News & Events

Longtime Kernersville residents Jim and Mary Taylor recently donated $20,000 to support Crisis Control Ministry and our mission to assist people in crisis.

The donation was made possible by a donor advised fund through the Kernersville Foundation, which is a charitable giving account that allows families to make contributions to charities over time while taking an immediate tax deduction.

Jim and Mary are the owners of the Kernersville Auto Museum and well known for their charitable efforts. In addition to the donation to Crisis Control Ministry, the Taylors also presented six other local nonprofits with $20,000 checks.

During the check presentation held at the museum, Jim said they felt it was the perfect time to make a contribution to the organizations doing the work to uplift people in need. Other nonprofits who received donations are Hasten International Medical Missions, Next Step Ministries, North Carolina School of Biblical Studies, Salvation Army, Second Harvest Food Bank, and The Shepard’s Center.

“This is really not about Jim and Mary, we’ve been so blessed and the more we give, it seems like the more we are able to give. I know the bible speaks to that, but it really works. What we’re doing here today is for the honor and glory of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,” Jim said.

Crisis Control Ministry’s Director of Philanthropy Nasia Creamer thanked the Taylors for their generosity. Creamer said the funds will be used to provide financial assistance including rent/mortgage payments, utility bill assistance, food, and prescription medications for those in need. In fiscal year 2025 Crisis Control Ministry aided more than 20,000 people in Forsyth and Stokes Counties.

“We are incredibly grateful to the Taylor family for this generous gift to Crisis Control Ministry. Their generosity allows us to continue supporting our neighbors when they need us most. Providing nutritious food, helping families remain safely in their homes, and keeping our charitable pharmacy accessible so neighbors can receive the medications they need is the continued impact we're able to make here, thanks to their kindness,” Creamer continued. “No family should have to choose between putting food on the table, keeping the lights on, having a roof over their heads, or filling a prescription. This gift helps us ensure basic needs are met with dignity and compassion in our community.”

About Crisis Control Ministry
For over 50 years, Crisis Control Ministry (CCM) has been a place where neighbors help neighbors. CCM operates with the belief that food, shelter and medicine are basic human needs. Through its offices in Winston-Salem and Kernersville, CCM provides short-term emergency services, including assistance with mortgage and rent payments, utility bills, food and prescription medication to Forsyth and Stokes County residents. CCM advocates for awareness and understanding of the struggles of poverty through multiple ministry-lead education programs and volunteer opportunities. Neighbors helping neighbors is more than just a tagline for CCM; it is the core mission. For additional information, visit crisiscontrol.org.

Donations on Oct. 7 will support food pantries in Winston-Salem and Kernersville

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (September 4, 2026) Crisis Control Ministry is excited to continue its partnership with the Carolina Classic Fair!

On Wednesday, October 7, fair attendees can help support Crisis Control Ministry's client choice food pantries by donating five (5) non-perishable food items per person and receiving ONE FREE ADMISSION TICKET to the fair, valid that day only.

WHAT: One (1) Free admission ticket with the donation of five (5) non-perishable food items per person. Also includes free admission to the WBFJ Christian Concert at the Grandstand featuring We Are Messengers with Cade Thompson

WHEN: Wednesday, October 7, 2026, 11:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.

WHERE: Winston-Salem Fair Grounds

Suggested items are canned meets, canned vegetables, dried or canned beans, instant potatoes, canned fruits and instant grits--anything that is shelf stable and not in glass jars. For a list of most needed items, visit crisiscontrol.org.

"Food Day at the Fair is a wonderful way for our community to enjoy a day at the fair while making a meaningful difference. By donating food, fairgoers can help ensure that families facing a crisis have access to nutritious food. The food we collect at Food Day at the Fair helps sustain our pantries through the winter months and the spring. In addition to providing food for families in need, your donation also provides hope for those who may feel helpless in their time of need," said Ashley Edwards executive director of Crisis Control Ministry.

Trucks will be located at each gate to collect food and distribute tickets. The donated food will stock the client-choice food pantries in both of Crisis Control Ministry's offices in Winston-Salem and Kernersville.

