Common Heartbeat Blog

One of our Getting Ahead graduates, “Ben,” is going through some hard times with isolation and grief from the unexpected death of his wife. Through success coaching at Common Heart, he’s making small milestones to build his social capital. When he is having a bad time at work or in […]

We’re happy to sponsor this powerful workshop with our friends at Thrive! Union. If you’ve ever wanted to learn more about caring for our neighbors in poverty, this workshop is for you!  Cost is $50 which includes lunch and workbook. Register online now: Bridges Out of Poverty Workshop – Friday […]

“I’ve never felt this much kindness.” That was the reaction from our neighbor “Ben,” who stopped by last week seeking food that would fit his special dietary needs. It took several days to get up the courage to reach out for help, he said, and we’re so glad he did!  Your […]

Volunteers — we LOVE you! In honor of #VolunteerAppreciationMonth please grab one of these snazzy pins as a small token of our thanks when you volunteer at any of our locations this month!

It’s spring, which means a time of new beginnings! A time to freshen up around the house and yard. And here at Common Heart, it’s time to Kickstart Kindness into high gear! Get all the details and donate online at: Kickstart.CommonHeart.org A group of generous friends have come together to offer […]

Thanks to a $23,000 grant from Tyson Foods, we will be able to increase the amount of nonperishable foods available for our neighbors in Union County facing food insecurity.  The one-year grant will allow Common Heart to implement a new program, the Food Drive Patrol, to increase the number of […]

For Sarah Ann Carter, Getting Ahead was the boost she didn’t know she needed.  This single mom of two young boys – one who has autism – is a domestic violence survivor. She said until this empowerment group, she didn’t know just how low her self-esteem was. It was affecting […]

We’re excited to introduce you to Grace Lotharp, Empowerment Outreach Coordinator. As part of the Economic Empowerment Team, Grace recruits volunteers and meals for the Getting Ahead program and is building a network of local partners passionate about helping families escape poverty.  Grace has a bachelor’s business degree with a […]

Attention volunteers!  Mark your calendar for our annual Volunteer Appreciation Picnic on Sunday, April 13. We’re thrilled to be returning to the historic Belk Mansion in downtown Monroe to celebrate you! You’ll enjoy a free lunch, door prizes, games and we’ll give out a few volunteer awards.  RSVP by Monday, April 7: https://tinyurl.com/3vsh6twy […]

One of our most recent Getting Ahead graduates, Melanie Torrence, faces a lot of challenges as a kidney dialysis patient. She has treatments at least three times a week and cares for her son, volunteering at his school as much as possible. Before GA, she said, they were living in […]