A Rebound client recently wrote this thank you letter:

I know this is supposed to be a letter thanking Charlotte Rescue Mission for their help and support in my recovery efforts; but I feel I must thank God first because I know what it was he who placed his organization in my path. Thanks be to God!

Now let me say that this has truly been an enlightening experience for me. Over the many years of me trying to not only stop using drugs but just trying to live life on a daily basis I have only been recently able to do this because of Rebound. The staff here at Rebound along with the twelve steps has given me a glimpse of what living in the real world can truly be like. I say a glimpse because I know that I would only be fooling myself if I thought, “This is it”, I believe that God has plans for me and this is only the beginning. There is so much potential left in this 49 year old man it’s unbelievable.

From the various classes and structured events, volunteers, and yes even other clients, I’ve learned that if I give myself time to slow down, watch, and listen, I’ll come to the realization that I can be who I was really meant to be.

The staff here has been really motivational and inspirational in my efforts here. I like the “Meet you where you are approach.” I came here with the attitude of ‘gotta get mine’ but I’m leaving with the feeling of helping the next man get theirs also. It’s not about me all the time.

I truly do appreciate all you guys have done for me and my goal is to someday pay it forward somehow. I know God has led me here and He’s not done yet. May He continue to bless all those who support this mission and work to rebuild the lives of broken men.

A CRM volunteer recently said,

For a long time my goal for Sunday after church was to watch the game or the race and take a nap. That was until I served at Charlotte Rescue Mission for the first time. God made it very clear to me that day that the souls of men are more important than the goals of men. That was about 8 years ago. I can’t tell you how much I have been blessed by serving up there all these years including my most recent trips.

Read the rest of the story on Pastor Derwin Gray’s blog.

Whether you are an individual, group, church, business or school, we have plenty of ways for you to serve.

How to Volunteer
We ask all new volunteers and all leaders for volunteer groups to attend a Talk & Tour orientation, which we host twice a month. Click here for a list of scheduled Talk & Tour dates.  The Talk & Tour sessions last about one hour, and the Thursday tours are followed with lunch. Please RSVP by contacting Rosalie Brillante at 704-334-4635 ext. 260 or rosalie.brillante@charlotterescuemission.org.

Mealtime at the Mission
In 2011, Charlotte Rescue Mission’s greatest volunteer need is for groups to provide, prepare and serve meals to our 140 Men’s Rebound Program residents, also known as “Mealtime at the Mission”.  Grab your Sunday School class, coworkers, youth group, civic group, or your family and friends to provide and serve breakfast, lunch, or dinner at the Mission. Your group can do something really special and help change lives at the Mission by providing a meal for our residents!

What to do: After a group leader attends a Talk & Tour orientation and schedules a meal date, plan your menu, purchase your food, cook it up (at the Mission or your place), and enjoy serving and socializing with our residents.  If your group would prefer, we can purchase the food for you to cook and/or serve and simply reimburse us for the cost of the meal ($200 for breakfast and $300 for lunch/dinner meals).

Commitment info: We have onetime opportunities as well as opportunities for groups that want to volunteer regularly on a monthly, bi-monthly or quarterly basis.

Number of Volunteers Needed: We can accommodate groups with as few as 4 people or as many as 25.

Meal and Shift Times: The total shift time is typically 3 hours.  If your group is cooking the meal at the mission, you should have at least a few volunteers arrive at least 1.5 – 2 hours  prior to serving time, then serve for 45 minutes and help with basic clean-up for the last 15 minutes.  On weekdays breakfast is served from 6:30-7:15, lunch from 11:00-11:45 and dinner from 5:00-5:45. Weekend breakfast and lunch times vary.

Requirements: Provide the food for the meal or make a donation and we will buy the food for you.  We provide beverages and desserts.  If you are bringing the food, your group would only be required to provide the main course and side items.

We have plenty of weekday breakfast, lunch and dinner meals available as well as limited breakfast meals available on Saturday and Sunday.  Please also see our volunteer policy.  If you are interested in finding out more information or would like to reserve one or more meals for your group, please contact Andria Tindall at andria.tindall@charlotterescuemission.org or call 704-334-4635 Ext. 214.

If you are interested in volunteering, please attend a Talk & Tour, and fill out our volunteer application. You can receive this by email, fax, mail or pick one up at any  Talk and Tour. You can call Andria Tindall at 704-334-4635 ext 214 or email her at andria.tindall@charlotterescuemission.org for more information.

