CHARLOTTE, N.C. — It started with a choice.
"And I chose life," Jalisa Maxwell said.
Maxwell is a domestic abuse survivor. She’s been a part of The Harvest Center for about 18 months now.
The nonprofit works to make sure people in need can get basic necessities.
For Maxwell, that meant getting help in finding a higher-paying job, providing meals for her and her kids throughout the week, and counseling.
Today, she is another success story — graduating from the program.
"Even for $15,000 what we can do is return $40,00 in in-kind services to the community," Colin Pinkeney, the Harvest Center’s CEO, said.
Pinkeney added it’s an investment that pays off. That $15,000 is used to take on what he calls the holistic approach to help.
"To help them rebuild their financial foundation, their academic foundation, their mental health, their wellness," he said.
The Harvest Center was founded more than 40 years ago, starting as a soup kitchen in 1980. Now, it has expanded to more services, focusing on what’s called transitional homelessness: Where traumas like domestic abuse, issues with health, losing a job or other crises leave people without a home.
It’s why The Harvest Center’s Friendsgiving is back again. This year it returns gifting dozens of families a boxed meal to take home for the holidays.
WCNC Charlotte asked Pinkeney about the "why" behind the work.
"Because people are looking for hope," he answered. "And we found people have more hope when they’re helped."
As for Maxwell, she’s ready to celebrate Thanksgiving this year, because this time, the holiday season looks better than ever before.
"They help everybody, especially those that want to be helped," she said.
Contact Kia Murray at kmurray@wcnc.com and follow her on Facebook, X and Instagram.