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117 Stories

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117 Stories
March 8, 2013

Today is International Women’s Day.

As a female-focused organization opening our doors in 1903, it is interesting to learn that the first National Woman’s Day was observed in the United States on February 28, 1909.

Currently International Women’s Day “is an occasion for looking back on past struggles and accomplishments, and more importantly, for looking ahead to the untapped potential and opportunities that await future generations of women.” This resonates as Florence Crittenton Services see so much potential in the girls, women and children we serve, as they face challenging and some times devastating obstacles, many are still hopeful about their futures and not defined by their pasts.

So on this Happy International Women’s Day we want to share with you images from a therapeutic art project. These self portraits were produced from a collaboration with the Bechtler Museum of Modern Art. Our residents painted these portraits to share reflections of themselves, their hopes and potential.

Celebrate the women in your life and all women!

For more information on International Women’s Day: http://www.un.org/womenwatch/feature/iwd/history.html

Photo: Story #58 Today is International Women’s Day. As a female-focused organization opening our doors in 1903, it is interesting to learn that the first National Woman's Day was observed in the United States on February 28, 1909. Currently International Women’s Day “is an occasion for looking back on past struggles and accomplishments, and more importantly, for looking ahead to the untapped potential and opportunities that await future generations of women.” This resonates as Florence Crittenton Services see so much potential in the girls, women and children we serve, as they face challenging and some times devastating obstacles, many are still hopeful about their futures and not defined by their pasts. So on this Happy International Women's Day we want to share with you images from a therapeutic art project. These self portraits were produced from a collaboration with the Bechtler Museum of Modern Art. Our residents painted these portraits to share reflections of themselves, their hopes and potential. Celebrate the women in your life and all women! For more information on International Women's Day: http://www.un.org/womenwatch/feature/iwd/history.html

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117 Stories
March 7, 2013

The Story of Katie

Katie grew up in the mountains of North Carolina and at 15 years of age became pregnant. Katie’s child, Christy, was born in September and just two months later Christy was taken into the Department of Social Services’ (DSS) custody. Katie only had visits with Christy once a week for one hour. Unable to cope with her situation, she became depressed. Drinking alcohol and abusing drugs soon followed. Due to problems at home combined with the lack of resources in her home county, Katie was unable to find stable housing. Her answer to being homeless was to live in a tent near a river. Soon after Katie was taken into custody and brought to Florence Crittenton along with Christy.

Katie, now reunited with her daughter, has been living at Florence Crittenton for two years. In that time she has graduated from high school, enrolled and completed her first
year of college (now in her second year), and has secured employment. Katie saved her money and purchased a car. She is now a manager at her place of employment. Looking back on her journey Katie says “I wouldn’t be where I am today without Florence Crittenton.”

If you like the stories we have been sharing, please consider giving a gift to support these girls and women and their families.
https://crittentonofnc.org/giving-opportunities/

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117 Stories
March 6, 2013

A plea for prom from a couple of our residents at FCS.

I live at Florence Crittenton Services. I attend Myers Park High School along with another young lady. I’m a senior and she is a junior and we have hopes to be able to attend our junior and senior prom this year. We have worked very hard to get where we are. I returned back to Myer Park in the middle of the first semester as a junior. I didn’t think my grades were going to be so great because I was coming back to school right before it was time to take midterms. I honestly didn’t think I was going to do well, but I fooled myself. When I got my report card I had two As, a B and a C. I was a junior at that time during first semester, and now that we are in second semester, I have been placed as a senior. The other young lady that lives her is a junior and also a new mother of a beautiful little girl. After having her baby girl she got back on track with schooling. While she was on her leave from school she got all her work she needed to complete for her teachers so she could get credit for her work. Now that she is back she is taking credit recovery for her missed days; her grades are good and she also manages her time very well with having her daughter and school work. The reason for this letter is that we both have dreams to attend our junior and senior prom at Myers Park High School on April 20, 2013. We can’t afford to pay for everything, so we are coming and asking for help so we can attend our prom.

These two outstanding residents of FCS, have overcome a great deal in there lives. They work hard, encourage others at FCS, and are positive role models. Their situation has forced them to grow up a great deal faster than other juniors and seniors in high school. And despite the complications and adversity in their lives, they still have the simple desires of your average every day teenager. They want to go to prom. You can help. They need anything and everything from dresses to shoes, hair and nails, dinner, pictures, etc.

Make a donation. Every little bit helps.

https://crittentonofnc.org/giving-opportunities/

Thank you in advance for making this a possibility!

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117 Stories
March 5, 2013
What a great spread of FSC’s 110th anniversary in this months edition of Society Charlotte. A special thanks to Mayor Pro Tem, Patrick Cannon, FCS Board Chair, Bill Ryans, and Mimosa Grill General Manager, Robert McDonald, for your participation in making this such an unprecedented event.
Photo: Story #55 What a great spread of FSC's 110th anniversary in this months edition of Society Charlotte. A special thanks to Mayor Pro Tem, Patrick Cannon, FCS Board Chair, Bill Ryans, and Mimosa Grill General Manager, Robert McDonald, for your participation in making this such an unprecedented event.