Charlotte Rescue Mission Volunteer Policy
Dec 2011

 VOLUNTEERING OPPORTUNITY

Charlotte Rescue Mission provides volunteering opportunities for every person that is willing to serve.  Minimum age restrictions will apply to various volunteer opportunities. Criminal background checks may be required of all volunteers. Where appropriate, Charlotte Rescue Mission will select volunteers with particular religious beliefs that support our mission statement and Christian ministry.  All matters relating to volunteering are based upon ability to perform the job, as well as dependability and reliability, once placed.

CHRISTIAN MINISTRY

Charlotte Rescue Mission operates as a Christian ministry.  It is expected that volunteers uphold the teachings and ministry of the Mission.  This includes:

1. We believe that there is one God, eternally existent in three co-equal persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
2. The deity of Jesus Christ and his atoning sacrifice and death on the cross for the forgiveness of our sins.
3. We use the 12 steps of Alcoholics Anonymous, identifying the higher power as Jesus Christ.

While some volunteers may be of a different world religion or no religion, it is expected that they do not do anything to undermine the teachings and ministry of the Mission.  This includes proselytizing clients to their religion as well as distribution of literature or other information.

AGE REQUIREMENT FOR INDIVIDUAL VOLUNTEERS

1. The minimum age to volunteer on Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter is 5.
2. Children ages 5-12 can volunteer in the dining room but not in the kitchen.
3. The minimum age for an independent individual volunteer (not with a group) is 18.

 AGE REQUIREMENTS FOR VOLUNTEER GROUPS

1.         To volunteer with a parent or chaperoned group, all volunteers must be accompanied by

1 sponsor for every 15 youth.

Charlotte Rescue Mission hosts a ‘Talk & Tour’ twice a month. This event gives our donors a chance to take a tour of our facilities, meet the staff and learn about volunteer opportunities.  They last about an hour and begin promptly at 12 or 5pm.

Talk & Tour also doubles as our “volunteer orientation” which is required for anyone who wants to volunteer at the mission.

Talk & Tour is a great way for donors to see how their money is being used at the mission and will give those interested in volunteering a chance to learn about volunteer opportunities.

If you are interested in visiting the mission please call Rosalie Brillante at 704-334-4635 x260 or you may email her at rosalie.brillante@charlotterescuemission.org.

2012 Talk & Tour Schedule

Monday, January 9      
5 – 6p

Thursday, January 19               
12 – 1p

Monday, February 6
5 – 6p

Thursday, February 23
12 – 1p

Monday, March 5       
5 – 6p

Thursday, March 22
12 – 1p

Thursday, April 12
12 – 1p

Monday, May 7
5 – 6p

Thursday, May 24          
12 – 1p

Monday, June 4
5 – 6p

Thursday, June 21          
12 – 1p

Monday, July 9
5 – 6p

Thursday, July 26                    
12 – 1p

Monday, August 6
5 – 6p

Thursday, August 23
12 – 1p

Monday, September 10
5 – 6p

Thursday, September 20
12 – 1p

Monday, October 1
5 – 6p

Thursday, October 18
12 – 1p

Open House (12-2) Date To Be Determined

Monday, November 12
5 – 6p

Thursday, December 6
12 – 1p

Click Here to take a Virtual Tour

Yesterday, Rev. Tony Marciano and Jean Davis, of United Family Services, co-signed a document for the sale of the property on West Blvd.  This property will be divided between the two organizations.  United Family Services will build a facility for battered women and Charlotte Rescue Mission will build our new Dove’s Nest facility to offer recovery programs for addicted women.

See the video from WCNC below:

Also see the video and story from News 14

And here from MSNBC

We are looking for individuals who are passionate about Charlotte Rescue Mission and will represent CRM at your church.

You would be asked to:

1. Notify the Mission of changes in Church Staff
2. Organize groups that may want to do collection drives (pick up our barrels)
3. Relay contact information fo the person responsible for deciding how the Mission can get in the Church budget for funding.
4. Encourage the church or a group in the church to prepare meals at Rebound or Dove’s Nest.  Rebound would need about 12 – 15 to prepare a meal (M@M), Dove’s Nest 2 or 3 women to prepare a meal at home and bring it due to DN’s small kitchen.
5. Recruit volunteers to “man” our display table at Mission Fairs.
   

If you are interested, please email Tim Troutman at timt@charlotterescuemission.org