.A.R.E. Center is located at 19711 Smith Circle in Cornelius, NC, 704.255.5500. Learn more about their programs and sign up to volunteer at neighborhoodcc.org (just click the volunteer tab) and follow them on Facebook and Instagram @neighborhood_care_center. Hours are Monday through Friday 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. and Saturday 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
