Services
Rowan Helping Ministries is God’s love in action. We envision a community which helps provide for the essential physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of all its citizens.
Crisis Assistance Network | Financial Assistance | Food Pantry | Clothing Center | Housing
Shelter Services | Jeannie’s Kitchen | Supportive Services | General Resources
Crisis Assistance Network
Our Crisis Assistance Network gives assistance to clients with emergency needs such as past-due rent, utilities, prescription medication copays, housing, food, and clothing. Volunteers work with staff to interview clients, assess their needs and eligibility, and determine available resources.
For more information please call 704-637-6838, Opt: 1.
To receive services please read the following documentation requirements:
Financial Assistance
There are two ways to apply for financial assistance for rental, housing, utilities, and medication assistance:
- Fill out the online application. Staff will review application prior to your selected appointment and may contact you for additional information needed.
- Submit an application in person at the Crisis Assistance Center, 226 N. Long St., 9 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. Monday-Friday. You will receive a follow-up phone call with your scheduled appointment.
Food Pantry
We provide emergency food assistance to Rowan County residents at three locations:
Salisbury: Ralph W. Ketner Crisis Assistance Center
226 N. Long St., Salisbury
Hours: Monday–Friday, 9 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
No appointment needed. First-come, first-served.
West Rowan: Mount Ulla Pantry
785 Grampian Road, Mount Ulla
Hours: Fridays, 9–11 a.m.
Homebound Delivery
Through a partnership with Project DASH, pantry boxes can be delivered to individuals unable to travel.
Contact: Food Appointment Desk, 704-637-6838 Ext. 116
Clothing Center
Donated gently used, seasonal clothing is available for men, women, and children. Sizes vary due to current donations.
226 N. Long St. | Salisbury, NC 28144
Hours: Monday-Friday, 9:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. First come, first serve.
Housing
Permanent Supportive Housing
Our permanent supportive housing program provides safe, stable homes for individuals and families who need longer-term support to maintain housing. The program is expanding, creating additional opportunities for neighbors to secure permanent housing.
We also offer assistance in finding permanent homes for qualifying individuals and families.
Transitional Housing
The Eagle’s Nest transitional housing program provides supportive, short-term housing for individuals and families working toward long-term stability. The program includes three residential options:
- Eagle’s Nest I: Efficiency apartments for parents with one or two children. Residents are employed, contribute a program fee, and participate in supportive services such as budgeting, counseling, and parenting education.
- Eagle’s Nest II: Transitional housing for employed individuals experiencing homelessness. Residents pay a program fee and engage in supportive, skill-building services designed to promote self-sufficiency.
- Eagle’s Nest III: Our newest transitional housing community, offering 12 apartments. Nine units are reserved for Veterans participating in our VA Grant and Per Diem (GPD) program.
Shelter Services
The Robertson-Stanback Center provides temporary shelter for Rowan County residents without an alternative nighttime residence. Residents receive breakfast, lunch, and dinner in Jeannie’s Kitchen, along with supportive services tailored through individual case management.
All guests are asked to follow shelter policies and health protocols to ensure a safe environment for everyone.
Robertson-Stanback Center Shelter
217 N. Long St. | Salisbury, NC 28144
704-637-6838
Open: 24/7
Jeannie’s Kitchen
217 N. Long St. | Salisbury, NC 28144
Lunch: 7 days/week, noon- 1 p.m.
Jeannie’s Kitchen is our community kitchen, providing three meals a day to shelter guests and a midday meal open to anyone in need. Meals are offered without qualification, and all are welcome to join us for lunch.
Guests are asked to follow shelter policies and health guidelines to ensure a safe and welcoming environment for everyone.
For information, please contact Vicky Roth, Food Operations Manager, at
vroth@rowanhelpingministries.org or call her at 704-637-6838, Ext. 105.
Programs For Veterans
Veterans make up approximately 25% of the individuals we serve, and Rowan Helping Ministries is committed to ensuring those who served our country have access to safe housing and the support needed to remain housed.
