FFC and our partners have been
busy spreading the word about
our mission! Check out Family
Partner, Erica Walker, and her
Family Liaison, Martha Kinney,
on WCNC Charlotte!
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Families Forward was also
highlighted on WBTV News On Your
Side Tonight. Check out our
founder, Carrie Christian, and
one of our Family Liaisons,
Ashley Snider, as they share
their "why" and the impact our
program is having on the lives
of local families. We appreciate
SHARE Charlotte for making the
connection!
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In
the past month we have seen
many forms of success!
Program participants
reported the following goal
accomplishments:
Rashonna,
Gerlie, Maurice, Jasmine S,
and Natasha all found
housing!
Katrina
paid off two of her credit
cards!
Teresa
completed five job
applications!
Tera
found part time
employment!
Jade
enrolled her son in summer
camp!
Abreka
got her car repaired and
enrolled her child in school
for next
year!
Treiva
paid off debt and her
children have had perfect
school attendance for four
months!
Jasmin
finished her CNA 2 class and
paid off her past due
rent!!
Brea-Ana
purchased her own
vehicle!
Shanika
looked into school options
and canceled unnecessary
subscriptions to save
money!
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"I
have seen the work
in
action..."
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Deborah
Barkley has supported our
mission in many ways over
the past 7 years and we
recently asked her to share
why she is so passionate
about helping the community
in this way. We appreciate
her sharing her connection
to our mission!
"My
mother was responsible for 6
children under the age of 9
when an alcoholic
husband/father left and our
family situation at that
time is how I imagine FFC
families might be... caught
in an unbearable and
unbeatable situation. I know
that what I am able to give
to this very worthy
organization is helping a
family find a way to better
care for themselves. And,
because I have known one of
FFC's founders through my
church, the determination I
saw in her to start FFC
impacts my trust in giving.
I have also seen the work in
action as I volunteered with
the children while parents
attended workshops, and I
coordinated essential basket
collections for the families
through my church. I also
tell everyone about FFC
because I trust the
organization to make the
most of my contribution and
I pray for families to find
ways to a more stable and
secure life, and for the
incredibly loving and
well-informed staff of FFC
and their dedication to FFC
families."
Thank
you for everything you do,
Deborah!
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A
monthly gift makes it
possible to provide support
to the families in our
program as they work to
build a better future.
Emergency housing for
homeless families, a deposit
for housing, or
transportation to get to
work are just a few of the
vital needs our families
experience on their journey
to long-term
stability. YOU make it
possible by becoming a
sustaining member of
FFC!
Make
a monthly commitment today
through the link below and
you will also get special
quarterly updates just for
Sustainers!
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Nadine
Morgan (pictured above left)
really does it all.
She is a wife, mom, and
realtor but recently she
added the titles of Family
Liaison mentor and Board
Member to the list!
Nadine started volunteering
with Families Forward when
she hosted a donation drive
among her clients in
December of 2022. Once
she learned more about FFC's
mission she was moved to
apply to be a Family Liaison
mentor where she has been a
successful partner to Tera
(pictured above right).
We are so thankful
for Nadine's unwavering
partnership and willingness
to support our mission to
end intergenerational
poverty!
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Tina
Harris (pictured above left)
is a new Family Liaison
mentor who enrolled in the
Fall of 2023 and was
assigned to work with
A'Shae. Tina has supported
and guided A'Shae as she
worked to find full-time
employment, completed a
budget, and as she recently
secured permanent housing.
Tina has been very
resourceful in helping
A'Shae navigate challenges
and has also been
intentional about showing up
for her. Tina has been in
great communication with FFC
staff regarding A'Shae's
needs and has attested to
how motivating this
partnership has been for
her.
A'Shae
sent this message for Tina,
"Thanks for always being
available for my kids and
me, nothing goes unnoticed
and we’re beyond
grateful!”
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We
dedicated the month of May
as our Donor Appreciation
Month!
Sardis Presbyterian
Church one of
our long-time partners
providing grants,
volunteers, and in-kind
donations for our program
families. From donating and
packing Essential Baskets to
packing Weekend Food Packs,
we are grateful for their
partnership and willingness
to serve.
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Park
National Bank
has been a contributor
through our Corporate
Partnership Program and
shared, "At Park, our
communities are more than
just where we live and work;
they’re where we build our
lives and lay the foundation
for future generations to
flourish. Our organization
is proud to partner with
Families Forward as they
strive to empower Charlotte
area families to overcome
intergenerational poverty
and achieve economic
stability. We look forward
to continuing our
partnership to provide hope
for the future of families
in our community through
financial support and
educational
opportunities."
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Every
year Jessica
Trimmer donates
amazing, personalized gifts
to our program participants
through her small business,
XO Jessica. During the
holidays, she takes the time
to embroider personalized
stockings for every child in
our program. She has also
donated other gifts, such as
key chains with each Mom's
initials for our Mother's
Day gift bags. She is so
generous with her time and
talent and we are so
grateful to
her!
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And,
Providence Baptist
Church has
consistently supported FFC
through donations and
contributions, volunteers,
as well as allowing us to
use their facilities before
we had our own Program
Center. Dane Jackson
of PBC shared, "The
mission of Families Forward
Charlotte and the ministry
they provide is critical and
important work. They are
helping to restore and renew
families in our community,
not just through education,
mentoring, and other
essential support, but
through relationships
grounded in mutual respect.
We are honored to call
Families Forward Charlotte
partners AND
friends."
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Wrapping
Up The School
Year!
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Thank
you to the groups who have
packed weekend food packs
this spring! This program
provides bags of food for
children in food-insecure
households over the weekend
when they don't have access
to the meals provided by
their school. It is
essential in helping kids
thrive in school and
beyond!
Agia
Elpis Philoptochos Ladies
Group at Holy Trinity Greek
Orthodox
MOPS
(Moms of Preschoolers) at
Carmel Presbyterian
Salty
Fish Fellowship Group at
Sardis Presbyterian
Church
SeedSpark
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Family
Fun Day!
This
month our Family Partners,
Family Liaisons, Board
members, and staff gathered
at Providence Baptist Church
to kick off summer with our
third annual FFC Family Fun
Day! We celebrated with
delicious food, a bounce
house, outdoor games, and
shaved ice. It was a
beautiful day to gather and
celebrate the start of
summer!
Thank
you to all of the local
businesses and organizations
who helped make our Family
Fun Day extra spectacular
this year! We are so
thankful for your
partnership and
donations!
Southminster
(donated desserts)
Adams
Beverage (donated
drinks)
Campbell's
Soup Company (donated chips
and hot dog buns)
Providence
Baptist Church (provided
space and games)
1,2,3,
Jump
CSF
School Academy
Now
It's a Party
Don
& Dona Ramsey (donated
peanuts and clothing
items)
Arts
+ (jewelry making)
Beyond
Smiles
Love
Speaks Out
Jennifer
Temps, INC
LEAD
Tools (donated Summer
Kits)
Deloitte
(donated Summer Kits)
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