• Serving lunch Monday through Friday 11am - 1 pm, year round to anyone who needs our help.
Angels and Sparrows Soup Kitchen in Huntersville, NC
  • 514 N. Old Statesville Rd,​ ​
    Huntersville, NC 28078
    Mail Donations to:
    ​P.O. Box 315, Huntersville, NC 28070
  • (704) 918-0122​
    Monday - Friday
  • info@angelsandsparrows.org
    Send us an email
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    • Thanksgiving Meal Box
    • Christmas Meal Box
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    • Thanksgiving Turkey Trot 5k
  • Home
  • About Us
  • Volunteer
    • What's it Like?
    • Volunteer Training Videos
  • Give
    • Give a Gift
    • Immediate Needs List
    • Grocery Box for a Family
  • Programs
    • Main Programs
    • Thanksgiving Meal Box
    • Christmas Meal Box
  • In the News
  • Upcoming events
    • Thanksgiving Turkey Trot 5k

THE DISH - March 2021 | Issue XI

3/30/2021

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​The Cycle of Food Insecurity

Last month we talked about some of the causes of food insecurity and the cascading effects it can have that are detrimental to the family, their health, and the learning and development capabilities of children and adults experiencing it. But, did you know that the community as a whole also bears a cost when families are food insecure?

​Food and hunger are fundamental. It is not something you can ignore. Think about a camping experience with no comfy bed, power, or heat. While it could be a challenge, as long as you were fed, you could handle it. Hunger is not the same thing. Our bodies tell us when we are in need of more fuel through hunger pangs, headaches, fatigue, and dizziness. Some of us may become grouchy and find it hard to concentrate. These signs, along with the fact that families experiencing food insecurity are also often facing other challenges in life at the same time, make it impossible for adults not to employ coping mechanisms. Tradeoffs become a must and adults may cope by using the method of "treat or eat", meaning they will cut back on needed medication, serve smaller meals, or skip some meals or medicines altogether.

The body remains in stress mode. This stress makes it more difficult to make decisions that benefit them in the long run, and they instead implement short-term fixes that remove the immediate pain. (This is a phenomenon called "tunneling" and we will talk about it in future letters.)


Simultaneously, healthcare costs may rise as the body misses out on needed nutrition and/or medication, there is lost productivity at work, lower earnings, and lower academic achievement among the children, entrenching the family further in food insecurity. The cycle continues.

One study found that "living at less than 200% of the federal poverty line results in a net loss of 8.2 years of quality-adjusted life expectancy at age 18". The increase in healthcare costs associated with food insecurity has been estimated at $160.7 billion in one year alone. Communities miss out on the potential ingenuity, productivity, and vibrancy these families can add to our society. The community as a whole bears a cost when families are food insecure.

While addressing food insecurity won't solve all of the problems families may face, it is a major step toward a downward spiral. Your gifts ensure families don't slide so far down that slippery slope.

You are making an impact when you interrupt the Cycle of Food Insecurity! Thank you for all you do!
​INSIDE THIS ISSUE
  • VACCINE CLINIC
  • WELCOME PROJECT OUTPOUR
  • BY THE NUMBERS - FEBRUARY IMPACT
  • FACEBOOK FUNDRAISERS
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Vaccine Clinic Held at Angels & Sparrows

88 Senior Citizens Received
​Both Doses of Pfizer Vaccine
Relationships are as important to us as the delicious meals we prepare. Throughout the pandemic, our volunteers have continued to check-in with our guests regularly via phone calls or talks when they come to pickup lunch. We do this to ensure our guests' needs are being met and that we either provide additional assistance as necessary or point them to other resources when it is beyond our scope.

We became concerned for our senior citizens when we learned many of them had not scheduled appointments to get the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. In speaking with them, we learned that many didn't have the technology or know how to schedule an appointment, lacked transportation, or were unable to travel far distances in their car.

A team of staff members and volunteers met to discuss possible ways for us to help our senior citizens obtain their first dose. Angels & Sparrows submitted a request to Mecklenburg County and was approved as a site to host a vaccine clinic for our guests age sixty-five and older. ​

On Friday, Feburary 26, eighty-eight senior citizens, and others who met eligibility requirements on that date, received their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine at Angels & Sparrows! Seniors returned on Friday, March 19 to receive their second dose.
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Many of our seniors shared with us that they probably never would have received the vaccine if we had not taken steps to host the clinic!  We are grateful to Mecklenburg County for partnering with us and to our volunteers who made sure everything flowed smoothly on the vaccination days. 

Welcome Project Outpour!