About Crisis Control Ministry
For over 50 years, Crisis Control Ministry (CCM) has been a place where neighbors help neighbors. CCM operates with the belief that food, shelter and medicine are basic human needs. Through its offices in Winston-Salem and Kernersville, CCM provides short-term emergency services, including assistance with mortgage and rent payments, utility bills, food and prescription medication to Forsyth and Stokes County residents. CCM advocates for awareness and understanding of the struggles of poverty through multiple ministry-lead education programs and volunteer opportunities. Neighbors helping neighbors is more than just a tagline for CCM; it is the core mission. For additional information, visit crisiscontrol.org.

About the Carolina Classic Fair
Celebrating its 144th year in 2026, the Carolina Classic Fair is owned and operated by the City of Winston-Salem after being donated to the city by the Winston-Salem Foundation in 1969. The 10-day annual fair features nationally renowned musical entertainment, delicious food and beverages, exhibits for livestock, poultry, fine arts and crafts, a world-class carnival with numerous rides and games, and many more activities. The Carolina Classic Fair, at the time of opening day, will follow all state and local health and safety protocols. For more information on the Carolina Classic Fair, please visit CarolinaClassicFair.com.

It is with great pleasure that we announce that our Kernersville office, 431 West Bodenhamer Street, has been awarded a $20,000 grant from the Kernersville Foundation. The mission of the Kernersville Foundation is to provide financial assistance to non-profit organizations that serve the Kernersville community. The grant will support the work of Crisis Control Ministry and directly help our neighbors in Kernersville who are facing a financial crisis.

In fiscal year 2025, Crisis Control Ministry served a total of 21,680 people at a value of $5,928,238. Through the Kernersville office, more than 3,000 individuals were served.

“As the cost of rent continues to climb, the income level seems to remain the same for many people right here in Kernersville”, said Kathy Hoffner, director of Crisis Control Ministry’s Kernersville office. “When something unexpected happens, increased cost of car repair, medical emergency or a decrease in income because of illness, it can be impossible for some families to recover without assistance. This grant will ensure funds are there to help families experiencing an unavoidable crisis.”

This gift comes just a few months after completing a year-long renovation project at Crisis Control Ministry’s Kernersville office. The improvements to the facility will enhance the overall experience for clients as well as volunteers and staff. The renovation project also reintroduces the client-choice pantry model, which allows clients to choose their groceries.

Crisis Control Ministry opened the Kernersville location as a satellite office in 1977 to better serve clients in the eastern portion of the county. Three years later, the Kernersville office was relocated to the historic Pinnix Drug Building, and in 1991 the ministry moved to its current location, 431 West Bodenhamer Street. While the location has changed a few times Crisis Control Ministry has remained committed to its mission and evolving alongside the needs of the community.

Following a nationwide search led by CapDev, which specializes in nonprofit consulting services, and the special search committee, Crisis Control Ministry’s Board of Directors has unanimously voted to name Ashley Edwards the ministry’s next executive director. Edwards’ first official day in the role will be June 1.

Edwards, who currently serves as Crisis Control Ministry’s Director of Philanthropy, was originally serving on the search committee. But after several committee members had the chance to experience Edwards’ engagement during the interview process, they were struck by her depth of knowledge of Crisis Control Ministry and her genuine compassion. It didn’t take long before they asked her to consider stepping out of the committee role and into the process herself.

“After a strong interview process, Ashley was offered the position—and we could not be more excited about what this means for Crisis Control Ministry’s future,” said Kimberly Bostic, chair of the board of directors. “We’ve had the privilege of watching Ashley lead over the past year and I can tell you this with complete confidence: she is the real deal. She understands and believes in our mission, and she leads with both thoughtfulness and strength.”