Through strong partnerships with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, we reach veterans experiencing homelessness through VA referrals and direct outreach. Our veteran services include three VA-funded programs:
- Health Care for Homeless Veterans (HCHV): In partnership with the VA, this program provides resources to help connect veterans to healthcare, housing, and other supportive services while they are experiencing homelessness.
- VA Grant and Per Diem (GPD) Transitional Housing: This program provides short-term, supportive housing for veterans who need a safe and stable place to live while working toward permanent housing.
- Operation Home (VA GPD Case Management): Operation Home provides ongoing case management for veterans who are housed but still need support. Case managers help veterans maintain housing stability, access healthcare and VA benefits, and build the skills and connections needed for long-term independence.
Together, these programs help ensure veterans are not only housed, but supported on their path to stability and self-sufficiency.
Street Outreach Program
Our Street Outreach Program engages individuals and families experiencing unsheltered homelessness—those living in vehicles, encampments, or other places not meant for human habitation. Our focus is on building trust, assessing needs, and connecting people to housing and supportive services that can help them exit homelessness.
If you observe someone in need, please contact Dianne Bruce at 704-637-6838, Ext. 110, or email dbruce@rowanhelpingministries.org.
Supportive Services
Food for Thought
We have managed the Food for Thought childhood hunger prevention program since 2017. This program ensures that students have reliable access to nutritious food outside of school hours. In partnership with Rowan-Salisbury Schools, the program discreetly provides food to children experiencing food insecurity, helping reduce hunger during weekends, holidays, and school breaks.
Working closely with school personnel, Food for Thought prioritizes students identified as most at risk and supports children’s health, well-being, and ability to succeed in the classroom. By addressing food insecurity early, the program helps remove a significant barrier to learning and stability for children and their families.
For more information or to volunteer for a packing party, please contact Vicky Roth, Food Operations Manager,at vroth@rowanhelpingministries.org or call 704-637-6838, Ext. 105.
Community Mentoring
Community Mentoring is a voluntary, client-centered service available to individuals and families engaged in Rowan Helping Ministries programs. Through one-on-one coaching by volunteer Life Coaches, clients are supported in identifying goals, addressing challenges, and developing practical strategies for navigating life transitions.
The program emphasizes personal empowerment, problem-solving, and skill-building, helping clients strengthen self-confidence, decision-making, and resilience as they work toward greater stability and independence.
For information, please contact Cathy Wood at cwood@rowanhelpingministries.org or call 704-637-6838, Ext. 107.
New Tomorrows
New Tomorrows is a volunteer-led education and skill-building program that supports individuals experiencing homelessness and members of the community as they work toward stability and self-sufficiency. Classes focus on practical life skills, employment readiness, and financial management, helping participants build confidence and make informed decisions.
By strengthening core skills and fostering community connection, New Tomorrows helps participants move beyond crisis toward long-term independence.
Classes are offered Monday-Friday, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
For more information, please contact Keven Yates, New Tomorrows Coordinator, at kyates@rowanhelpingministries.org or 704-637-6838, Ext. 118.
Journey Forward
For shelter guests only, this program offers guests the opportunity to rebuild employment skills and a work history, while serving as resident staff. Guests have the opportunity to gain valuable work skills while building their resumes, as they move from the shelter into transitional housing.
For information, please contact Keven Yates, New Tomorrows Coordinator, at kyates@rowanhelpingministries.org or 704-637-6838, Ext. 118.
Garden of Eatin’
North Liberty and Long Streets
Produce grown in our community garden by guests and volunteers is shared through our Food Pantry and used in meals prepared in Jeannie’s Kitchen. The Garden of Eatin’, previously led by longtime volunteer Steve McCombs, is now lovingly maintained by volunteers from Happy Roots.
General Resources
City of Salisbury
Rowan County
Community Care Clinic
Meals on Wheels
Salvation Army
Rowan County Department of Social Services
www.rowancountync.gov/692/Social-Services
Rowan County Health Department
www.rowancountync.gov/256/Health-Department