Resources For Those In Need
- New Life
- Nov 11, 2025
- 8 min read
Updated: Dec 2, 2025
At New Life City of Praise in Charlotte, NC, we believe in being the hands and feet of Jesus by supporting our community in times of need. Although there are many community resources in the metro-Charlotte area, here is a list of suggested options as a starting point to local assistance programs, shelters, food banks, counseling services, and faith-based outreach organizations dedicated to providing hope, help, and healing.
While these programs serve many people in need, availability, eligibility, and funds vary. We do our best to provide accurate information, but please verify with each organization.
If you have an emergency or immediate need, please call 911 or dial 2-1-1 for official community assistance through recognized state and local agencies.
Websites To Check Out
This website will ask for your zip code and give you a list of resources in a variety of categories that are local to the zip code you entered.
Sleep In Heavenly Peace
This organization provide beds for children ages 3 to 17. There's an application you must submit that is provided on the website. Approved applicants are gifted beds.
1. Food Assistance & Hunger Relief
Second Harvest Food Bank of Metrolina
Address: 500-B Spratt Street, Charlotte, NC 28206Phone: (704) 376-1785This organization serves as a central hub for food distributions in the region. They provide information about local pantries and upload a printable list of pantry agencies.
Nourish Up
Formerly Loaves & Fishes and Friendship Trays, this organization provides groceries to neighbors in Mecklenburg County, mobile pantry distributions, and Meals on Wheels.
Hope Street Food Pantry
Address: 4100 Johnston Oehler Road, Charlotte, NC 28269Phone: (704) 584-9073Open Thursdays from 4:00-7:00 pm and select Tuesdays; no referral required.
Dilworth Soup Kitchen & Food Pantry
This nonprofit provides free meals and groceries every year, serving hundreds each week.
Hearts & Hands Food Pantry
4040 Chesapeake Dr.,
Charlotte, NC 28216
980-292-0357
Hearts & Hands Food Pantry provides groceries, personal care items, and baby supplies for families in need. They also offer curbside pickup and delivery services for those unable to travel.
Hope Street Food Pantry
4100 Johnston Oehler Rd.,
Charlotte, NC 28269
704-584-9073
This ministry offers food assistance with no ID or referral required. Hope Street also partners with local libraries and schools to bring mobile food distributions to neighborhoods across Charlotte.
Care Ring Pantry
1514 N. Graham St.,
Charlotte, NC
704-375-0172
A community pantry open Tuesdays from 9–11:30 a.m., serving families and individuals with compassion and dignity.
Feeding Charlotte
Address: PO Box 221812,
Charlotte, NC 28222.
(704) 654-9667
Nonprofit that rescues and redistributes fresh, surplus food to fight hunger and reduce food waste in the Charlotte region.
HUG (Hearts United for Good)
Charlotte-based nonprofit focusing on feeding families, supporting unhoused neighbors, and providing free groceries, pet food, and hygiene kits in the community.
Food for Families NC
Indian Trail, NC (serving Union County and surrounding areas).
Nonprofit dedicated to alleviating hunger among families, children, and seniors; grew out of a school-weekend backpack program and has since expanded to larger service.
PORCH Charlotte
Based in Charlotte, NC
An all-volunteer, grassroots organization where neighbors collect food and cash donations via monthly drives and deliver them to local pantry partners—helping feed households facing food insecurity.
Camino Health Center (Food Pantry Program)
201 Stetson Drive,
Charlotte, NC 28262
(704) 596-5606
A bilingual and multicultural nonprofit that includes a food-pantry component, serving families in the Charlotte area with grocery and nutrition support alongside other health and social services.
Christ the King Church Food Pantry
13501 S Tryon St.,
Charlotte, NC 28278
704-587-0073
This drive-through pantry serves those in need with no paperwork or appointment required. It’s a welcoming, faith-based resource in South Charlotte.
Catholic Social Services Pantry – Charlotte
1123 S Church St.,
Charlotte, NC 28203
704-370-3262
Operated by Catholic Charities, this pantry offers groceries, diapers, and personal care items. Open Tuesdays and Thursdays.