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117 Stories
March 4, 2013
How I Got Here
My church has partnered with Florence Crittenton for the past few years and that’s how I originally heard of the agency. I led a Bible Study and brought people from my group to make and serve dinner for the clients. At that time, I was working in a position at a great company, but wasn’t really feeling like my job was the right fit. I started to think about what I wanted to do. I had an aha moment while serving dinner at Florence Crittenton one night and thought to myself, “I would like to work in this kitchen, teach the women about healthy food, and grow a garden.” I checked to see if there were any positions in the kitchen available at that time and there weren’t. I talked over the idea with my family and they thought it would be a perfect fit. One encouraged me to research grants and see if I could get one to fund that position. Not knowing how grants worked, I let the idea fall to the wayside and continued to look for other job opportunities. A few months later, I checked the FCS website and learned that a position had been created that included those three components! Florence Crittenton had received a grant from Walmart for that very position and I dropped off my resume with some homemade zucchini muffins. After that I was excited but intimidated because I didn’t have a degree in Nutrition and my experience in Food and Beverage wasn’t very extensive. I have loved food since I was young (I used to journal about what I ate for dinner in Middle School), I would research healthy eating in my free time, and I loved hospitality in general, but didn’t know if this would be enough to get the position. It proved to be, because I got the job a little over a year ago! I love working at Florence Crittenton: the mission of the agency, the clients and my coworkers. It’s been an amazing adventure and I can’t wait for the days to come.

Katie Bischoff, FCS Nutritional Coordinator

Photo: Story #54 How I Got Here My church has partnered with Florence Crittenton for the past few years and that’s how I originally heard of the agency. I led a Bible Study and brought people from my group to make and serve dinner for the clients. At that time, I was working in a position at a great company, but wasn’t really feeling like my job was the right fit. I started to think about what I wanted to do. I had an aha moment while serving dinner at Florence Crittenton one night and thought to myself, “I would like to work in this kitchen, teach the women about healthy food, and grow a garden.” I checked to see if there were any positions in the kitchen available at that time and there weren’t. I talked over the idea with my family and they thought it would be a perfect fit. One encouraged me to research grants and see if I could get one to fund that position. Not knowing how grants worked, I let the idea fall to the wayside and continued to look for other job opportunities. A few months later, I checked the FCS website and learned that a position had been created that included those three components! Florence Crittenton had received a grant from Walmart for that very position and I dropped off my resume with some homemade zucchini muffins. After that I was excited but intimidated because I didn’t have a degree in Nutrition and my experience in Food and Beverage wasn’t very extensive. I have loved food since I was young (I used to journal about what I ate for dinner in Middle School), I would research healthy eating in my free time, and I loved hospitality in general, but didn’t know if this would be enough to get the position. It proved to be, because I got the job a little over a year ago! I love working at Florence Crittenton: the mission of the agency, the clients and my coworkers. It’s been an amazing adventure and I can’t wait for the days to come. Katie Bischoff, FCS Nutritional Coordinator

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117 Stories
March 2, 2013
Story #52Why donations are so important to FCS…Many of our residents arrive to FCS with nothing but the clothes on their back. They may have been homeless, living in a shelter, or trying to quickly leave a domestic violence situation. When a new client lives at FCS they are immediately presented with a welcoming basket comprised of toiletries, notebooks, wash cloth, towel, sheets, and blankets. They can obtain clothing from our closets, shoes, undergarments, and anything else they may need. Having a baby require lots and lots of stuff. Strollers, car seats, diapers, onsies, cribs, the list goes on and on. We are able to provide all of these items because of the generous hearts of our community. The steady stream of donations go directly into the hands of mothers in need. What better way to show someone in need you care, than by passing on items from your own child or your own pregnancy.

We have a monthly baby item auction where our residents can go through and “purchase” all the donated items with “baby bucks” earned by attending parenting classes, working towards their goals, and encouraging a healthy environment for the rest of the residents at FCS. Our next auction will take place this Tuesday, and will have the addition of all the amazing items we received today from @GuennCharlotteRadio’s Baby Shower.

Photo: Story #52 Why donations are so important to FCS... Many of our residents arrive to FCS with nothing but the clothes on their back. They may have been homeless, living in a shelter, or trying to quickly leave a domestic violence situation. When a new client lives at FCS they are immediately presented with a welcoming basket comprised of toiletries, notebooks, wash cloth, towel, sheets, and blankets. They can obtain clothing from our closets, shoes, undergarments, and anything else they may need. Having a baby require lots and lots of stuff. Strollers, car seats, diapers, onsies, cribs, the list goes on and on. We are able to provide all of these items because of the generous hearts of our community. The steady stream of donations go directly into the hands of mothers in need. What better way to show someone in need you care, than by passing on items from your own child or your own pregnancy. We have a monthly baby item auction where our residents can go through and "purchase" all the donated items with "baby bucks" earned by attending parenting classes, working towards their goals, and encouraging a healthy environment for the rest of the residents at FCS. Our next auction will take place this Tuesday, and will have the addition of all the amazing items we received today from @GuennCharlotteRadio's Baby Shower.

