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Stanly Community Christian Ministry is working to provide assistance to families facing evictions and financially struggling due to the coronavirus pandemic.

As part of its Caring and Sharing campaign, SCCM is partnering with WoodmenLife, a not-for-profit insurance company, throughout December to raise $10,000 which will go directly towards filling the pantry shelves and helping with client expenses such as food, rent and utilities.

In 2019, SCCM served 52,801 hot meals, provided 807,990 pounds of food and 754 clients received financial assistance with rent, utilities, and/or prescription medications.

“We’re seeing a huge increase in individuals and families who are behind on their rent and utilities because of COVID and this money will go directly to help those individuals,” said Jenny Clore, development director with SCCM.

With the eviction moratorium, set by the CDC and Gov. Roy Cooper allowing tenants to temporarily defer paying rent, set to expire at the end of the month, Stanly is likely to experience an increase in evictions and homelessness.

In order to help raise the money, SCCM has sent yellow Caring and Sharing cups to various businesses and organizations throughout the community and have encouraged people to stop by the SCCM office to pick up their own cups or collect funds in their own jars/cups. The organization also posted about the campaign on its Facebook page on Giving Tuesday about the need to help the community.

“We’re just trying multiple avenues to get the word out,” Clore said.

After initially being overwhelmed in the spring when the pandemic first began, the need for food assistance slowed down a bit during the summer with the help of stimulus checks, but the demand has picked up again in the fall, Clore said.

Clore said that SCCM is serving an average of 30 households a day. In order to better help the community, the organization extended its hours and is now open five days week from Monday through Friday.

“We’re seeing a big increase in the financial needs” of people in the community, Clore said, noting the call volume has been overwhelming with so many people needing help to pay their rent, utilities and other necessities. “We’re on the phone with a client and we have two messages by the time we hang up because so many people are needing financial assistance.”

If people want to donate, they can visit sccminc.org, mail checks to P.O. Box 58, Albemarle, NC 28002, or physically deliver donations to the headquarters, 506 S. First St., Albemarle.

With the pandemic showing no signs of slowing down, Clore expects many people to continue to need assistance well into next year.

“Through our community’s continued support, we feel we will be able to continue to serve the needs of our neighbors,” she said.

To receive assistance with food, rent or utilities, people can call 704-982-7915 to make an appointment.