Welcome to MeckMIN's Thursday Zoom Check-In Meetings
As of October 3, we are back to holding our check-in meetings for faith, community and nonprofit leaders WEEKLY. We will continue to address general needs in the community as well as issues related to Hurricane Helene.
These meetings are open to anyone interested in supporting compassionate community response, especially in partnership with the most vulnerable among us.
Meetings are held online every Thursday from 11:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. Email LeDayne Polaski for Zoom access code. In addition, if you would like to receive notification when these minutes are posted, please email LeDayne and ask to be added to the Thursday meetings email list.
Click HERE to Access Zoom Recording:
OPENING REFLECTION
Harrowing by Parker J Palmer
The plow has savaged this sweet field
Misshapen clods of earth kicked up
Rocks and twisted roots exposed to view
Last year’s growth demolished by the blade.
I have plowed my life this way
Turned over a whole history
Looking for the roots of what went wrong
Until my face is ravaged, furrowed, scarred.
Enough. The job is done.
Whatever’s been uprooted, let it be
Seedbed for the growing that’s to come.
I plowed to unearth last year’s reasons—
The farmer plows to plant a greening season.
1. MECKMIN UPDATES
PLEASE SHARE THESE EVENTS WITH YOUR NETWORK AND WITH ANYONE YOU THINK MIGHT BE PARTICULARLY INTERESTED – AND PLEASE CONSIDER COMING YOURSELF
OPEN TABLES
Thursday, December 19 | Unitarian Universalist Community of Charlotte
Open to ALL. Join us for a Potluck dinner and a chance to have a conversation around the table with people of various faiths on Thursday, December 19 at 6:30 PM at Unitarian Universalist Community of Charlotte.
Register HERE
INTERFAITH FAMILY FUN FOR MIDDLE and HIGH SCHOOL YOUTH and THEIR PARENTS
Sunday, February 23, 2025, Temple Beth El
Middle and High School Youth and Their Parents are invited to join other families for an afternoon of food, fun, and interfaith connection. This event will feature activities and games that promote empathy and working together, while also offering a chance to bond with others and explore different perspectives. For parents, there will be a discussion about how to support the next generation in continuing their faith while navigating today's increasingly secular world.
WE NEED A SPONSOR (OR SPONSORS) FOR THIS EVENT, A PERSON OR GROUP WILLING TO PROVIDE A LIGHT DINNER FOR APPROXIMATELY 50 PEOPLE - Please contact LeDayne if you are interested in sponsoring
THURSDAY MEETINGS
We will meet Dec 19th and then take a week break until January 2nd. Then we will return to an every two weeks format so subsequent meetings will be January 16th and 30th and so on.
AWARDS BREAKFAST NOMINATIONS
May 8th @ Friendship Missionary Church
Please be thinking about potential nominees. We offer awards in three areas:
Those who do this work as their day job
Those who contribute significantly through their volunteer hours
For the first time, a middle or high school youth who does bridge building in the community.
PLEASE SHARE THESE EVENTS WITH YOUR NETWORK AND WITH ANYONE YOU THINK MIGHT BE PARTICULARLY INTERESTED – AND PLEASE CONSIDER COMING YOURSELF
SAVE THE DATE
April 6, 2025 (evening) – Interfaith Youth Panel
MECK COUNTY UPDATES
CATS TRANSIT SYSTEM PLAN UPDATE: Share the Survey with Your Community
Andy Mock | Andrew.Mock@charlottenc.gov | (704)507-1635,
Senior Project Manager, LYNX Silver Line Project
Christine Edwards | christine@civilitylocalized.com | 704-900-3428]
Founder and principal Consultant
CATS is the largest public transportation provider in the SouthEast outside of Atlanta. They have heard a great desire to expand from the public. So .. They are working on a 30-50 year vision. A part of that is to update the Transit System Plan (TSP) and develop recommendations for a financially constrained program of bus and rail improvements within the CATS service area, and we are seeking community input via a survey for this round of engagement. What are people looking for (buses, trains, rides to the airport, etc) and what are the assumptions. if you complete teh survey you will receive a $100 gift card.If you visit RideTransit.org, you will notice the colorful icon on the right side of the menu. This will lead you to the dedicated Transit System Plan webpage. The survey can be found here: https://catstransitsystemplanupdate.com/get-involved. It will remain open until December 31.