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117 Stories
March 1, 2013

Story #51

Today’s story is about one of our successful Legacy Hall clients.She is a foster care client turning 18 this month and will remain with us on the CARS agreement. She will be graduating in January from a local CMS high school. She is interested in becoming a chef and attending a school for culinary arts. She is already enrolled in the spring semester at CPCC, where she will begin taking her basic courses. She often will bake items and take them to school and sell. Or, she takes orders for pies, cakes, etc. and will sell them as well. She received three honors this semester, perfect attendance, AB Honor roll, and the Stellar Award. She is active in her Communities in Schools organization, and is a mentor for another student at her school. She carries respect of her counselors and school leaders. She worked at Carowinds last summer for a while. She has had good placements in foster care, but was ready to focus on her independence and getting out on her own, which is why she sought out to come and live at Legacy Hall, which is helping her to focus on that. Her family is made up of her granny, papa, brothers and sisters. Her mother has not been active in her life, to the point of neglect. She is currently working an on campus job of washing dishes in the cafeteria, and at times uses some of her money to help provide school things for her younger brother since she states that her mother does nothing to help provide for any school clothes or school supplies for him.

Legacy Hall is such a unique opportunity for many of our foster care clients. The safe and encouraging atmosphere, allows our residents the time to explore their options for the future and steadily work on their goals towards independence and success.

If you like the stories we have been sharing, please consider giving a gift to support these girls and women and their families.
https://crittentonofnc.org/giving-opportunities/

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117 Stories
February 28, 2013

Today’s story is a letter from a past resident. I love how when our residents worlds are stumbling and crumbling, FCS is consistently able to provide them with safety, security, and stability.

“I just wanted to say anyone thinking of going to FCS will find out what a true blessing you guys are…my first trip to FCS was in 2005 when I went through a Domestic Violence situation then I returned in 2008 when I had a homeless situation while pregnant.  Both times I went were very rewarding.  Between having access to the computer lab and my case worker the wonderful Lily Ann I was able to find employment for when I left after I delivered.  I had the same case worker both times and I wouldn’t of traded her for anything. Miss Tracy and Miss Tammy and Miss Annie are of course fond memories of mine.  I was there both times around Christmas and they made Christmas feel very warm and welcoming and the volunteers from the churches and universities made everything nice too.”

If you like the stories we have been sharing, please consider giving a gift to support these girls and women and their families.
https://crittentonofnc.org/giving-opportunities/

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117 Stories
February 27, 2013
Story #49

We received a phone call a while ago, stating that Guenn from 103.7 WSOC FM wanted to partner with us to be the recipients for her baby shower. We were so honored to meet her this past Monday, and share with her all the exciting things going on at FCS. She, as so many are, was amazed by our comprehensive services and was full of ideas on potential new partnerships. What a wonderful addition to FCS’s supporters. Thank you so much, Guenn. Additional thanks to The Baby Grocery Store for hosting the baby shower.

For more information please check the link below. We look forward to seeing you all there!
http://bit.ly/126g1bz

Come To Guenn’s Baby Shower On March 2! – The New 103.7 – Charlotte’s Home For Country’s Hottest Hit
bit.ly
Help us celebrate Guenn’s soon to be

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117 Stories
February 26, 2013

Florence Crittenton Services impacted me directly in 1977, when I was young, single and pregnant. They provided a safe place for me during my pregnancy and enabled me to make decisions which molded my entire life.  After much consideration, I chose to raise my son Daniel – I was 17.

After Daniel was born, I went to FCS’ residential program where I completed my high school education and then began my first job. The program provided excellent day-care and helped me learn basic living skills to become a responsible parent. In a short time, I was self-sufficient, and didn’t need public assistance.  I have been employed by a national Property and Casualty Insurance company for 25 years, and currently work as a Field Development Specialist.

Daniel will earn his doctorate degree in May, 2013 from Wingate University’s School of Pharmacy.

Over the past 35 years, I have remained grateful to FCS, and whenever asked I’ve been honored to speak to groups about my experience. At their annual luncheon in 2011, I presented my story to over 350 attendees, resulting in my being featured in a local news story about FCS.  I also direct my charitable contributions through payroll deduction to the agency.  Thank you, FCS!  Without you, I’m certain our lives would have turned out much differently.

Sandy Epperson

If you like the stories we have been sharing, please consider giving a gift to support these girls and women and their families.

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