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Project Outpour Brings Mobile Shower
​Unit to Huntersville
On Monday, March 1, we began our partnership with Project Outpour, a Charlotte nonprofit providing shower access to persons moving through homelessness.

​Project Outpour's mobile shower unit will be at Angels & Sparrows every Monday between 11:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. No appointments are necessary and each individual will receive the hygiene items necessary, as well as the opportunity to receive clothing from Lydia's Loft.

Thank You!

By the Numbers
So far, 2021 is reflecting an 82% increase over the beginning of 2020, pre-pandemic era.  This is due to an increase in the number of families we are serving and the increase in need among the families we serve.  

​Thanks to the generosity of our donors, we are able to provide meals, fresh groceries, and grocery boxes of non-perishable goods as needed.  We have not had to turn any families away!
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​Facebook Fundraisers

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Looking for a Way to Help?
In 2020, we received $7,100 in gifts raised by our followers on Facebook!​

You can host a fundraiser on Facebook for Angels & Sparrows anytime. Some people like to do it around the time of their birthday, but anytime is the right time to help us Take Hunger off the Table!

Use this link and host your own Facebook fundraiser to benefit those experiencing food insecurity today!

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Angels & Sparrows to Partner with Project Outpour

3/12/2021

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact:
Jessika Tucker
Executive Director
Angels & Sparrows Soup Kitchen
Jessika@angelsandsparrows.org
704-650-7232

Cindy Deutsch
Director of Development
Angels & Sparrows Soup Kitchen
Cindy@angelsandsparrows.org
847-340-5102
​
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Providing Access to Shower Facilities for Those Who are Struggling
Angels & Sparrows, a Huntersville nonprofit addressing the issue of food insecurity in North Mecklenburg County, has announced its partnership with Project Outpour, a Charlotte based nonprofit that operates a mobile shower unit.  Project Outpour will offer their mobile shower service at Angels & Sparrows every Monday beginning March 8, 2021.  
"Many families are struggling to meet basic needs and paying for rent will often trump paying the water or electric bill if that's what it takes to stay in their home," explained Jessika Tucker, Executive Director at Angels & Sparrows, "Project Outpour's mobile showers will benefit not only homeless individuals, but these near-homeless families as well.  We're not just taking hunger off the table, we're restoring dignity to our most vulnerable guests."
Angels & Sparrows experienced a 73% increase in the number of meals provided through their kitchen and pantry in 2020.  The increase began immediately with the announcement of North Carolina's Stay at Home Order in March, 2020.  "Our guests work in the job sectors most affected by the pandemic," said Tucker, "Despite the relaxing of restrictions that has allowed businesses to increase their hours, many of our guests have not returned to work, or if they have returned, they are working reduced hours."
"We appreciate Angels & Sparrows' invitation to bring our mobile showers to Huntersville.  Not all people moving through homelessness live in the city-center, but often choose more secluded, less visible places to stay, including Huntersville and other surrounding areas.  We are grateful to be able to meet and serve these individuals where they are," said Laura Gorecki, Project Outpour's Executive Director.  Project Outpour's mobile shower unit will be at Angels & Sparrows every Monday between 11:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m.  No appointments are necessary and each individual will receive the hygiene items necessary, as well as the opportunity to receive clothing from Lydia's Loft.  
About Angels & Sparrows
Angels & Sparrows provides a Community Table for guests to enjoy a free, nutritious meal five days a week without requiring proof of need.  Since 2007, meals have been served cafe style allowing guests and volunteers to mingle and enjoy life together through stories, laughs, sometimes tears, and often a hug.  The kitchen is fully supported through gifts from area residents, businesses, and grocery partners.  Though the COVID-19 pandemic has altered the method by which meals are provided, the spirit of community and cohesiveness despite race or creed persists and and has allowed the organization to meet the incredible spike in need.  Angels & Sparrows provided 213,627 meals in 2020, a 73% increase from 2019.   
About Project Outpour
Project Outpour provides shower access to persons moving through homelessness, alleviating suffering and promoting holistic health and dignity.  To learn more, visit www.projectoutpour.org.
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THE DISH - February 2021 | Issue X

2/18/2021

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Why Food Security is Our Mission
In This Issue
We’ve all experienced “hunger” at one time or another. You know, that rumble in your belly that occurs when too much time has passed between meals. FOOD INSECURITY is different. It’s the uncertainty of the availability of food needed on a consistent basis due to a lack of sufficient income or resources. 

