While it may be fading into the background, the Covid-19 pandemic created moments of crisis in nearly every community around the globe. Charlotte was no different. With school and business closures and the normal routines of life disrupted, to say nothing of the fear many people experienced, there was great need for people to step up and care for each other. Thankfully, churches throughout Greater Charlotte were ready.

Over many years the FORCLT church network has been building relationships among church pastors and leaders. These relationships help unify these churches around a shared mission, to come together and be able to demonstrate the love of Jesus and the gospel in action. When the pandemic hit, the city knew there was a community they could rely on to step up and serve.

Rob Kelly, FORCLT’s CEO and Founder got the call almost immediately after the stay at home order was released. The ask, can you come to the Emergency Management Center and help us coordinate a collaborative volunteer response. The team at the Emergency Management Center knew that needs would stack up quickly and there was going to be more work than they had staff and volunteers would be critical. Rob and the FORCLT team showed up and began connecting with others who had heeded the call. The YMCA of Greater Charlotte, The Foundation for the Carolinas, The United Way and many more jumped in alongside teams from Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools and other agencies.

In the end, over 30,000 volunteers were mobilized through that coalition and of those volunteers, roughly 95% came from churches. The city and the state recognized FORCLT with the Governor’s Medal for outstanding service to the community. In truth, FORCLT only acted as a representative to the collaborative work of the entire church working as one body across the city.

Following the pandemic, the churches and nonprofits have stayed connected and committed to serving anytime they are needed as part of FORCLT’s collaborative network and the CharMeck Responds Coalition.