The following phase will establish priorities in response to funding constraints. Then in March they will present several scenarios to the public
Third phase will ask the MTC approval and action based on the public recommendation.
Please share this information. We have created a media kit to assist you with getting the message out about the Transit System Plan and accompanying survey. You are also welcome to repost CATS social media posts if you see fit.
Here is the link to the media kit with graphics and language for you to use: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/igh75ut8fiipsnkz9zus9/AORj1INlIoyilT5wRe850XY?rlkey=avhyk5lvivp8n20cvqcsai66x&st=s1qdhniy&dl=0. One of the tools in this kit is a flyer (English and Spanish) that has the QR code that leads to the survey. Please feel free to print, post or send digitally to your community members and post in any public spaces that you see fit.
The survey will be open until December 31 – it might possibly be extended for a week or two beyond as needed
Thank you all so much for your participation in getting the word out about this project and survey. We appreciate your collaboration!
2. NONPROFIT UPDATES
Crista Ray McCarthy | cray@habitatcltregion.org | 980.859.5573
Partnerships and Faith Relations Senior Specialist
The devastating impact of Hurricane Helene has left Western North Carolina reeling, with thousands of homes destroyed or significantly damaged. In response to this crisis, Habitat Charlotte Region is stepping forward with an ambitious commitment to help our neighbors rebuild their lives and their communities.
Habitat Charlotte Region is fully committed to ensuring these communities receive the support they need to recover. We’veimmediately allocated $500,000 in support of a multi-year rebuilding effort, plus raised an additional $100,000 to date. With a target of $1 million, we’re reaching out to our Habitat community to help us achieve our goal.
How You Can Make a Difference
Your support is crucial to helping families rebuild their lives after this devastating hurricane. We’ve identified three powerful ways you can join our recovery efforts:
support the recovery fund
We’ve established a dedicated hurricane recovery fund to ensure every dollar raised directly supports Western NC recovery, focused specifically on rebuilding and repairing homes damaged by the storm. By making a financial contribution, you’re providing the flexibility we need to address the most urgent needs as they arise.
provide construction materials
The immediate need for building materials is critical to our recovery effort. We’re seeking donations of essential construction materials that will go directly to rebuilding and repairing homes in Western NC. Our most urgent needs include: \
Roofing materials are particularly crucial – it takes 40 bundles of shingles to restore just one family’s roof.
We also need construction fundamentals like drywall tape, trim caulk, and sanding materials, along with essential fasteners such as drywall screws, roofing nails, and structural screws.
Paint supplies and safety equipment are also vital to our rebuilding effort.
These much-needed materials can be dropped off at three convenient Habitat Charlotte Region locations.
Our Habitat Charlotte Region Warehouse (704-714-1509), open weekdays from 10am to 2pm – please call ahead prior to delivering donated materials
The Statesville ReStore (704-498-4480), open Monday through Saturday, 10am to 6pm
The Gaston ReStore (704-854-3050), open Tuesday through Saturday, 10am to 5pm
lend your skills and your time
While the most intensive recovery work will begin in early 2025, we’re already preparing for this massive rebuilding effort. If you have construction experience – whether professional or from previousHabitat builds – your skills will be invaluable for the on-site work ahead, including demolition, cleanup, and complete rebuilding of damaged homes.
Even if you’re not a construction professional, your help is essential. We need dedicated volunteers and interested groups to receive and organize donations, coordinate deliveries, and help manage our work teams. This recovery effort will succeed because of people like you stepping forward to help.
Ready to help? Complete our volunteer interest form, and we'll contact you as our recovery projects begin taking shape. While on-site volunteer work starts in early 2025 (after critical infrastructure repairs are complete), we’ll begin organizing our volunteer teams well before then.