It’s inherently tied to income and it’s caused by factors including unemployment, underemployment, a medical crisis, rising cost of living, stagnant wages, lack of access to transportation, and single parent households among other things. It can be triggered by something as simple as a car repair and it could be your neighbor next door, the person assisting you at the drive-through window, or the customer service representative on the other end of the phone line.

Food insecurity has cascading effects such as malnourishment, which can lead to mental and stunted physical development in children, aggression, behavioral problems, anxiety, and depression. It can cause a weakened immune system which can lead to illness that prevents breadwinners from working, increases in healthcare costs as well as the chance of hospitalization. Food insecurity can lead to more food insecurity or worse. 

Our “Why” is simple. A well-nourished person is one who can seek fulfilling employment and educational opportunities that allow their potential and talents to be fully realized – leading to a stronger and more vibrant community. 

The volunteers and staff of Angels & Sparrows each have their “why” for joining our mission. Reasons range from personal experience to wanting to share their blessings with others. 

You have also joined us in the fight to end food insecurity. We'd love to know your "why." Email us and let us know!​

  • Feeding our Healthcare Heroes
  • Cereal Drive
  • January Impact
  • Amazon Smile
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NOURISHING OUR HEALTHCARE HEROES
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​As predicted, January brought a huge number of patients experiencing complications from COVID-19 to Novant Huntersville. The increase, according to a hospital spokeswoman, was the result of people not heeding warnings to avoid celebrating the holidays with people who live outside their household. Doctors, nurses, and staff at the hospital in Huntersville were so inundated, they had no time to take a break!

Our contact (and Angels & Sparrows volunteer) Jen Huskey, from Novant Huntersville's Community Engagement team, reached out to see if we could help feed their staff as they provided critical care to patients during the COVID-19 spike. Of course, we said yes! Angels & Sparrows proudly provided more than 1,000 bag lunches to feed the healthcare heroes at Novant Huntersville!

You can help the team at Novant Huntersville by wearing a mask around those who don't live in your home, washing your hands frequently, and maintaining a distance from others of 6 feet or more when you're outside of your home!
TAKE HUNGER OFF THE BREAKFAST TABLE
National Cereal Day is March 5!
​Each week, we provide boxes of non-perishable groceries to families in need of additional assistance. Unfortunately, we have not always been able to provide a box of cereal to families with children.

Because the number of families we are serving has increased dramatically, we are now distributing close to fifty boxes of cereal each week! Boxed cereal is one of the most costly items on our Immediate Needs List. As such, it is not an item we can afford to replace when our supply runs out!

In fact, last month, we did run out! We contacted Jason Colvin, from Jason Colvin State Farm, to see if he could help replenish our supply. And, he's helping in a BIG way! Jason is holding a cereal drive from now until National Cereal Day on March 5!

To date, 831 boxes have been collected toward our goal of 1,000 boxes! You can help by picking up a box of cereal the next time you visit the grocery store. Boxes can be delivered to Jason's office, located at 9525 Birkdale Crossing, Huntersville, Suite 204, or delivered to Angels & Sparrows weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

Thank you for helping us take hunger off the breakfast table!
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Jason Colvin and his son Carson are collecting boxes of cereal!
THANK YOU!
By the Numbers
​Historically, January is a pretty slow month for us. The cold, damp weather usually keeps our guests, who typically walk, bike, or take public transportation from venturing out. Despite the weather, we continue to see an unprecedented need. In January, we provided 21,005 meals through our kitchen and pantry - a 45% increase from last January!

We can't fulfill our mission without the generosity of our donors and the dedication of our volunteers! Thank you!
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AmazonSmile
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Take Hunger Off the Table While You Shop!
Use AmazonSmile and take hunger off the table for a struggling family at the same time! AmazonSmile has the exact same items as Amazon. The only difference is 0.5% of your sale will be donated to us!

Begin shopping by using our unique linkand we'll automatically be designated as your AmazonSmile charity! Click here to view our Amazon Immediate Needs List.
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THE DISH - January 2021 | Issue IX

1/18/2021

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CHRISTMAS PARTY FOR KIDS
Angels & Sparrows Soup Kitchen hosted its annual Christmas Party for Kids on Friday, December 18, 2020. The ticketed event, sponsored by Covia Corp., was exclusively for the children of families who visit the soup kitchen on a regular basis. One hundred and eighty-five children attended the party. Each child received three gifts, in addition to a stuffed animal, book, holiday portrait, and take-home meal from Tenders Fresh Food.
 
