What is Common Cupboard?

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

We do things a little different than some food pantries. It 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 firshand 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.

How can you help?

Of course we need financial giving as any non-profit organization would. We need churches, businesses, and individuals who will give financially on a monthly and one-time basis. We also need people with a common heart who want to reach out to people in need by visiting, giving groceries, lending a listening ear, and showing folks that they are not alone.

We desire to equip churches and individuals to reach out with God’s love. We need partnering churches who will facilitate their people to reach out to 1, 2 or 10 families. We need people to shop for groceries, pick up donations, stock shelves, prepare boxes for delivery, and network with community organizations and businesses.

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