More about all these opportunities here: https://www.habitatcltregion.org/hurricane-helene-recovery/
3. HURRICANE HELENE RECOVERY UPDATES
We have created and will keep updated two Hurricane-Helene specific pages on our website:
Relief Resources – geared for you to share with impacted people – https://www.meckmin.org/s-hurricane-helene-relief-resources
Ways to Help – ways for you and your networks and communities to respond https://www.meckmin.org/copy-of-hurricane-helene-ways-to-help
If you have things to add, please email them with the subject lines:
“Possible addition to Hurricane Helene Relief Resources” OR “Possible addition to Hurricane Helene Ways to Help”
LINDSEY BANKS | The Charlotte Ledger
Online business newsletter founded in 2019. They cover local news, breaking news, Charlotte FC, obits, and so much more.
Lindsey is from Buncombe and had family affected by the storm so it felt natural for the Ledger to expand coverage to include that area. They launched “Mountain Updates” on October 1. It was more frequent but now publishes about 1x/week. It is free to subscribe. Lindsey shared many photos and provided context for the current situation in the towns.
Just wanted to say thanks again for the opportunity to share what I’ve learned in my reporting! If you have any specific questions or things you think we should look into for the Mountain Updates newsletter (or in Charlotte for our main newsletter), please let me know! My email is lindsey@cltledger.com. Would love to connect!
HOLIDAY SUPPORT FOR FAMILIES & CHILDREN
Some suggested actions and orgs to support:
Beloved Asheville, Hearts with hands, Manna Foodbank
Winter supplies: Generators, heaters, propane tanks, blankets, warm clothing
Mountain gift guide: Support the economy by purchasing from mountain local businesses
Help families in need provide holiday gifts for their children. There are a few initiatives that are still welcoming donations to help families fill stockings and put gifts under the trees.
HOLIDAY SHOPPING GUIDE
TO SUPPORT LOCAL BUSINESSES
Elisabeth Bocklet | elisabeth.bocklet@unitedwayabc.org
Senior Director, Marketing and Communications
Direct 828-239-1031 | Main 828-255-0696
Still difficult. There remain over 100K homes damaged, 250 roads still closed, 1000 newly homeless children in Buncombe and 8000 people who lost their jobs.
They have been able to distribute $1.5 million to 43 community groups with a 3 question application. They have also been supporting a civic response with a long-term recovery group that they created. They have also mobilized 5K volunteers and supported 37+ organizations.
www.handonasheville.org – VOLUNTEER WEBSITE for Buncombe County
For goods donation - only if you are working with a group that has asked for specific goods and they directed you what to get and where/when to deliver it. FUNDS are the most essential need.
LOCAL FEMA EFFORTS
Lionel Turner | lionel.turner@fema.dhs.gov
Jacqueline Chadwick | Jacqueline.chadwick@fema.dhs.gov
Deployed: DR 4827 NC – Deputy VAL Group Supervisor, IM CORE – Headquarters VAL Group Supervisor, Mobile: 202-538-1846
The mission of FEMA Voluntary Agency Liaisons (VALs) is to establish, foster, and maintain relationships among government, voluntary, faith-based, and community partners. Through these relationships, the VALs support the delivery of inclusive and equitable services and empower and strengthen capabilities of communities to address disaster-caused unmet needs.
FEMA works in partnership with the state. The state also has volunteer liaisons. It might be useful to have the state reps on the call. VAL’s work with individuals. We have 11 emergency declarations in the country right now. Each disaster brings out the “whole community” - academia, non-profits, community groups etc. There are 39 counties plus the Eastern band of Cherokee that are affected, including Mecklenburg. VAL works in partnership with the state VAL and evaluate what resources are there and meet unmet needs. They provide technical assistance and work with faith based communities.
If questions arise that are more appropriate for one of our other Programs or Divisions such as Public Assistance, External Affairs, Individuals and Households Program (IHP), or Hazard Mitigation, I will defer appropriately and connect you with the proper representative for follow up. See the attached flyers for more info.
MULTI AGENCY WAREHOUSE (STORING MATERIALS DONATED FOR RELIEF EFFORTS)
Lots of the volunteers who have been staffing at the MAW (multi-agency warehouse in Statesville) are rotating home for the holidays. Volunteers at this time would be greatly appreciated!