"At a time when families have scrambled to meet basic needs and children were facing the possibility of no gifts to open Christmas morning, Covia Corp. enabled Angels & Sparrows to bring much needed smiles to children in need in our community. Covia's generosity embodies what Angels & Sparrows is all about, seeking not only to nourish the body with dignity, but looking beyond physical nourishment to other ways a community can show love and care for our neighbors in need. We are grateful for their partnership in serving our guests with dignity."
 
Volunteers served as personal shoppers for the children who attended. Angels & Sparrows began collecting toy donations in October and the Marines' Toys For Tots Program provided the bulk of toys needed for the event.  Toys were also donated by Amazon, as well as from students at Lake Norman Charter School, and individual donors who purchased toys from Angels & Sparrows' Amazon Wish List. The number of people allowed in the building for the  event was limited and additional safety protocols were in place to allow for social distancing and a safe environment for guests and volunteers. 
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
  •   Holiday Meal Box Program Impact
  • Economic Impact
  • Ways You Can Help
  • Community Partners
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HOLIDAY MEAL BOX PROGRAM
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Our Holiday Meal Box Programs, which provided families with a traditional holiday  meal for Thanksgiving and Christmas, were a tremendous success!

Because of the generosity of numerous individuals, churches, businesses, civic organizations, and community partners, we were able to provide 426 meal boxes to families in need, resulting in 2,066 individuals celebrating the holidays at home, with dignity.  

Gifts from The Peninsula Community Foundation and Rotary Club of Huntersville Lake Norman enabled us to provide a ham or turkey to each family that received a Holiday Meal Box for Thanksgiving and Christmas.  Thank you to EVERYONE who delivered or gifted a Holiday Meal Box to make the holidays memorable for the families we serve. 
​MANY STILL SUFFERING ECONOMIC IMPACT OF PANDEMIC
Low Income Families Hit Hardest
According to Feeding America's Map the Meal Gap survey, food insecurity among children in Mecklenburg County has risen from 15.2% in 2018 to 24.1% in 2020.  

This data supports the increases we have experienced serving our guests.  In addition to providing meals in our drive through, we also offer our guests emergency groceries.  During 2019, we provided 91,058 meals through our emergency pantry alone.  In 2020, we provided 142,963 meals through our emergency pantry - a whopping 57% increase!

As we begin the new year, we are resolute in our mission to eliminate food insecurity in North Mecklenburg County.  We began the first week of 2021 providing a week's worth of groceries to fifty-three families.  We will continue to provide groceries through our emergency pantry, deliver meals to homebound seniors, and deliver groceries to families who lack transportation.  
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OPPORTUNITIES TO HELP US FULFILL OUR MISSION!
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​Ways You Can Help!
Did you know there are many ways to help us fulfill our mission besides donating food?  Here are some significant ways you can help us fulfill our mission to nourish our neighbors in need:

Can your gift be matched?  Many companies offer to match their employee's contributions to organizations that are important to them.  To see if your company participates, check out this site or talk to your Human Resources Department. 

Follow us on social media pages.​  Angels & Sparrows is active on Facebook and Instagram.  Be sure to Like and Follow our pages to stay abreast of what's happening at the soup kitchen.  You can help us even more by sharing our posts!  When you share a post, it increases our visibility and informs people who otherwise may not be aware of Angels & Sparrows and our mission.  

Save your plastic bags.  We use hundreds of plastic grocery bags each week!  We appreciate receiving clean, plastic grocery bags for packing groceries and meals.  

Sustaining Giving Club.  Become a member of The Cupboard Club, a group of generous donors who make a recurring gift each month to sustain Angels & Sparrow's mission.  You can set-up your monthly recurring gift here or contact Cindy Deutsch at Cindy@AngelsandSparrows.org for more information.  

Use Amazon Smile for your Amazon Purchases.  AmazonSmile has the exact same products, same low prices, and same convenient shopping experience as amazon.com, with the added benefit of generating donations for charity, at no additional cost to you!  Simply designate Angels & Sparrows as your charity and we'll receive .5% of the purchase price!

​
THANK YOU TO OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS
Each week, our volunteers pickup hundreds of pounds of food from our grocers in the community including The Fresh Market in Cornelius, Huntersville Target, Huntersville Publix, and Trader Joe's in North Charlotte.  

Food items are brought to the soup kitchen, weighed-in, and sorted.  Sorted items, such as fresh produce, are used for the meals we prepare each weekday.  Other items, such as canned goods and dairy products, are shared with our neighbors in need.  

