Frequently Asked Questions
What is CUOC?
How long has the center been in Asheboro?
What is the history behind the CUOC?
Who do we help?
When is the center open?
What do we do?
What is Room In The Inn and Project Independence?
How do we determine whether to help?
What items are needed in the food pantry? How many items are used monthly?
Why does the center have a Thrift Store?
What donations will the center accept? Do you pick up donations?
Who supports the center financially? Where does the money come from?
Does the center loan money to people?
What is the size of the staff?
How can I support the center’s efforts?
Do seasonal changes make a difference in client needs?
What is the CUOC relationship with other agencies?
Do we use volunteers? Youngest? Oldest? Handicapped?
What do volunteers do?
How many hours do volunteers help each month in the pantry? Front office? Thrift store?
What is CUOC?
Christians United Outreach Center.
How long has the center been in Asheboro?
The CUOC opened its doors in uptown Asheboro February 1, 1994. The center is located at 135 Sunset Avenue. The mailing address is P.O. Box 784, Asheboro, NC 27204. The telephone number for the center is 625-1500.
What is the history behind the CUOC?
For about twenty years, ministers throughout the community had discussed the possibility of the churches coming together to form an urban-ministry type program for Randolph County. In 1993, the Greater Asheboro Ministerial Association called a town meeting to determine if there were unmet needs within the community and if such a center was needed. About 100 people representing approximately 40 churches gathered for this meeting. It was determined that a center was needed and in fact, there were several unmet needs in the community. From this meeting, a committee was appointed to develop the center’s mission and to secure a suitable site for the center.
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Who do we help?
Our target population is the working poor, temporarily unemployed, disabled, elderly, and other residents of Randolph County that are in crisis due to circumstances beyond their control. Will help from CUOC alleviate the problem? In 2007 lives were touched 22,000 times with short-term crisis intervention and 1,115 beds were occupied with our temporary shelter program, Room In the Inn.
When is the center open?
Client services hours are Monday – Wednesday 10:00am – 3:00pm, and Thursday 10:00am – 6:00pm. The staff and volunteers involved with client services work Monday – Wednesday, 9:00am – 5:00pm, Thursday 9:00am- 6:00pm, and Friday 9:00am - 5:00pm. Intake for Room in the Inn is Monday – Friday from 3:00 – 5:00 at CUOC. On Weekends and holidays, applicants are placed in a motel until they can be properly screened the next Monday for eligibility.
What do we do?
The CUOC is able to meet needs through a variety of programs:
- Give food and non-food items from our food pantry;
- Provide clothing, furniture, household items, bedding, and appliances from our thrift store
- Loan medical equipment such as wheelchairs, crutches, canes, and bedside commodes from our medical supply closet
- Purchase prescriptions and medical supplies, paying utilities, rents and mortgages, buying gasoline and paying for repairs through our financial assistance programs
- Refer clients and others in the community to a credit counseling service
- Offer a prayer ministry with volunteers at the center & available to clients on Wednesday or giving clients an opportunity to write a prayer request and leaving it for the prayer team to pray over
- Provide temporary shelter for homeless Randolph County residents through Room In the INN
- Provide direction and transitional housing through our comprehensive program, Project Independence
- Assist individuals who have been displaced from their job due to plant / business closings or layoffs with supportive services while they learn new job skills, start classes at RCC or participate in other career readiness opportunities
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What is Room In The Inn and Project Independence?
With the two programs “Room in the Inn” and Project Independence, participants are individuals and families (parties of related persons) in Randolph County, who have lost their housing due to economic distress, families where one member has re-entered society post rehabilitative services, those who are homeless as a result of crisis due to death, abandonment or abuse by the head of household or a member of household, and those who have yet to be identified. Where “Room in the Inn” is a temporary solution to an immediate need, Project Independence is a long-term solution with supportive services. The later program is designed to assist a person(s) for a period of up to two years. To be eligible, the participant should be desire driven to become self-sufficient within a two year time period, be willing to work with a program manager and volunteer mentor to develop a plan of action to reach such goals and be willing to “work the plan.
How do we determine whether to help?
To determine if the CUOC will be able to assist a client’s request, we ask these main questions: 1) What help is the client asking for (is it a basic need). 2) What situation led to the need for help? 3) Will “help” help or prolong the problem? And 4) What can we do to help?
What items are needed in the food pantry? How many items are used monthly?
We ask for staple products that require little or no mixing and few additional ingredients. We ask for dry milk in quart envelopes. We often substitute peanut butter in place of meat for families with children. We ask for cereal, saltine crackers, macaroni & cheese, as well as canned vegetables.
Currently, an average of 600 food baskets are given each month. Each food basket contains approximately 28 food items (the total is based on the number of family members). In a month’s time, we will use 18,184 food items. Last year we provided food baskets containing food for a week 7,556 times! This was over 281,496 pounds of food !
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Why does the center have a Thrift Store?
The Thrift Store is a very important part of Christians United Outreach Center. The store provides an opportunity for the staff and volunteers to come together with the community and clients for a common goal – good stewardship. By offering items at a thrifty price, anyone can come to purchase those items that “make a house a home.” Members of our community who cannot resist a bargain or love to shop for that one “treasure” enjoy the challenge of the hunt. Many in our community may need our assistance, but are too proud to ask. We see families in this category that benefit from shopping at the Thrift Store. We also see those who come out to support the CUOC and check on business!
Clients can come to shop and purchase additional items for their family and home that may fall into the “want” category as opposed to a “need” that we meet through client services with our voucher program. This is also a good “budget” decision for a struggling family.
Proceeds from the Thrift Store support the Center’s benevolence program.