Folks interested in volunteering at the MAW can contact me at Persia.payne-hurley@ncdps.gov
MAW HOLIDAY SCHEDULE
The Multi-Area Warehouse will close for the Holidays 12/23 until 6 January. Please make your requests to re-supply your organization and meet survivor needs over the Holidays. Please connect with the MAW:
The last day to make requests and for deliveries will be Friday 12/20 for Saturday deliveries.
NC VOLUNTARY ORGANIZATIONS ACTIVE IN DISASTER
If you want to get involved in a particular VOAD committee to represent MeckMIN, please let LeDayne know.
Long-Term Recovery Groups Tuesdays and Thursdays at 9:00 am
https://www.zoomgov.com/j/1600984167?pwd=ReCnimGshq1zPXegTNF8ejSsQO7k0b.1 Meeting ID: 160 098 4167, Passcode: 604572
Disaster Case Management Wednesdays and Fridays at 9:00 am https://us06web.zoom.us/j/84614838915?pwd=bxq0AQMc75Qodbb0acifeAzh1KaKvr.1
Emotional and Spiritual Care/Child Wellbeing We have settled on meeting at 12:30 pm on Tuesdays & Thursdays with the possible exception of Thanksgiving week.https://www.zoomgov.com/j/1601395145?pwd=RXI3MDI2c1poN3VGNXhRTEpzejRWQT09 Meeting ID: 160 139 5145, Passcode: 054460
Volunteer Management Fridays at 2 pm https://zoom.us/j/94596191471?pwd=H6w1oADxpjeAaAnvNab05OWJBTaB7q.1 Meeting ID: 945 9619 1471, Passcode: 461008
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Tuesdays and Thursdays at 10:30 am https://us02web.zoom.us/j/9632146210?omn=82837954669 Meeting ID: 963 214 6210
THE NC INCLUSIVE DISASTER RECOVERY NETWORK
NCIDRN convenes, facilitates, and communicates a united, inclusive vision for NC communities of well-managed disaster recovery built upon strong community reinvestment strategies, asset-based community development, and equitable opportunity. These minutes from their November 26 me
eting have a lot of useful information, mostly focused on policy.
JUST SERVE
Sabrina Johnson | sabrinajohnson@justserve.org
Local specialist supporting Greater Charlotte/Piedmont and portions of WNC,
Community volunteer needs (and in-kind donations) to be made available to the public by organizations sponsoring opportunities to serve/give.
If you have a need for volunteers, contact Sabrina to post on JustServe.
3. GENERAL INFORMATION
CHOSEN LEADERSHIP ACADEMY
Tyris Rorie | chosenlaorg@gmail.com
AGE FRIENDLY CHARLOTTE MECKLENBURG
Make this holiday season your healthiest, including physical, mental, and emotional well-being! With more than 27% of older adults living alone in Mecklenburg County, check out the resources below to support you and loved ones during the most wonderful time of year.
Fall Prevention in the Holiday Season
Prescription Assistance Tool (Scrip Talk)
Mental Health Resources (MeckHope)
AGE FRIENDLY EVENTS: DECEMBER 2024
Did you know 60% of deaths on the road are people over the age of 50! In acknowledgement of Older Driver Safety Awareness Week, join us on December 10th (Albemarle Road Recreation Center) and December 13th (Bette Rae Thomas Recreation Center) to learn more about available resources in our community!
Join us next Friday (December 13th) for our monthly Age-Friendly Friday webinar! This webinar will focus on scam, fraud, and financial safety in the holiday season. Click here to register and join via Zoom!
Celebrate this holiday season with the Winter Wonderland at Arbor Glen Outreach Center. This winter fest social will have food, music, entertainment, and prizes. Please click here to register or call 980-314-1110.
AGE FRIENDLY RESOURCES
With the change in weather, check out Blue Ridge Community Action for resources to assist with heating and energy costs!
Could you qualify for property tax relief at your residence? Click here to learn more about the Elderly or Disabled Property Tax Homestead Exclusions Program!
If you were impacted by Hurricane Helene, click here to learn more about disaster assistance in Mecklenburg County!
PRAYER FOR LEADERS
No one is forgotten. It is a lie, any talk of God that does not comfort you.
- Meister Eckhart
NEXT MEETING: Next week from today - Thursday at 11 AM
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