Together, these grocers provided 130,875 pounds of food equating to 109,063 meals in 2020!  We are grateful for their ongoing support of Angels & Sparrows' mission and encourage you to thank them the next time you shop in their stores.  
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The Economy Hasn't Recovered for Our Neighbors in Need

1/12/2021

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​Media Contact:                                                                                   FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Jessika Tucker
Executive Director
Angels & Sparrows Soup Kitchen
jessika@angelsandsparrows.org
(704) 650-7232
 
Cindy Deutsch
Director of Development
Angels & Sparrows Soup Kitchen
cindy@angelsandsparrows.org
(847) 340-5102
ANGELS & SPARROWS ANNOUNCES ANNUAL IMPACT
The Economy Hasn’t Recovered for Our Neighbors in Need​
Huntersville, NC, January 5, 2021 - The Economy hasn’t recovered for our neighbors in need.  In 2020, Angels & Sparrows Soup Kitchen provided a record-breaking 213,627 meals from their kitchen and pantry in Huntersville, NC.  This is a 73% increase over meals provided in 2019 as the number of families and scale of their need increased dramatically. 
 
“The families we serve have been hit the hardest by this pandemic and recovery for those already in poverty is a lot slower than for those in the middle-to-upper income levels” said Jessika Tucker, Executive Director of Angels & Sparrows.  “The crisis has clarified exactly how exposed a large portion of our community can actually be while others are affected in entirely different ways.”
 
Angels & Sparrows met the increased need by providing daily meals and fresh groceries via a drive-through service.  In addition, they provided home delivery of meals and groceries to seniors and families who had lost access to transportation due to the pandemic.  They also provided grocery boxes of non-perishable food items to families in need, Holiday Meal boxes to ensure families were able to celebrate Thanksgiving and Christmas, and provided other emergency assistance on a case-by-case basis. 
 
“Many families are trying to live off of part-time jobs or are still without a job due to the COVID-19 crisis.  Families are having to make the decision between which essentials are most critical such as rent, versus utility bills or food, and many were finding themselves on the brink of homelessness without options.” 
 
The organization’s ability to scale the number of meals needed on a daily basis and provide additional services with little notice belies the size of their small 2,000 square foot building.  "It is the reflection of a community that cares as evidenced by the outpouring of support received from donors and volunteers who provided extraordinary assistance with the increased effort to nourish the growing need in the North Mecklenburg community", said Tucker. 
 
“While many nonprofit organizations shut down, Angels & Sparrows not only stayed open, we rallied and continually met the growing need among our neighbors.  We could not have done this without the incredible response we received from the community.  We exist because of the generosity of our donors and volunteers.  We were able to make an unimaginable impact because of them,” said Tucker.  To learn more about Angels & Sparrows Soup Kitchen, visit www.Angelsandsparrows.org
 
About Angels & Sparrows
Angels & Sparrows provides a community table for guests to enjoy a free, nutritious meal five days a week without requiring proof of need.  Since 2007, meals have been served café style allowing guests and volunteers to mingle and enjoy life together through stories, laughs, sometimes tears, and often a hug.  The kitchen is fully supported through gifts from area residents, businesses, and grocery partners.  Though the COVID-19 pandemic has altered the method by which meals are provided, the spirit of community and cohesiveness despite race or creed persists and has allowed the organization to meet the incredible spike in need.  Angels & Sparrows provided 213,627 meals in 2020, a 73% increase from 2019.  For more information, visit www.angelsandsparrows.org.

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COVIA Corp. Sponsors Christmas Party for Kids at Local Soup Kitchen

12/31/2020

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Huntersville, N.C., January 4, 2021 –   Angels & Sparrows Soup Kitchen hosted its annual Christmas Party for Kids on Friday, December 18, 2020.  The ticketed event, sponsored by COVIA Corp., was exclusively for the children of families who visit the soup kitchen on a regular basis.  One hundred and eight-five children attended the party. Each child received three gifts, in addition to a stuffed animal, book, holiday portrait, and take-home meal from Tenders Fresh Food.

 "At a time when families have scrambled to meet basic needs and children were facing the possibility of no gifts to open Christmas morning, COVIA Corp. enabled Angels & Sparrows to bring much needed smiles to children in need in our community. COVIA's generosity embodies what Angels & Sparrows is all about, seeking not only to nourish the body with dignity, but looking beyond physical nourishment to other ways a community can show love and care for our neighbors in need. We are grateful for their partnership in serving our guests with dignity."  

The Marines' “Toys For Tots” Program provided the bulk of toys needed for the event.  Toys were also donated by Amazon, as well as students at Lake Norman Charter School, and individual donors who purchased toys from Angels & Sparrows' Amazon Wish List.  COVIA provided the funding needed for food, decorations, photography, treat bags.  Volunteers served as personal shoppers and assisted with set-up and tear-down of the event.  The number of people allowed in the building for the event was limited to allow for safety protocols and proper social distancing for guests and volunteers. 

