Common Cupboard is a "pooled resource" for people helping people.

Common Cupboard is a missional endeavor of Common Heart Missional Community, a developing community of followers of Jesus from various local denominational and non-denominational churches in  Union and Mecklenburg Counites, NC. Located in Indian Trail NC, in the Charlotte, NC area, Common Cupboard currently has about 50 people serving about 250 families a month by delivering groceries and visiting them in their homes. The Cupboard is a food pantry with a twist. We do things a little different than some food pantries which has a lot to do with why we got started and our desire to equip people to serve, hands on.

How did Common Cupboard start?

Common Cupboard came about because we regularly came into contact with people who could use a little help. For whatever reason – possibly a family crisis, unemployment, or illness – they had difficulty meeting their needs. Often they were single parents or people who due to illness or a fixed income just needed a little help. You know people like that too. We helped out the best we could by grabbing an extra bag of groceries at the store, or going to our own pantries or cupboards and giving what we could to help. It dawned on us that if we pooled our resources of money and groceries, along with donations from community businesses and organizations that we could help out a lot more folks and equip others to reach out through active kindness too.

Why do we encourage faith communities and individuals to partner with us instead of just reaching out to them by ourselves?

We believe that people helping people has much more positive potential than an organization or agency giving handouts. Because of this philosophy we want to keep Common Cupboard in the background and invisible to those receiving assistance. We enable faith communities and individuals to reach out into the community without having to "reinvent the wheel." This is why we encourage and seek out partherships between local churches and Common Cupboard. Through the food pantry, training, and other assistance we are able to help churches equip their own people to reach out personally with love and kindness.

Why do we encourage delivery of food to homes rather than having those in need come to a central location?

While distribution from a central location is convenient, we feel that it sets up an institutional mentality that we desire to avoid. By visiting people, developing relationships, and seeing needs first hand we can make a difference in a way that we couldn’t from an institutional approach. Using a "central distribution" model would not facilitate this as well as visiting families in their homes. It may take time and energy, but we believe it is worth it.

Where do the groceries and other items we give away come from?

We are a "pooled resource" so those who volunteer are involved in giving. But it is also a community resource so churches, business, and other organizations in our community help out too. Some help by organizing food drives. Other individuals and businesses give tax-deductible financial gifts. We actively seek donations from grocery stores and other food based businesses in our community. We are also an agency of Second Harvest Metrolina and network with them and other pantries and ministries to acquire the necessary items to give away freely.

We desire to equip followers of Jesus and their local churches to reach out with God’s love. We are looking for partnering churches who would like to develop a ministry to those in need in their communities. We will equip them to reach out to 1, 2 or 10 families and facilitate a viable ministry demonstrating God's love to those in need.

How can you help??  Contact us we would love to have you participate with us. Email Keith @ kadams720@gmail.com