Feed My Sheep Pantry (Central Apostolic Faith)
6116 Vernedale Rd.,
Charlotte, NC
704-537-5439
Provides food by appointment every Friday at 3 p.m. The ministry serves with the heart of Christ, meeting both physical and spiritual needs.
Reeder Memorial Missions Food Pantry
3725 Beatties Ford Rd.,
Charlotte, NC
704-802-9548
Appointments available Tuesdays and Thursdays. This historic church pantry has been a beacon of hope in West Charlotte for generations.
Pineville Church of the Nazarene Food Pantry
8614 Pineville-Matthews Rd.,
Charlotte, NC
704-542-3618
Open the second and fourth Thursdays of each month, 8:30 a.m.–12 p.m. The pantry serves South Charlotte and Pineville communities with warmth and care.
Silver Mount Baptist Church Food Pantry
501 W Arrowood Rd.,
Charlotte, NC
704-522-1528
Open Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 11 a.m.–1 p.m. Silver Mount’s ministry is committed to feeding the hungry and uplifting the spirit through service.
The New Antioch Church Food Pantry
8324 Idlewild Rd.,
Charlotte, NC
704-315-0434
Open the first and third Tuesdays of each month, 1–2 p.m. New Antioch offers prayer and encouragement alongside physical nourishment.
Federal Programs
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
The SNAP program provides vital food-benefits to low-income households, helping them purchase groceries at authorized stores.Website: https://www.fns.usda.gov/snapEligibility and benefit levels vary by state. USDA Food and Nutrition Service+1
Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC)
WIC supports pregnant women, new mothers, infants, and children under age five by offering supplemental foods, nutrition education, breastfeeding support and referrals.
This program is especially helpful for families with young children.
The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP)
TEFAP provides emergency food assistance at no cost to eligible low-income households and supports food banks and pantries.
Use this to find local emergency food distribution through state agencies.
National School Lunch Program (NSLP)
The NSLP ensures children in public and nonprofit private schools receive nutritious lunches at reduced cost or for free during the school day.
For families in Charlotte, check with your child’s school about eligibility.
School Breakfast Program (SBP)
The SBP provides breakfast in schools to students in low-income settings, helping children begin their day well-nourished.
Family participation in NSLP often makes students eligible for SBP too.
Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP)
CACFP offers reimbursements for nutritious meals and snacks at eligible child-care centers, adult-day-care centers, after-school programs, and homeless shelters.
This helps wrap around families who use care settings or for older adults in adult care.
Summer Food Service Program (SFSP)
During summer when school meals may not be available, SFSP offers free meals to children in high-need areas through community sites like recreation centers or libraries.
This is especially relevant to families in Charlotte looking for summer meal support.
Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program (FFVP)
FFVP provides fresh fruits and vegetables to children in participating elementary schools, promoting healthy eating habits early.
Look for schools in Charlotte that participate in this program for added nutrition for kids.
Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR)
FDPIR provides USDA Foods to low-income households residing on or near Indian reservations, including Native American/Alaska Native households.
Important to know for communities with Native American populations.
Senior Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program (SFMNP) & Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program (FMNP)
These programs supply coupons for fresh, locally grown produce to eligible low-income seniors (SFMNP) and WIC participants (FMNP), redeemable at farmers’ markets and roadside stands.
Great for seniors or WIC families in Charlotte who want fresh produce support.
2. Finacial assistance
1. Crisis Assistance Ministry
500-A Spratt Street,
Charlotte, NC 28206
(704) 371-3001
This independent nonprofit offers emergency financial assistance for rent and utility bills to low-income residents of Mecklenburg County.
2. Mecklenburg County Department of Community Resources – Energy Assistance
Charlotte, NC (multiple centers)
704-336-3000
Through the Crisis Intervention Program (CIP) and Low-Income Energy Assistance Program (LIEAP), the county provides utility bill assistance, especially for heating and cooling crises.
3. Good Friends Charlotte
Charlotte, NC
Offers one-time grants for working families facing sudden financial crisis — including past-due utility bills, eviction prevention, and more.
4. Catholic Charities Diocese of Charlotte
1123 S. Church Street,
Charlotte, NC 28203
704-370-3262
Provides assistance for rent, mortgage, housing and utility needs for vulnerable individuals and families in the Diocese of Charlotte.