Before joining Crisis Control Ministry, Edwards served as Director of Development at AMOREM, a nonprofit hospice and palliative care provider. There, she led a major expansion in philanthropic support by securing grants for faculty improvements and increasing donor engagement. Prior to that, she served as the Fund Development Specialist at Blue Ridge HealthCare Foundation, where her focus was to fundraise to support the local healthcare system to meet the needs of patients. Edwards has also held leadership roles at U.S. Bank and the YMCA. She has also served as an adjunct professor at Kentucky Wesleyan College.

Edwards holds an MBA in Leadership and Innovation from Northern Kentucky University, an MA in Theological Studies from Asbury Theological Seminary, and a BA in Religion from Wayland Baptist University. She also holds certifications in project management.

Additionally, Edwards currently serves on the board of directors for The Wesley Foundation at Wake Forest University. She has also served on the Western North Carolina Conference of the United Methodist Church Board of Pensions and Health Benefits, and volunteered extensively with Junior Achievement of West Kentucky,

In her free time Edwards enjoys spending time with her husband Kaury and their son, Beckham. When discussing her decision to take the position, Edwards said she is grateful for the opportunity to follow in the footsteps of exceptional leadership and lead a team that is committed and passionate about the work they do.

“Crisis Control Ministry has made and continues to make a substantial impact in the community. This is in large part due to the exceptional leaders, team members, volunteers, and community supporters that have devoted their time to serving the community through Crisis Control Ministry,” Edwards said. “I am honored to carry the baton passed to me and serve our community in this role.”

After receiving word that Edwards would be her successor, Margaret Elliott, who has led Crisis Control Ministry for the past 27 years, said she is confident that the future of the ministry is in good hands.

“I’m deeply grateful—and honestly a little emotional knowing I get to pass the baton to someone like Ashley,” Elliott continued. “The future of this ministry is in very good hands.”

For more information or to schedule an interview, please contact Tevin Stinson at 336-724-7875 ext. 1040 or tstinson@crisiscontrol.org.

KERNERSVILLE, N.C. (March 3, 2026) On Friday, April 17, Crisis Control Ministry will host a ribbon cutting ceremony and open house for recently completed renovations to our Kernersville office, 431 W. Bodenhamer Street. The celebration will be held from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., with the ribbon cutting and remarks beginning at 3 p.m.

Crisis Control Ministry initially opened a satellite office in Kernersville in 1977. Just three years later, the ministry outgrew that location and moved into the Pinnix Drug building in downtown Kernersville. In 1991, the ministry moved to its current location on West Bodenhamer. After sharing the building with The Shepherd’s Center of Kernersville for 30 years. Crisis Control Ministry began occupying the entire building in 2021 to better serve the community.

To better respond to the needs of our neighbors, in 2025 the ministry began to expand again. Renovations to the building were made possible by a private donor who believes in the mission of Crisis Control Ministry, and the work we do every day to uplift our neighbors in need.

“We are fortunate to be a part of a loving community that has always made a way when we have a need,” said Margaret Elliott, executive director of Crisis Control Ministry. “We really could not do the work we do without the support of individual donors.”

While giving our staff and volunteers more office space, renovations will also increase the amount of warehouse storage and the space in our client-choice food pantry.

Our client-choice food pantry offers clients a more dignified experience by allowing them to shop for the food they take home. Since 2020, the Kernersville office has taken orders over the phone and packed boxes for clients to take. The renovations will allow clients to once again shop in the pantry.

“The expanded food pantry will allow us to meet growing community needs while treating every person who walks through our doors with respect and compassion,” said Kathy Hoffner, director of the Kernersville Office.

The Board of Directors of Crisis Control Ministry, one of the largest nonprofit emergency assistance providers in the area, has launched a search for a new executive director. This comes after longtime Executive Director Margaret Elliott announced her plans to retire later this year. Elliott has led the organization since 1999, and her last day with Crisis Control Ministry will be June 1.

“Margaret’s impact on Crisis Control Ministry has led to the expansion of the organization in its operations and reach within the community,” said Kimberly Bostic, Chair of Crisis Control Ministry’s Board of Directors. “She has led new ways of thinking to best serve the clients, staff, and volunteers; leading by example to get work done.”

