“Take our hands, work through them. Take our lips, speak through them. Take our minds, think through them. Take our hearts, set them on fire.”
Ministering to Families in Crisis
Many of our neighbors live paycheck to paycheck, making difficult choices on a daily basis between rent, utilities, food, health care, day care and so much more.
An unexpected expense can throw these families into financial crises. When that happens, people turn to the ABCCM Crisis Ministry for help. This ministry serves the low-income citizens of Buncombe County who are facing financial emergencies and are struggling to meet life’s basic needs.
Each day we see people who are working in one or more low-wage jobs, the disabled or elderly who are living on fixed incomes, and those facing increasing costs of living, stagnant wages and a lack of affordable housing. We provide them with food boxes, gently used clothing, utility and rental assistance; and a hot meal at our soup kitchen located on 1543 Patton Ave. With your support we will help ensure our families can provide a home for their children.
Filling the Gaps for Families in Need
Over 28,343 served in 2021
ABCCM’s Crisis Ministries fill the gaps for families who cannot make ends meet mostly by providing food and clothes. Nutritious emergency food boxes/bags along with clothing and blankets help meet basic necessities. Emergency utility and rental assistance funds help keep the lights and water on and prevent families from eviction.
Our Daily Bread @ Sonrise
Our Downtown lunch site has transitioned to Our Daily Bread at Sonrise, 1543 Patton Ave. To-Go meals are served from 11:30 am – 1 pm Monday – Friday.
The Crisis Ministry serves more than 21,254 hot meals last year to members of our community.
Help Kids Going Back to School
We are here to help in these times and invite those who have needs to visit the Crisis Ministry closest to them
Volunteer Needs
Receptionist/Front Desk
- Answer phone & greet visitors
- Charting & Data entry
Food Pantry/Soup Kitchen
- Sort and organize food on shelves
- Prepare “nutritional” food bags for families according to the guidelines
- Assist with keeping things clean and orderly
- Help prepare soup and sandwiches to feed hungry people (1543 Patton Ave.)
- Help carry in donations
Clothing Room
- Assist clients in finding needed clothing
- Organize the clothing on hangers and shelves
- Help identify clothing items needed for restocking
- Sort usable off-season and out-of-style clothing from usable items
Counselor
- Interview clients to assess their needs and determine possible solutions to their crisis
- Act as a referral source and work with other community agencies to provide services to clients
- Update client information
Staff Spotlight
Locations With Needs
Crisis Ministry
Receptionist/Front Desk – Monday AM (except 1st Mondays), Tuesday PM, Wednesday AM, Thursday AM & PM, Friday AM & PM
Counselor – All Shifts Needed
Pantry – Monday AM, Tuesday AM, Wednesday AM, Thursday AM, Friday AM
Clothing – Monday AM, Tuesday AM & PM, Wednesday AM & PM, Thursday PM, Friday AM & PM
ABCCM Daily Bread – Sonrise, located on 1543 Patton Ave. – Monday – Thursdays 11:30AM-1PM
Hominy Valley Crisis Ministry
Receptionist – Tuesday PM, Thursday AM
Counselors – All Shifts available (Mon-Fri 8:30AM-12:30PM or 12:30PM-4:30PM)
Clothing – Monday AM & PM, Tuesday PM, Thursday AM & PM and Friday AM & PM
Pantry – All Shifts available (Mon-Fri 8:30AM-12:30PM or 12:30PM-4:30PM)
South Crisis Ministry
Receptionist – Monday AM, Tuesday AM, Wednesday AM, Thursday AM, Friday AM
Counselor – Tuesday PM, Thursday PM, Friday AM & PM
Data Entry – All shifts
Pantry – Monday AM, Wednesday AM, Friday AM & PM
Clothing – Monday AM, Tuesday AM
North Samaritan Crisis Ministry
Counselors – Wednesday, Thursday & Friday
Donations Ministry
Receptionist/Greeter – Answer the phone, greet donors, receive items, issue receipts. 9 am to 4 pm M-F
Sorters* – Sort the variety of items given to the ministry on a daily basis, such as household goods, antiques, clothes, shoes, appliances. 9 am to 12 pm M-F
Sales Team* – The sales team would need to be available to receive donations for items at warehouse sales or through antique store-hours are various, not an every day situation, once or twice a week
*We do not want the volunteer to lift items beyond their ability so we will have a warehouse staff person available to assist.
Volunteer Opportunities Shift Hours: AM=8:30AM-12:30PM PM=12:30-4:30PM
Food Needs
- Chicken (canned)
- Tuna & salmon (canned)
- Fruits (canned)
- Meats (canned)
- Hearty soups (canned)
- Vegetables (canned)
- Cooking oil (vegetable)
- Fresh seasonal fruits
- Hot & cold cereal
- Jelly
- Peanut Butter
- Juices
- Pasta & pasta sauce
- Self-rising flour
- Sugar
Clothing & Hygiene Needs
- Shampoo/conditioner
- Deodorant
- Toothpaste & Toothbrush
- Soap
- Blankets
- Men’s Shirts (all sizes)
- Women’s & Men’s underwear
- Men’s Pants (32, 34, 36)
- Winter gloves
WHAT ARE YOU CALLED TO DO?
Volunteer Opportunities
Contact one of our Crisis Locations
Brooke Smith, Director
Crisis Ministry
24 Cumberland Ave.
Asheville, NC 28801
(828) 259-5300 (P) | (828) 259-5307 (F)
Hours: Monday – Friday 8:30 am – 4:30 pm
Vince Brown, Director
South Crisis Ministry
10 Buck Shoals Rd
Arden, NC 28704
(828) 259-5302 (P) | (828) 684-9825 (F)
Hours: Monday – Friday 8:30 am – 4:30 pm
Allen Pounders, Coordinator
Hominy Valley Crisis Ministry
1914 Smokey Park Hwy
Candler, NC 28715
(828) 259-5301 (P) | (828) 670-1220 (F)
Hours: Monday – Friday 8:30 am – 4:30 pm
John Mendenhall, Coordinator
North Samaritan Crisis Ministry
403 Weaverville Hwy
Asheville, NC 28804
(828) 259-5303 (P) | (828) 259-5313 (F)
Hours: Monday – Friday 8:30 am – 4:30 pm
Sheryl Olsen, Senior Crisis Coordinator