Welcome to Friendship Helping Ministries!

"Look not every man on his own things; but every man also on the things of others." Philippians 2:4

Friendship Helping Ministries is a non-profit agency that provides an array of services to those youth or adults who for whatever reason have become displaced or isolated from social and/or economic life. This group may include:

● youth and adults who are homeless or economically disadvantaged;
● youth in foster care settings;
● youth or adults who are physically disabled;
● elderly adults who live alone and have several overlooked needs;
● youth or adults who are uneducated/undereducated in basic academic skills or life survival skills;
● unemployed, underemployed, incarcerated, physically ill, non-ambulatory or hospitalized.

Moreover, because we also realize that there are many youth or adults from various walks of life who have similar needs for optimum spiritual, physical, social, psychological, and vocational health, 'FHM' and the services it provides are available to them as well.

Our Partners

Crisis Ministries                                             Mecklenburg County Department of Social Services
The United Way 211 Referral Network        Food Stamps Division, TANF Division
Just One Call Referral Network                    Queens University
Salvation Army                                                Johnson C. Smith University
Energy Committed to Offenders                   Second Harvest Food Bank
Barters and Favors                                          YMCA Dowd Strengthening Families
Pritchard Memorial Baptist Church              Foundation for Sustainability and Innovation
Cargill Inc.                                                        The Max and Victoria Dreyfus Foundation
The Light of Christ Missions Fund of the United Methodist Church of Charlotte

News & Upcoming Events

We will be starting the five week basic adult computer literacy course
on June 14-15, 2006 @ 6pm. The course will be held @ Redemption Christian Ministries
301 W. 24th St., Charlotte, NC 28206.

Click here for more information.

Our Food Pantry is Active at the following location:

Redemption Christian Ministries
301 24th St., Charlotte, NC 28206
Hours Open: MWF 1-4pm

About the Founder

Friendship Helping Ministries was founded by Executive Director Thomas D. Sharts in April of 1999. Mr. Sharts is a Professor of Sociology and Human Services with Florence Darlington Technical College. According Mr. Sharts, he founded Friendship Helping Ministries as an opportunity to learn what “theories regarding social services and education actually yield results in the real world.”

He says, “too many higher education programs of social work/education and professors therein - determine their instruction upon purely theoretical practices with little or no understanding of how the real world actually functions. Conversely, FHM has been a learning laboratory of humility and an opportunity for me to learn that sometimes - my limited knowledge and understanding - needs the assistance of others.

The greatest lesson I have learned through the development of this organization is that a competent division of labor is necessary for any long-term success to be realized regarding our agency’s mission purposes.

Friendship Helping Ministries Recycling Philosophy

FHM perceives value in diverse material throwaways so vast in American society today. Our goal is to develop a small economy through recycling and refurbishing activities to reach a number of the following goals:

1) Keep potential re-usable throwaways from landfills,

2) Allow for designated trash to become re-usable through refurbishing,

3) Provide training, skill development and employment opportunities for those individuals involved with repair or refurbishing recycled materials,

4) Become a model for organizations and municipalities regarding the value and economic benefits associated with recycling,

5) To generate revenue for the purpose of supporting social service programs that encourage and empower and individuals to reach their full potentials as: spiritual, physical, social, psychological and vocational human beings.