5. Charlotte Area Fund
3816 Latrobe Drive, Suite 101,
Charlotte, NC 28211
704-372-3010
While broader in mission, this organization helps remove financial barriers for low-income families and includes wrap-around support that may address bill assistance.
6. United Way of Greater Charlotte
Serving Mecklenburg & surrounding counties
Through its 2-1-1 referral line and partner agencies, United Way connects individuals to bill-payment and utility assistance resources in the Charlotte region.
7. Matthews HELP Center
119 N. Ames Street,
Matthews, NC 28105
704-847-8383
Serves the Matthews/Stallings and southeastern Charlotte zip codes with short-term crisis assistance, including housing and utility payments.
8. Charlotte Water “Water Cares” Program
Charlotte, NC
704-336-7600
This municipal program provides financial assistance and adjustment support for water/sewer bills and service line repairs for qualified households.
9. Action NC – Utility Bill Payment Assistance Guide
Serves North Carolina including Charlotte region
Provides a guide and resources for utility bill payment assistance for tenants and homeowners; includes local programs and utility-based support in North Carolina.
10. Mecklenburg County Housing & Financial Support Services
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Government Center, Charlotte, NC
Provides a directory of programs for energy assistance, housing stabilization, and financial support for bills and utilities for county residents.
3. Housing & Homelessness Support
Roof Above
This organization offers emergency shelter, meals, and housing programs with low barriers to entry for individuals facing homelessness.
The Salvation Army Center of Hope
This emergency shelter for women, children, and families provides three meals daily, case management, and housing support.
City of Charlotte Emergency Housing Assistance
If you or your family are homeless or will become homeless within 14 days, contact:
NC 2-1-1 or 1-888-892-1162
Coordinated Entry: (704) 284-9665
3. Counseling & Mental Health Services
NAMI Charlotte
Provides a resource directory, crisis lines, and mental health support for individuals and families.
Free or Low-Cost Counseling Directory
This online directory lists Christian and secular providers in Charlotte offering sliding‐scale or free counseling for individuals, couples, and families.
Mecklenburg County Community Support Services
Provides benefit claim filing, domestic violence therapy, housing innovation & stabilization, and substance use services.
4. Other Essential Services
Matthews HELP Center
Serving Matthews, Stallings, and parts of Charlotte: offers food assistance, clothing vouchers, transportation help, housing, and utility assistance.
General Referral Hotline – 2-1-1
Call 2-1-1 in North Carolina to access a 24/7 community‐service information and referral line for help with housing, food, mental health, senior services, and more.
IN SCRIPTURE
We find the charge to love and serve our neighbors:
“If your neighbor is hungry, give him food; if your neighbor is thirsty, give him water.” (Proverbs 3:27, NIV)“Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.” (Galatians 6:2, NIV)
Whether you or someone you know is facing financial hardship, housing challenges, or emotional struggles, this resource guide is here to connect you with trustworthy help in the Charlotte and Mecklenburg County area. Together, we can uplift one another, share compassion, and live out the Gospel through service.
Disclaimer:
The information provided by New Life City of Praise (“the Church”) on this website and in any printed or digital materials is offered solely for general informational, outreach purposes, and informational purposes only. We do not operate or directly affiliate with these organizations. We recommend contacting each food bank directly for current hours, eligibility requirements, and service availability. While our goal is to connect individuals and families with trustworthy community resources in Charlotte, North Carolina, we do not guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or current status of the services listed. The Church is not affiliated with, does not endorse, and is not legally responsible for the actions, services, or outcomes of any external organization, agency, or provider referenced. Availability of services, eligibility requirements, and operating hours are subject to change without notice. Use of this information is voluntary and at the user’s discretion. Individuals are encouraged to verify details directly with each listed organization before seeking or relying on services. The Church shall not be held liable for any loss, injury, harm, or damages arising from the use or inability to use the information or services described herein. By accessing or using this resource list, you acknowledge and agree that New Life City of Praise, its pastors, officers, volunteers, and representatives are released from any responsibility or liability related to your use of this information.
If you have an emergency or immediate need, please call 911 or dial 2-1-1 for official community assistance through recognized state and local agencies.
Comments