RunningWorks

We RUN ~ We WORK ~ We HOUSE

RunningWorks utilizes a step by step team-oriented process that helps men, women and children overcome poverty, homelessness and addiction.

The biggest problem homeless individuals face is that something happened that made them lose their way (loss of job, addiction, abuse). To make matters worse, their family and trusted community often disowns them, and they get caught in a downward spiral of isolation, addiction and depression.

To help counteract this problem, RunningWorks has developed a 3-prong approach to empower our clients (a.k.a. Team Members) to break cycles of abuse, neglect, poverty and homelessness:

We Run: Most clients and participants are introduced to RunningWorks through our health and wellness programs and initiatives, which are designed to promote healthy lifestyle habits and choices while addressing the physical, mental and social health needs of our clients.

We Work: This phase is designed to help participants create pathways out of homelessness and poverty by increasing access and opportunities for education, career advancement, personal development and financial literacy.

We House: The third phase of the program consists of our supportive, housing initiatives, which are designed to connect homeless individuals and families with affordable, low-barrier, permanent housing opportunities.

IMPACT OF COVID-19 - SPECIFIC NEEDS:

Team members in our subsidized Supportive Housing Program are all on their way to self-sufficiency in varying degrees, employed or on SSI or SSDI (and some fully self-supporting), but this crisis has hit them hard for their jobs are the ones that were cut first: dishwashers, line chefs, hotel workers, janitorial staff, etc. We have already heard from many of our team members that they have lost their jobs or had their work schedules drastically cut due to COVID-19. As a result, our financial commitment to keeping them in housing during this time has increased exponentially—and our exposure was already close to $100k.

3 Ways you can help:

1. Make a Financial Donation: Donations can be made in three ways.

ONLINE: Visit www.RunningWorks.org/Donate.

TEXT TO GIVE: You can also make a gift by texting "DONATE" to (980) 243-0700.

BY MAIL: If you’d like to send a gift, make checks payable to RunningWorks and send to: RunningWorks; 401 Hawthorne Lane STE 110-317; Charlotte, NC 28204

2. Make an In-Kind Donation: As we support team members through this difficult situation, our goal is to make sure they have supplies on hand to safely shelter in place. We’ll be distributing care packages to Team Members on Tuesday, March 31.

Items Needed: disinfectant wipes, disinfectant spray cleaner, toilet paper, paper towels, hand soap, dish soap, non-perishable food (i.e. canned items, Mac’n Cheese, pasta, etc.)

Drop Off Options: Monday, March 23 – Friday, March 27 from 9am – 12pm at RunningWorks Headquarters (901 North Tryon Street, Suite E, Charlotte, NC 28206

Contact Info@runningworks.org for alternate drop off options

3. Stay Connected: We are doing all we can to continue building relationships and maintaining a sense of family and community among our team members in this time of uncertainty. On Tuesday, March 24, we will begin hosting virtual programs via our private Facebook Group. We invite you to join us.

Log on to Facebook and search "RW Team," and submit a request to join our private group.

Follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter for continued updates.

If you have any questions, concerns or access to information that may help our team members during this time, please contact us at info@runningworks.org.