When discussing the future of Crisis Control Ministry, Bostic said she is confident that Elliott is leaving the organization in a good place. “Margaret has worked with her team to develop a cohesive group by facilitating open communication and fostering an environment of caring, and that impact has carried over to the board,” Bostic continued.

“Margaret’s efforts have not only strengthened teamwork among us all but also resulted in improved efficiency and a smoother continuation of the Ministry’s operations.”

Founded in 1973, Crisis Control Ministry provides short-term emergency assistance for residents of Forsyth and Stokes Counties. The mission of Crisis Control Ministry is to assist people in crisis to meet essential life needs and to empower them toward greater stability and well-being. Crisis Control provides rent and mortgage payments, utility bill assistance, food, and prescription medications to assist neighbors in crisis.

The executive director reports to the Board of Directors and is responsible for the overall leadership and direction of the organization, including supervising staff, ensuring effective operations, and governance, and spearheading community engagement. The position also partners closely with board leadership to implement strategic priorities, strengthen programs, and steward organizational resources.

The Board of Directors and a special search committee is working with CapDev, which specializes in nonprofit consulting and search services, to identify candidates who can advance the mission of Crisis Control Ministry and continue to grow the organization’s reach and support.

“I am honored to lead a dedicated committee whose members actively interact with Crisis Control Ministry in various ways, and who care immensely about the organization’s mission and the efforts to ensure it is supported and thrives,” Bostic said. “We are working with CapDev, a firm whose focus is to help make nonprofits better, and they are striving to ensure our search committee’s concerns and expectations for the next executive director are understood and to guide us through this most important process.”

A full position description and application instructions can be reviewed at www.capdev.com. Additional inquires may be directed to search@capdev.com.

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (January 30, 2026) It is with a mix of sincere gratitude and bittersweet sentiments that Crisis Control Ministry announces the retirement of longtime Executive Director Margaret Elliott. Her last day with Crisis Control Ministry will be June 1, 2026.

A native of Lynchburg, VA, Elliott graduated with a bachelor’s degree in politics from St. Andrews Presbyterian College. She went on to earn her master’s degree in public affairs from the University of North Carolina Greensboro. Following a short move back to Virginia, Elliott returned to North Carolina in 1999 to assume the position of Executive Director of Crisis Control Ministry.

For the past 26 years, Elliott has strived to ensure Crisis Control Ministry lives up to its mission, of assisting people in crisis to meet essential life needs and empowering them toward greater stability and well-being. Under her leadership Crisis Control Ministry was awarded the Joel A. & Claudette B. Weston Award for Excellence in Nonprofit Management and the Nonprofit Sector Stewardship Award, which is awarded annually by the North Carolina Center for Nonprofits.

During her tenure Elliott also implemented the Wee Care! Cereal Drive, started Food Day at the Fair in collaboration with the Carolina Classic Fair, led the way to open Forsyth County’s first Client Choice Food Pantry, brought Poverty Simulation to the county to educate the community, and expanded services to include Stokes County. In 2020, while many nonprofits and businesses were closing their doors due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, Elliott, staff, and a team of dedicated volunteers, implemented phone interviews and curb-side service for Crisis Control’s pantry and pharmacy.

In addition to her commitment to Crisis Control Ministry, Elliott still finds time to volunteer and serve on several different boards in the community. She has served on the Improving Population Health Action Community Advisory Board for Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center, as a board member for Leadership America, and on the Advisory Committee for the North Carolina Association of Free Clinics. She's also a 1996 graduate of Leadership Winston-Salem.

Currently, she serves on the Board of Directors for the YMCA of Northwest North Carolina, the Executive Committee for the Healthy Forsyth Coalition, the Advocacy Committee for the Asset Building Coalition, and the Cancer Center Community Advisory Board (for Atrium Health). Elliott is also an ordained ruling elder with the Presbyterian Church (USA).

As we move closer to her retirement date, the board of directors and staff of Crisis Control Ministry will be sharing more information on plans to celebrate Elliott and her years of dedicated service to the community.