MATTHEWS HELP CENTER

Since 1979, Matthews HELP Center has had very strong roots and a rich history of helping our local community. Over time, we have grown both in scope and volume, and today we have developed a proven service model supported by an array of programs and diverse funding sources. In the near-term, our agency will continue responding to the needs of our community through growth and refinement of our existing programs. Over the long-term, we must strategically assume an ever-larger role in the community in order to more effectively fulfill our mission and successfully serve those in need.

Matthews Help Center's Programs and Services provide short-term assistance of life essentials to individuals and families in financial crisis. Assistance can include food, clothing, shelter, transportation, childcare expenses, counseling in financial behaviors and budgeting, as well as multiple community resources for services not provided at MHC. MHC also supports complementary programs that support our client's children and provide positive psycho-social behaviors for the families. MHC's Bounceback Backpack program provides schoolchildren in the Mecklenburg County School system with a backpack full of healthy, non-perishable food every weekend throughout the school year. MHC operates a Thrift Store to offer articles of everyday living for free to our clients and at affordable prices to low income families. We also support seasonal programs, including the Back 2 School program providing grade-appropriate school supplies, Thanksgiving Feast and Holiday Support programs. We strive to provide basic living essentials, counseling and supportive programs that lead to stability.

Our performance targets to carry out the mission are:
Rigorously assessed Programs and Services to provide the greatest impact to meet evolving community needs.
Structure fundraising adhere to Financial Best Practices and the Association of Fundraising Professionals Code of Ethics.
Empower the board, staff and volunteers to deliver compassionate service through our organizational structure.
Provide facilities that are welcoming with an integrated environment and flexibility to adapt to ever-changing needs.
Model leadership, advocacy and support for the community.
Provide a Thrift Store environment for clients, customers, and volunteers that is pleasant while providing financial support.

Matthews HELP Center recently assessed and reviewed all of our programs and services to ensure proper focus and mission alignment. This on-going refinement process is an important part of our strategic approach to prohibit cyclical financial dependency and establish a sustainable future for our targeted clients. Our programs are primarily designed to stop the poverty cycle before it starts. To do that, MHC must be flexible and agile enough to act preemptively -- before eviction occurs or utilities are disconnected, for example. This proactive strategy ultimately ensures that our services will have the greatest impact.

This strategy is implemented by providing short-term assistance to clients through our core services: financial crisis assistance, and community referrals. While all of our clients are treated with exceptional warmth and respect, they are carefully screened by our social workers to ensure, as well, that funds are utilized efficiently and disbursed with integrity. Crisis assistance includes basic needs such as food, rent, mortgage, utilities, transportation, clothing and childcare expenses. Community referrals are given based on our database of resources that benefit clients' needs that are beyond the scope of our service offerings.

Matthews HELP Center's core services are augmented by other specifically targeted programs such as BounceBack Backpacks (weekend food for school children), Back To School Supplies, Thanksgiving Feast and Holiday Support initiatives.

Matthews HELP Center has a long history of helping those in need and enjoys an excellent reputation in the community. For FY 2016-17, our operating budget of $1,342,037. was supported by a paid staff of 10 and 41,136 volunteer hours. Our volunteer support is truly an extraordinary resource, and many dedicated volunteers have been with us for over 20 years!

Our organization is structured to be agile and respond quickly to changing needs. We are governed by a strong, connected board of directors, led by a seasoned executive director, and our dedicated staff includes professional social workers and other accomplished professionals.

Our program capabilities are supported by a sustainable funding model. We are proud to say that MHC receives no federal, state, local government or United Way funding. The income needed to assist those in need comes from:
38% in Contributions, Bequests, Special Events, and Grants
30% In- Kind Contributions
32% Earned Income

Matthews Help Center has an independent financial audits conducted annually and has also established a Sustainability Fund with the Foundation for the Carolinas as a commitment to the future well-being of your community.
For 38 years the community has entrusted MHC with their gifts to assist neighbors who need help. Today, we are still the trusted source.

Matthews HELP Center has experienced dramatic growth driven by rising demand and population in our service area. In the past fiscal year the reported need of assistance has increased by 33%. We are working to meet this challenge with necessary increases in staff and by reviewing and refining our services, allowing us to continue meeting the basic human needs of our clients.

MHC focuses on ensuring that we are not just a “Band-Aid" fix, as we will work with a family for up to three years if needed to develop a sustainable solution. While our clients are always served in a warm and dignifying way, we have also taken steps to ensure that we are not fostering dependency and that clients are progressing toward self-sufficiency. Our social work philosophy is to only do that which clients cannot do for themselves.

Looking forward, we are positioned to continue assuming a larger role in the community as we respond to increasing needs and strive to disburse our services with greater efficiency and effectiveness. Fiscal year 2017/18 is underway and our focus remains centered on a short term bridge of assistance providing life essentials and counseling to adults and children in financial crisis. We are guided by our philosophy of dignity for the client, concentration of essential resources and services to fill the gap between crisis and client directed stability. Due to the 33% growth in reported client expenses, primarily driven by housing and childcare costs, we will also be working hard to grow our base of donors and provide new financial support opportunities to meet the growing need of families in crisis.