United Way of Iredell County Partner Agency Spotlight: Fifth Street Ministries
ADDRESS: 1421 Fifth Street, Statesville, NC 28687 (P.O. BOX 5217)
PHONE: 704-872-4045
EMAIL ADDRESS: afreeze@fifthstreetministries.com
WEBSITE: www.fifthstreetministries.com
Executive Director: Michele Knapp
Board Chair: Amy Lawton
Number of employees: 41
Services provided: Emergency and transitional night shelter; community kitchen; domestic violence/sexual assault shelter; veterans transitional house; and PATH house, a resource for the chronically homeless to shower, do laundry, access the internet and get connected to other services
Number of clients served in last year: 1,026
What is the best way for someone to contact your agency to access services? Is there an application process? Call 704-872-4045. When someone calls, the office will do a shelter inquiry (a series of questions). This is taken to staff for approval. Upon approval, someone is admitted to the shelter. The community kitchen, though, is open to all residents and community members for lunch and dinner with no questions asked.
Describe the role that volunteers play: Volunteers are key for our organization and mission. Here, volunteers cook and serve meals, organize the pantry and freezer, sort the clothes closet and other basement items. Volunteers also help with building upkeep—painting and cleaning, landscaping—across all of our service facilities. Prior to COVID, volunteers hosted game nights, movie nights, craft nights for residents. Volunteers are also food-run drivers, helping us to pick up food at local grocery stores and restaurants seven days a week, every single week. Volunteers also offer transportation to residents for doctor appointments, church services or educational purposes. Finally, volunteers may help with our fundraising events.
What is the best way for someone to get involved with your agency: Contact Heather, Volunteer Coordinator, at contact@fifthstreetministries.com.
Budget for Current Fiscal Year: $1,718,118
United Way Funding for Current Fiscal Year: $50,573.49
MAJOR ANNUAL EVENTS
♦ Spring: Easter Sunrise Service and Breakfast
♦ August: Back to School Event
♦ October: Domestic Violence Awareness Month
♦ November: Community Thanksgiving Dinner
♦ December: Community Christmas Dinner
MAJOR FUNDRAISERS
♦ Christmas in July: Third Sunday of July, annually. This fundraiser helps offset the dip in giving that traditionally occurs during summer months. 2022 will be the 22nd annual event. Drive-thru lunch at Fifth Street campus with an online auction. Sponsors and auction items always needed.
♦ March: Alternating Ask Event and Empty Bowl event.
Ask Event-Lunch/Dinner – Staff and guests will review major programs, success stories, needs, ways to be involved and ask for support to continue the work.
Empty Bowl – Lunch/Dinner of soup and sandwich served at Fifth Street campus. Guests will go through serving line exactly as our residents do. This event is also a time of sharing, answering questions and allowing folks to experience the shelter in a different way. Guests will be given a handmade bowl from local artists/schools upon leaving.
♦ Card of Hope: Local artist Amy Sullivan has donated a beautiful painting which will be auctioned online. This painting will be the front of our cards for the year which will also go on sale October 1st through the end of the year. Cards may be purchased online or at various stores around town.