Sandra Conway, executive director of Matthews HELP Center, said what began as a small community project in Matthews has grown to helping thousands of households annually. MMHW file photo
MATTHEWS – A campaign to support the Matthews HELP Center is $20,000 shy of its $100,000 goal and is looking to the community to help finish the effort by Labor Day.
“We think that if people can give a dollar or are blessed enough to give $1,000, it all adds up. If 20,000 people give a dollar, we would be right there,” former mayor Jim Taylor said. “It is attainable in our mind.”
In April, community leaders asked the public to give to the Matthew HELP Center through a GoFundMe campaign called “Matthews HELPing Matthews.” The idea came from Mumukshu Brahmbhatt, owner of the UPS store in the Sycamore Commons Shopping Center.
Brahmbhatt helped organize a steering committee that includes Taylor, Mayor John Higdon, video producer and photographer Steve Huff and other town leaders and business owners.
The Matthews HELP Center, located at 119 N. Ames St., helps to ease poverty in zip codes 28104, 28105, 28226, 28270 and 28079. In addition to its food pantry, the nonprofit also offers crisis assistance and runs back to school, backpack, Thanksgiving feast and holiday support programs.
Part of what makes it possible to help so many in need is Matthews HELP Center’s Backporch Treasures boutique and thrift shop. Sales make up 65% of the organization’s budget. The rest comes from donations from the community.
While the nonprofit is well-positioned to provide for the “normal” level of need throughout the year, volunteers have been giving groceries to more people during the COVID-19 crisis than they’re used to. It is estimated more than a third of the people served are first-timers.
The need continues to grow as the economic impact of COVID-19 spreads, which is why contributions from the community are so important. All of the money raised from the Matthews HELPing Matthews campaign will go directly to meeting this need, whether that’s feeding families, paying utility bills or offsetting housing costs.
As of Aug. 18, the campaign has raised about $80,000. Taylor said the money is a combination of direct contributions to the HELP Center, donations made on the GoFundMe page and the value of in-kind donations from local corporations and businesses such as food, child care products, women’s apparel and restaurant gift cards.
So far, Taylor said social media has been helpful in spreading the word, but the struggle lies in converting those connections to contributions. He said the Town of Matthews also shared the effort in its newsletter and corporate partners and individual donors have been generous.
“We feel very confident, very honored and very pleased with the response so far,” Taylor said.
The HELP Center has been in Matthews for over 40 years and has an infrastructure in place, a strong group of volunteers and a proven client screening process. Taylor said this makes the nonprofit one of the most efficient distributors of funds to people in need in the community.
“As wonderful a town as Matthews is, there are still people in and around our town that are struggling. Any one of us could need to rely on the HELP Center in the future,” Taylor said. “Nobody wants to ask for help, but it’s wonderful to have an organization like the HELP Center to be there when something terrible happens.”
MUMUKSHU BRAHMBHATT says
To,
Editor-Team Matthews Mint Hill Weekly and Karie,
We appreciate your contribution in sharing community efforts for community. Together we can make our community stronger. It is needs village to raise child concept.
On behalf of my team Matthews Helping Matthews we like to acknowledge your sincere support and efforts in speeding message.
Warmest Regards,
Mumukshu Brahmbhatt
Keesey Hayward says
Thanks for your initiative on this Mumukshu!
Love to hear all that the Matthews Help Center is doing for the Greater Matthews Area – keep up the good work!
JKH
(Matthews Plantation)
MUMUKSHU BRAHMBHATT says
Keesey & Whom It May Concern,
We always talk about “unprecedented” time-situations etc all the time for so many things which in it self unprecedented however I believe this pandemic situation is truly called unprecedented since it has touched entire world regardless of race-religion-countries. We only read Spanish flu and various pandemics however in our life this is first time ever happening that we all can witness-relate and it might be the last in our life cycle one can hope.
This particular time is changing and shifting mental-physical health which our health professionals are assigned to work and they all are trying their best, Questions comes what can we do ? As Pandemic called (COVID-Corona) has also effected large amount of populations financially which affect in many other areas for them individually and their family including kids.
Thus I and many like minded (leaders) people come together to do best we can, though it will remain drop in bucket however I believe in doing best I can than complain about situation.
As one day we all have to answer our self what have we done to resolve or help during Pandemic ?
Members (All citizens) of community is our strength and they all are open heartedly helping “Matthews Helping Matthews” Via Direct checks to Matthews Help Center and Via Go Fund Me page link as “https://www.gofundme.com/f/matthews-helping-matthews” local businesses-corporations to spiritual organization is also helping reach the goal of $100- thousand by Sep. 7th 2020
On behalf of my team of Volunteers I am thanking all donors and community outpouring support.
Help us help our community.
Once again thanks to you and all.
Warmest Regards,
Mumukshu Brahmbhatt “M.B.”
The UPS Store-Sycamore Commons