###

About Angels & Sparrows
Angels & Sparrows provides a community table for guests to enjoy a free, nutritious meal five days a week without requiring proof of need.  Since 2007, meals have been served café style allowing guests and volunteers to mingle and enjoy life together through stories, laughs, sometimes tears, and often a hug.  The kitchen is fully supported through gifts from area residents, businesses, and grocery partners.  Though the COVID-19 pandemic has altered the method by which meals are provided, the spirit of community and cohesiveness despite race or creed persists and has allowed the organization to meet the incredible spike in need.  Angels & Sparrows provided 213,627 meals in 2020, a 73% increase from 2019.  For more information, visit angelsandsparrows.org.

About COVIA Corp.
COVIA is a leading provider of diversified mineral solutions to the oil and gas, glass, ceramics, coatings, metals, foundry, polymers, construction, water filtration, sports and recreation markets. The Company serves its Industrial customers through a broad array of high-quality products, including high-purity silica sand, nepheline syenite, feldspar, clay, kaolin, resin systems and coated materials, delivered through its comprehensive distribution network. COVIA offers its Energy customers an unparalleled selection of proppant solutions, additives, and coated products to enhance well productivity and to address both surface and down-hole challenges in all well environments. COVIA has built long-standing relationships with a broad customer base consisting of blue-chip customers. Underpinning these strengths is an unwavering commitment to safety and to sustainable development, further enhancing the value that COVIA delivers to all of its stakeholders. For more information, visit CoviaCorp.com.
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Download the Latest Copy of 'The Dish'

10/22/2020

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a_s_october_2020_newsletter_p.pdf
File Size: 2479 kb
File Type: pdf
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White Summit Capital Supports Angels & Sparrows' Ongoing COVID-19 Response

9/1/2020

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
 
Contact:
Cindy Deutsch
Director of Development, Angels & Sparrows
704-918-0122
cindy@angelsandsparrows.org
 
Jean Leier
Director of Corporate Affairs, I-77 Mobility Partners
980.337.2394
jleier@i77partners.com
​

WHITE SUMMIT CAPITAL SUPPORTS ANGELS & SPARROWS’ ONGOING COVID-19 RESPONSE
As impacts of pandemic persist, I-77 Express investor White Summit Capital AG contributes $15,000 to Angels & Sparrows soup kitchen in support of local community.
​
Charlotte, N.C., September 1, 2020 – Angels & Sparrows announced today White Summit Capital AG (WSC), an investor in I-77 Express, has contributed $15,000 to provide meals and nourishment to those in Huntersville and surrounding communities. The economic impact of the pandemic has left families in difficult financial circumstances, in many cases facing food insecurity as they see income decrease or eliminated. As a result, Angels & Sparrows has experienced an unprecedented 91 percent increase in the needs of existing guests and a surge of new guests over the last several months.

​Since the beginning of the pandemic, Angels & Sparrows has provided more than a combined 72,508 meals through its emergency food pantry and soup kitchen. Over 15 weeks, the organization has pivoted from café-style meals to providing drive-through service and delivery food options for homebound seniors or families without transportation. The nonprofit has also mobilized volunteers who check-in with guests to ensure their needs are being met.

“At this time of crisis, when the understandable impulse would be to turn inward and focus on the needs of your own family, we are instead seeing our community and businesses look outward to help their neighbors in need.  Our guests feel the embrace of our donors through the phone calls, meals and groceries we are able to provide because of their generosity,” explained Jessika Tucker, Executive Director of Angels and Sparrows. "We are grateful to White Summit Capital for their gift. Their generosity ensures we can continue to meet the increase in need we are experiencing because of the current health crisis."

WSC is an investor and asset manager in the global infrastructure and energy sectors.  Locally, WSC serves as an investment partner in the I-77 Express project providing enhanced connectivity through the Lake Norman region between Charlotte and Mooresville, NC.

