A Love Story – Charlotte, North Carolina
Olivia, a single mother of three, was searching for a better life for her family. Relying on the promise of help from a friend, Olivia and her children moved from Georgia to Charlotte, North Carolina. When the promise was broken, Olivia and her family were homeless and alone. They spent their evenings at a women's shelter and their days at libraries or other public buildings.
But all of this changed when a social worker picked up the phone and called Love INC of Mecklenburg County in Charlotte. Love INC shared the needs of Olivia and her family with the churches in her area. Two days later, a pastor from a local church called with great news: there was an empty house, with all utilities paid, available for the family. Ten churches joined the effort and turned this empty house into a home with furniture, food, clothing, and toys for the children.
Since that time, Love INC and its partner churches have connected dedicated Love INC volunteers with Olivia and her children. They have helped Olivia find a job and get a car, tutored her children, and offered budget counseling. They have found extra help for Olivia's youngest daughter who suffers from cerebral palsy. And volunteers have led Olivia and her family to find the love of Christ and be baptized in a church they now attend regularly.