Cindy Deutsch, Sandy Tilley & Jessika Tucker
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Our Mission
We start with a nourishing meal served with dignity and foster community and a path to hope for those facing hunger in their daily lives through our programs, celebrations and experiences – transforming daily interactions into personal connections and a sense of belonging.
What We Believe
- Only after one’s body and soul is nourished, can they begin to look to the future for change and a path forward
- One hungry person is too many; no one is turned away
- All guests should be treated with dignity and respect
- Sharing a meal is the cornerstone of community and hope
- People hunger for food AND belonging
- Fellowship and food are fundamental to life and community
- A caring community with no judgment, creates the condition for change
What We Have Done
- 367,000+ Meals Served. We proudly serve lunch Monday through Friday 11 am-1 pm, year round to anyone who needs our help.
- 126,000+ Lunches Served. Our Summer Bag Lunch Program for Kids serves children at risk of going hungry when school is not in session.
- Over 250 Volunteers. We offer a variety of opportunities to get involved; volunteer, donate, attend our fundraisers, spread awareness.
The Story of Angels & Sparrows
Angels and Sparrows Soup Kitchen was conceived out of what Sandy Tilley, our Executive Director Emeritus and Founder describes as a “calling”. She had just read The Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren and began to contemplate her own purpose. While she lived in a modest home herself, the surrounding community was affluent with home prices climbing well into the millions around the shores of Lake Norman, a suburban area of Charlotte, North Carolina. Like many others, she accepted the general consensus that everyone in the area lived a comfortable life. However, she began to see those who are often overlooked - the single working mom, working poor, homeless on the street corner, the exhausted, forgotten people. She said, “All of a sudden, everywhere I looked I saw poor people”. She could not get away from the idea she needed to help them so, she retired and began exploring the idea of opening a soup kitchen.
She approached community leaders and area residents and was told the same thing over and over again; “there are no poor people in Lake Norman.” However, as she began speaking at churches and civic organizations, her passion ignited interest and she began receiving donations to help her open the current facility, a 2,000 square foot building with a small backyard for gardens and a playground and a parking area up front. In July of 2007, Angels and Sparrows Soup Kitchen was established as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit with a mission to feed the food insecure families in the Huntersville, Davidson, Cornelius, and unincorporated areas of North Mecklenburg County, collectively known as Lake Norman. Ten years later, the soup kitchen has served over 300,000 meals and established several dynamic programs that address food insecurity issues, i.e., daily lunches, take home meals, the Summer Bag Lunch Program for Kids, meals transported to the homebound elderly in need, gardens, cookie program, and Christmas party for the guest’s children. The soup kitchen also partners with Point of Grace Church through My Momma’s Lap Reading Program and the Little Library.
The soup kitchen’s efforts have changed the community’s understanding of hunger in what had typically been categorized as an affluent area and has created programs that address the needs of their neighbors with dignity. In effect, the community has gone from stating “there are no poor people in Lake Norman” to “how can we help our neighbors in need?” Our 300 plus volunteers, in addition to donations from area businesses and organizations, e.g., Fresh Market, Trader Joes, Food Lion, North Meck Womans Club, Ahmadiyya Muslim Community Charlotte, Temple Kol Tikvah in Davidson, First Baptist Church of Huntersville, Society of Saint Andrews Gleaners, The Newcomers of North Mecklenburg/South Iredell, the Elks Club of Lake Norman, and numerous other civic organizations, schools, small businesses, and area residents is proof of that change.
Angels and Sparrows Soup Kitchen was recognized as the Citizen’s Choice Award Recipient for Best Nonprofit from the Lake Norman Citizen Newspaper in 2017. We were also chosen as one of North Mecklenburg Women’s Club Major Charities for the 2017-2018 funding year, and a recipient of the Publix Supermarket’s Grants for our Summer Bag Lunch Program. The soup kitchen is unique in that each program is designed to fulfill the unmet need with dignity and love. It operates solely on the hearts of our 300+ volunteers, donors, and two employees. Guests do not have to provide proof of their need, ensuring those struggling with budget issues, anyone who has just faced a major setback, or is homeless can eat a restaurant style meal served with a smile, no questions asked.
One additional marker of success is our annual 5k Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving morning. It started with only 50 runners and six years later has grown to 1,000 with numerous sponsors. The community continues to embrace our mission. Donations received have a direct impact on our neighbors in need, thanks to the leadership of our Executive Director and the many volunteers who give from their hearts on a daily basis.
She approached community leaders and area residents and was told the same thing over and over again; “there are no poor people in Lake Norman.” However, as she began speaking at churches and civic organizations, her passion ignited interest and she began receiving donations to help her open the current facility, a 2,000 square foot building with a small backyard for gardens and a playground and a parking area up front. In July of 2007, Angels and Sparrows Soup Kitchen was established as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit with a mission to feed the food insecure families in the Huntersville, Davidson, Cornelius, and unincorporated areas of North Mecklenburg County, collectively known as Lake Norman. Ten years later, the soup kitchen has served over 300,000 meals and established several dynamic programs that address food insecurity issues, i.e., daily lunches, take home meals, the Summer Bag Lunch Program for Kids, meals transported to the homebound elderly in need, gardens, cookie program, and Christmas party for the guest’s children. The soup kitchen also partners with Point of Grace Church through My Momma’s Lap Reading Program and the Little Library.
The soup kitchen’s efforts have changed the community’s understanding of hunger in what had typically been categorized as an affluent area and has created programs that address the needs of their neighbors with dignity. In effect, the community has gone from stating “there are no poor people in Lake Norman” to “how can we help our neighbors in need?” Our 300 plus volunteers, in addition to donations from area businesses and organizations, e.g., Fresh Market, Trader Joes, Food Lion, North Meck Womans Club, Ahmadiyya Muslim Community Charlotte, Temple Kol Tikvah in Davidson, First Baptist Church of Huntersville, Society of Saint Andrews Gleaners, The Newcomers of North Mecklenburg/South Iredell, the Elks Club of Lake Norman, and numerous other civic organizations, schools, small businesses, and area residents is proof of that change.
Angels and Sparrows Soup Kitchen was recognized as the Citizen’s Choice Award Recipient for Best Nonprofit from the Lake Norman Citizen Newspaper in 2017. We were also chosen as one of North Mecklenburg Women’s Club Major Charities for the 2017-2018 funding year, and a recipient of the Publix Supermarket’s Grants for our Summer Bag Lunch Program. The soup kitchen is unique in that each program is designed to fulfill the unmet need with dignity and love. It operates solely on the hearts of our 300+ volunteers, donors, and two employees. Guests do not have to provide proof of their need, ensuring those struggling with budget issues, anyone who has just faced a major setback, or is homeless can eat a restaurant style meal served with a smile, no questions asked.
One additional marker of success is our annual 5k Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving morning. It started with only 50 runners and six years later has grown to 1,000 with numerous sponsors. The community continues to embrace our mission. Donations received have a direct impact on our neighbors in need, thanks to the leadership of our Executive Director and the many volunteers who give from their hearts on a daily basis.