The Cleveland County Rescue Mission was presented with $127,000 from the State of North Carolina recently. Speaker of the House and Shelby native Tim Moore presented Executive Director Michael Gullatte with the ceremonial check at Cleveland County Rescue Mission on Tuesday morning, September 25th.
Speaker Moore and his staff have visited the Rescue Mission on Buffalo Street on several occasions and is impressed with the work CCRM is doing to build up the community of Cleveland County.
"Through supportive services offered at CCRM," said Executive Director, Michael Gullatte, "the Rescue Mission alleviates millions of dollars from state tax payers annually. Speaker Moore's support of our fund request acknowledges the good work we do at CCRM for men, women, and children."
During Speaker Moore's visits, he has seen, first-hand the life changes that occur at CCRM and Heart2Heart Place. "This state investment is driven by the success and results the Rescue Mission continues to produce for Cleveland County and hundreds of folks in our community faced with homelessness," Moore said. "I'm excited we have this opportunity to support the volunteers and staff at the Rescue Mission who serve their neighbors in need of help through a difficult time."
Gullatte points out "in the three years since CCRM has served Cleveland and surrounding counties with 24/7 services, we have given second chances to more than 1,200 men, women and children, provided over 50,000 nights of shelter, served over 200,000 meals, reunited more than 150 families, in addition to seeing a significant decrease in Emergency Room visits, as well as panhandling and loitering."
Cleveland County Rescue Mission operates a mission at 1100 Buffalo Street for men and a facility at 301 N. Washington Street for women and women with children; as well as transitional homes in the area.
Between the various facilities, CCRM served 410 individuals last fiscal year, providing over 13,000 nights of shelter. More than 78,000 meals were served or distributed to the community and more than 75% of clients secured gainful employment. Currently, 95% of residents at the men's mission are employed and the Adult Basic Education as well as workforce development classes that meet daily are fuller than ever.
Gullatte added, "Cleveland County Rescue Mission believes in second chances. Each one of us has a story of redemption and grace and CCRM is the lifeline of opportunity for those facing homelessness to get connected to resources and experience God's grace and mercy. We love because He first loved us. We help because we are commissioned to do so, and we can't resist great comeback stories!"
Cleveland County Rescue Mission is a non-profit, faith-based organization dedicated to providing 24/7 food, shelter, and supportive services to men, women, and children who are homeless or at-risk of becoming homeless. For additional information about the services provided at CCRM, donations needs, or volunteer opportunities, contact Teresa Gash, Outreach Coordinator/Receptionist at 704-751-1256 or teresa.gash@myccrm.org. Tax deductible donations to the Cleveland County Rescue Mission can be made online at www.myccrm.org/donate or by texting "HopeCCRM" to 95577.

Pictured Left to right: Ronnie Whetstine, Cleveland County Commissioner; Representative Kelly Hastings, Tim Moore, Speaker of NC House; Michael Gullate, CCRM Executive Director; Dr. Jess Powell, CCRM Board Chair, and Ted Alexander, 10th District Chairman for NC GOP.
Submitted by CCRM