What donations will the center accept? Do you pick up donations?
We accept any good used or new items of clothing, furniture, household appliances, tools, hardware, sporting equipment, and the like – items with life in them! Remember, DONATE DON’T DUMP! CUOC has to pay for the removal of items that are not usable! At this time, we rarely pick up items that have been donated. Please call our Thrift Store manager to see if something can be arranged in an emergency.
Who supports the center financially? Where does the money come from?
The CUOC is a partner with the United Way of Randolph County. The center receives financial contributions from churches, businesses, individuals, and grantors. Many give to the CUOC on a monthly basis, while others may give periodically. We are happy to accept memorial or honorary gifts. Project New Start, Project Independence, and Room in the Inn, are completely / partially funded by government and private foundation grants.
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Does the center loan money to people?
No. Families and individuals that receive financial assistance do not see nor receive the check themselves. The center pays directly to the mortgage holder, landlord, utility company, pharmacy or the source of the bill.
What is the size of the staff?
Currently, the CUOC has a staff of fourteen. Three are full time; the other eleven are part time. In the area of administration there is an Executive Director, Assistant Director, and Financial Coordinator. In client services there are two client services coordinators, Room in the Inn coordinator, a case manager for the second phase of Project Independence and staff person responsible for the first phase of Project Independence and Project New Start. In the Thrift Store there is a Store Manager, a full time assistant and three part-time assistants. The staff is incomplete without the efforts of our volunteer force. Last year over 26,000 volunteer hours were donated to assist with the Thrift Store, benevolence and homeless programs.
How can I support the center’s efforts?
First, we ask for the prayers of the people. Through the outreach family, we are able to affect the lives of many in our community. Clients, volunteers, social workers and so many more come through our doors on a daily basis. Pray for God’s blessing and direction as we strive to meet the needs of our community.
Give. Your time, talent, and treasure will affect the lives of many throughout Randolph County. Volunteers are always needed. Call today for more information about how you can join our volunteer team. Check our newsletter; volunteer opportunities are often listed there.
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Do seasonal changes make a difference in client needs?
Yes. You may find it hard to believe that we give away more food from the pantry in the summer months. Children are not in school and do not receive cafeteria meals. This increased need for food may strain a family’s resources during the time that school is out.
Those individuals who are on a fixed income will often come for help when cold weather sets in. In the late fall, we see families who need help filling their gas or oil tanks for the first time of the season.
Extreme weather plays a part in need as well. When plants are closed due to snow, power outages, rains from hurricanes, etc. and work has stopped or workers are placed on short time, a family’s bills and need for food continue.
What is the CUOC relationship with other agencies?
Ruth Johnson, Salvation Army Social Worker:
“I believe the two agencies have a good relationship.”
Lisa Royal, Randolph County Department of Social Services:
“Randolph County DSS and CUOC work together to help people get the assistance they need to maintain a home, feed their children and themselves, enable them to go to work, and to live safely in the community. Many times neither agency alone can meet the needs some people have. Our agencies pool our resources to meet the needs and to stretch available funds as far as possible... When we are able to, we share information so that services are not duplicated. We both urge people to become more self-sufficient and less dependent on agencies for the basics.”
Carol Coble, Director of Resource Management – Randolph Hospital
“We call on CUOC many times for help in meeting the needs of patients being discharged from the hospital. Often, we seek assistance with the purchase of medications for a patient who can’t afford to buy them. Sometimes we ask for help with housing, food, or the purchase or loan of equipment. I can’t remember a time that I’ve called when the CUOC staff hasn’t offered some type of assistance. CUOC is truly a valuable resource for our community.”
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Do we use volunteers? Youngest? Oldest? Handicapped?
The center relies on the talents and abilities of more than 300 volunteers. The CUOC has record of more than 26,600 volunteer hours for the year 2007.
CUOC is blessed to have volunteers from all age groups. We encourage school-age children to begin volunteer service through projects in the classroom or scouts. Children can also volunteer through the Center, in the Thrift Store or during special events with a parent or mentoring adult. Some activities may be age restricted for safety reasons. We encourage youth groups to get involved with fund raising activities as well as assist on Saturdays with the Thrift Store.
What do volunteers do?
Through the center, volunteers work as support staff and provide assistance in the following areas:
- Front office (answer the telephone, file client files, assist clients with paperwork)
- Pantry (prepare food baskets and put away food items as the donations are brought in)
- Prayer Team – Wednesday afternoons (prays with and for the clients, CUOC, the community, government leaders and more)
- Bookkeeping and reporting,
- Thrift Store preparation (sort, fold, hang, and straighten items)
- Store volunteers (take money, help locate items for shoppers, bag purchases, straighten racks, and more)
- Special events
- Service committees
- Board of directors
Volunteers, with a vast number of gifts, use their talent in service to the Lord and community.
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How many hours do volunteers help each month in the pantry? Front office? Thrift store?
Most of our volunteers work one or two, 4 hour shifts per week.
Pantry positions am: Monday –Thursday 9:00-1:00
pm: Monday – Wednesday 1:00- 5:00
Thursday 1:00 – 6:00
Office positions am: Monday –Thursday 9:00-1:00
pm: Monday- Wednesday 1:00-5:00
Thursday 1:30-6:00
Thrift Store positions: Monday – Friday 9:30 – 1:30 or 1:30-5:30
Saturday – 9:45 – 3:00
The Center volunteers usually work a shift each week, however arrangements can be made for every other week, two or three times per month, or one Saturday per month in the Thrift Store; or one Thursday evening per month in the front office. We will work with you any way we can if you desire to become part of our family at Christians United Outreach Center!
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