“White Summit Capital brings a partnership-based strategy to our portfolio and our support of coronavirus response efforts in communities like Huntersville,” said Stefan Kreher, Chief Operating Officer of White Summit Capital. “Our partnership in I-77 Express means we, alongside I-77 Mobility Partners and Ferrovial, are committed to the vibrant communities along this corridor. We are proud to partner with Angels & Sparrows to provide nourishment and foundational support to families in this time of great need locally and around the world.”
​
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​
About Angels & Sparrows
Angels & Sparrows provides a community table for guests to enjoy a free, nutritious meal five days a week without requiring proof of need.  Since 2007, meals have been served café style allowing guests and volunteers to mingle and enjoy life together through stories, laughs, sometimes tears, and often a hug.  The kitchen is fully supported through gifts from area residents, businesses, and grocery partners and receives no government funding.  Though the COVID-19 pandemic has altered the method by which meals are provided, the spirit of community and cohesiveness despite race or creed persists and has allowed the organization to meet the incredible spike in need. 


About White Summit Capital
WSC is a long-term investor and asset manager specialized in the infrastructure and energy sectors, with over €1.4 billion of managed infrastructure investments to date. Headquartered in Zug, Switzerland, WSC has offices in Madrid, London, and Mexico City with a total of 18 operational and transactional professionals. 

​
About I-77 Mobility Partners
I-77 Mobility Partners LLC is financing, developing, designing, constructing, operating and maintaining the 26-mile I-77 Express corridor as part of the first-ever public-private partnership with the North Carolina Department of Transportation.
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A Community's Response to     Unprecedented Change

7/1/2020

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A lot has changed at Angels and Sparrows since the COVID-19 crisis hit our community and Governor Cooper announced the Stay at Home order effective March 30th.  
 
Angels and Sparrows immediately experienced a surge in the number of guests in need.  Some who only needed our services occasionally, suddenly needed us daily.  Initially, families arrived with wary expressions on their faces while children screamed gleefully in their cars at the prospect of staying home from school.  This quickly changed to long lines of cars with parents anxiously awaiting their meals and children quietly observing the discussions between their parents and our staff regarding needs which ranged from groceries, to gas money, and more recently the fear of not being able to catch-up paying for rent - and the potential for eviction.  New families experiencing loss of hours at work, furlough, or unemployment for the first time, joined those who already depended on us to make ends meet.      
 
Our process changed too.  We were forced to modify how we serve our guests from café style to a drive-up format to accommodate the need for social distancing and the tremendous increase in numbers being served.  We began delivering meals and groceries to our at-risk, homebound seniors.  We noticed more families carpooling, households consolidating to help reserve the little funds left, and the need for home delivery began to include not only homebound seniors, but also families who lost access to transportation due to the inability to pay for gas or bus fare.    
 
However, here’s what did not change.  YOU, the community stepped up as you always have when you heard our resources had been depleted by the surge in need and our necessity to pivot and provide more food than ever.  Your families came early in the morning or joined the long lines of those receiving meals to drop off groceries – many of which were used the very day you dropped them off.  Still more of you donated online, allowing us to fill the gaps among the food received and what we still needed.  
 
And, here’s something else that did not change – the love and care with which we serve our guests.  A command center of volunteers who could no longer serve in person due to health risks began calling guests at home to check on them.  New volunteers joined our team to help us sort food, put together boxes of groceries, or hand out meals – sometimes in the blistering heat and lately in the pouring rain. YOU, the community, are the heroes who enable us to show our neighbors in need that we not only care, but we care deeply.  
 
Your donations enabled us to handle a 91% surge in need compared to last year and since the beginning of the crisis through June, we were able to provide the following:
 
  • Over 47,000 meals through our emergency pantry
  • Over 13,000 meals from our kitchen 
 
And, we keep progressing.  You see, the calls we made that first week didn’t stop.  They have continued now each week for 15 weeks in a row.  This has allowed us to remain in constant contact with our guests and hear how they are being impacted by this crisis, and to take the necessary steps to provide further assistance.  We are inculcating the new families into our family and showing them how this community cares.  Calls that were initially brief check-ins have evolved into lengthy discussions celebrating triumphs, such as when a new baby is born, or providing comfort when a guest shares with us that they’ve lost a family member to COVID-19.  
 
Our guests have expressed their gratitude in a myriad of ways, from sending thank you cards, letters, and artwork created by their children to sharing homemade cakes and pies they’ve baked for our volunteers.  Each note or letter we receive expresses gratitude for the impact our work has made on their family.  
 
So, to the community, we say THANK YOU!  You are the heroes on the front lines doing anything you can for those whose lives have been devastated by this unprecedented crisis.  Our guests feel your embrace at a time when they need it the most.  
 
Our work is not done. The needs have not diminished and the number of families who need meals and groceries continues to grow.  Even though the Stay at Home order has been relaxed, many of our guests who work in the accommodations and food services industry continue to experience few hours, if they have been able to find work at all.  They are still struggling to provide for their families.  
 
