BY DEBBIE PAGE

The Iredell Homeless Collaborative is busy serving the county’s most vulnerable unhoused community members in encampments and motels during the hot summer months.

To fund its services, Fifth Street Ministries is holding “Christmas in July,” the nonprofit’s largest fundraiser of the year, to help get through the summer months when financial contributions and material donations typically decline.

This online auction and bake sale is ongoing until Tuesday, July 23, at 6 p.m. Check out the wide array of auction items at https://new.biddingowl.com/fsm.

Another part of the July fundraiser is a drive-thru meal on Sunday, July 21, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 1421 Fifth Street. Cost is $15 (cash or check). The meal includes pork BBQ, pesto chicken, potato salad, broccoli coleslaw, rolls, homemade desserts, and water.

Fifth Street Executive Director Michele Knapp said the nonprofit also offering a new program to provide case management for up to two years for shelter residents to help ensure they don’t become homeless again.

“We will also be connecting them to other community resources to assist with mental health treatment and substance abuse treatment. The goal of this program is to reduce the number of unsheltered,” she said.

The Cove Church in Statesville has a Tuesday night drive-thru cookout every Tuesday from 6 to 7 p.m. Groceries and clothing are also available for those in need.

Mooresville Christian Mission is offering substance use and mental health support for those in need of help as well as scholarships for treatment and transportation. The agency also offers food, household items, clothing, furniture, and case management. Call Sandy Tabor-Gray at 704-664-2357 for more information.

FOOD RESOURCES

Many families are struggling in the face of inflation, and Iredell County has a number of food resources for community members in need.

Fifth Street Ministries delivers community food boxes once a week to households in need of assistance. Call 704-872-4045 for more information.

Other resources include Yokefellow Ministries (704-872-7677), Iredell Christian Ministries (704-924-6700), Mooresville Christian Mission (704-664-2357), Salvation Army (704-872-5623), Iredell Coast (704-380-0203, FeedNC (704-660-9010), Matthew 25 in Harmony (704 -546-5859), Watermark Church in Troutman area (980-217-4240).

Fifth Street Ministries (1421 Fifth Street in Statesville) offers free three hot meals daily in its community kitchen. Feed NC (2456 Charlotte Highway in Mooresville) offers breakfast and lunch Monday through Friday (https://www.donoghuesopendoor.com/) with a wide menu selection.

RECENT EVENTS

♦ Foundation of Hope Ministries’ and the Boys & Girls Club’s third annual Community Fun Day on July 13 at the club facility was a great success. The organizers thank G4G Ministries Inc. for cooking hot dogs and hamburgers, Food Lion, the Statesville Police Department, the Iredell County Sheriff’s Office, the Statesville Fire Department, Iredell County EMS, Any Second Bail Bonding LLC, Abby Trent, Angela Matthews, Old Time Concessions, and The Cove Church-Statesville Praise Team, all the community agency vendors, and the generous volunteers.

Participants enjoyed water games, bounce houses, face painting, games, music, arts and crafts, and free treats such as popcorn, snow cones, and ice cream.

♦ The first QPR/CPR/Narcan training for persons struggling with homelessness, hosted by Goodwill Industries NWNC, kicked off in late May, with at least three more sessions planned for the rest of this year.

The idea for this unique and first of its kind training program began several months ago during a homeless collaborative call discussing the offering of QPR training for the area homeless population.

Organizers then realized the value of adding CPR training and Narcan administration training as well to these men and women who are often in need of this kind of support.

Iredell Homeless Collaborative community partners involved in the planning and facilitation of this event include Fifth Street Ministries, Foundations of Hope Ministries, Goodwill Industries, Iredell County EMS Community Response Support Team, Partners Health Management, Statesville Police Dept, and Be Well Iredell, a United Way program.

Eight trainers from these community partners assisted Iredell County’s most vulnerable and at-risk population, with CPR, Narcan training, and Overdose Awareness facilitated by Iredell EMS Community Response Support Team. Partners Health Management facilitated the QPR (Question, Persuade and Refer) suicide prevention training.

The 18 participants also received educational materials and other resource information. Mi Pueblo Mexican Grill graciously provided lunch to all participants and trainers.

SERVING AGENCY NEEDS

♦ Fifth Street’s kitchen needs include coffee, creamer, sugar, bulk pepper, breakfast meats, cases of bottled water, canned vegetables (potatoes, corn, peas, green beans), pasta, rice, dry beans, spaghetti sauce, canned soups/soup mixes, seasonings, eggs, milk, canned fruit, fresh fruit and vegetables, flour, napkins, plastic utensils, kitchen towels, Dawn dish detergent, and large and small trash bags.

With up 150 people in Fifth Street housing, client needs are many, including Tylenol, Aleve, ibuprofen, cough syrup and drops, allergy relief meds and eye drops, cold/flu meds, antibiotic ointment, hydrocortisone cream, Chapstick, shampoo, deodorant, feminine hygiene products, reusable water bottles, paper towels, tissues, toilet paper, laundry detergent, stain remover, bleach, air freshener, cleaning products, absorbent cleaning cloths, Chlorox wipes, towels and washcloths, twin sheet sets, and pillows.

♦ Fifth Street’s Path House needs feminine products, detergent, deodorant, bottled water, cleaning supplies, paper towels, tents, sleeping bags, and ready to eat foods, and canned meals with pop tops (soups, stews, pasta, etc.) for those that it supports.

Other agency needs include size 5 and 6 diapers and cleaning supplies for My Sister’s House and cleaning products, paper products dishwasher pods, laundry detergent, towels and washcloths for the Veteran’s House.

Donations for all these Fifth Street programs can be brought to Fifth Street at 1421 Fifth Street in Statesville.

♦ The EMT Community Response Support Team, which works directly with the homeless population in encampments, needs bug repellent, sunscreen tents, sleeping bags, bottled water, and non-perishable, ready to eat foods and snacks. Donations can be delivered to the EMS/CRST at 404 Bristol Drive in Statesville.

♦ Foundation of Hope Ministries, which provides services to the homeless, those in need of drug or alcohol treatment, and those re-entering the community after incarceration, needs bug spray, sunscreen, tarps, sleeping bags, tents, bottled water, and non-perishable, ready-to-eat foods. Call 704-622-5603 to arrange drop off or donate monetarily online at https://fohminc.org/our-donations/.

NEXT MEETING

If interested in joining to help the efforts to eliminate homelessness in Iredell County, the next Iredell Homeless Collaborative meeting is on Wednesday, August 7, at 10 a.m. Contact Michele Knapp at mknapp@fifthstreetministries.com to be added to the Zoom meeting.