Here is what you can do to continue to cushion the blow these families are experiencing:  
 
  • Hold a food drive in your office or neighborhood.  Contact Cindy@angelsandsparrows.org for the current immediate needs list or visit our website at www.angelsandsparrows.org.
  • Make a monetary donation.  We were forced to cancel our annual fundraising dinner scheduled for May 8th.  We are unsure if we will be able to hold our Thanksgiving 5k, which is our only other fundraiser.  We depend on these events to fund our operations.  
  • You can double your impact by checking to see if your company offers a matching contribution for your charitable gift. 
  • We need bakers!  Each weekday, our guests receive a homemade dessert provided by volunteers who love to bake.  We suggest making cookies or brownies.  Please avoid anything with frosting.  Desserts are placed in Ziploc bags for distribution.  We need 250 desserts each weekday, so any amount you can donate will help.
You remain a vital part of our mission and we appreciate your continued support in nourishing our neighbors with dignity.  Without your help, a crisis such as this will continue to have cascading consequences for the families we serve.  Follow us on social media (Facebook, Instagram) to receive operational information and updates to our immediate needs list.  Also, please feel free to reach out to me directly with any questions or concerns.  
 
With gratitude,
 
Jessika Tucker
Executive Director
Angels and Sparrows
 
 
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We Are an Essential Business & Remain Open

3/26/2020

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​At Angels and Sparrows, we strive to be good stewards of the resources given to us and the most precious of those includes YOU, the community.  You consistently support us with your time and donations and most recently, this has been amidst the COVID-19 crisis. We appreciate the outpouring of support and donations you have provided to us and it has been absolutely needed!
 
We recognize and appreciate these donations come at a cost to your family in order to support other families in need, so we want to keep you informed about our continued operations in light of the Stay at Home Order issued by Mecklenburg County yesterday.  As our guests will attest, we are considered an Essential Business and, therefore, are permitted to continue operations.  In fact, our services will be needed now more than ever.  This means travel to and from our establishment to drop-off donations is permitted as well.
 
There were significant changes to our culture and operations last week as we adapted to the need for social distancing and we learned a lot through this process.  One thing we noticed is a tremendous increase in the need for our services.  In fact, we experienced a 42% increase in the number of meals provided in just one week!  Our peak day was an 86% increase.  Many guests who only visit occasionally, showed up each day seeking help.  Several conveyed they were scrambling to provide for their families while grappling with fewer hours at work or facing complete layoffs. 
 
Meanwhile, donations from our grocery partners diminished.  In response, we quickly emptied many of our pantry items typically reserved for meal preparation to alleviate some of the stress our guests were experiencing.  Your generous donations were also used immediately as emergency grocery items for our guests or in our kitchen to meet the increased demand for meals.    
 
While this crisis continues to be distressing for everyone, we expect our community will continue to experience the after-effects of COVID-19 for a long time and have re-strategized how we will continue providing meals with limited resources and increased demand.
 
Angels and Sparrows intends to remain the valuable resource we have always been in the community.  We recognize we will simply have to show we care by using other methods.  A new approach we have already implemented is making phone calls to our guests to check on their wellbeing and ascertain special needs. This has been well received and many have acknowledged feeling lonely, isolated, and missing the spirit of community usually experienced together at Angels and Sparrows.  We won’t allow our culture to diminish during this crisis and we expect programs and partnerships will emerge and evolve as we continue to address the needs of our community. 
 
Please continue to bring your donations to the kitchen.  Hours for food donation drop-off next week will be Monday through Friday between 8:30 a.m. and 10:30.  We ask that you please honor these hours so we can move guest vehicles in and out of the parking lot safely during service hours.  Monetary donations are greatly appreciated because they allow us to fill in the gaps in needs versus supplies.  We will keep our website and social media updated as our needs change with the increased demand. 
 
You remain a vital part of our mission and we appreciate your continued support of Angels and Sparrows.  Please feel free to reach out to me directly with any questions or concerns.
 
Thank you,
 
Jessika Tucker
Executive Director
Angels and Sparrows Soup Kitchen
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    Angels and Sparrows Soup Kitchen serves lunch Monday through Friday 11am to 1pm.

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​We are a faith-based organization who welcomes all people.
Angels and Sparrows Soup Kitchen is a nonprofit exempt organization as described in Section 501(c)(3) of the IRS code.  EIN# 32-0200979.
Financial information about this organization and a copy of our license is available from the State Solicitation License Branch (919) 807-2214 or (888) 830-4989 for NC residents.  Charitable Solicitation License #SL011784.
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