Dignity In Death

We believe that no one should be thrown away. It is because of this, that we assist with final resting arrangements for our unhoused neighbors in Gaston County; and currently, we are the only local organization that does so. Through cultivating beneficial relationships with all entities involved when someone dies, we work to quickly assist in identifying individuals, searching for & notifying families, and relieving some financial burden that comes with an unexpected death.

Dignity In Death is a 5-pronged program built upon:

Identification

Many times, unsheltered individuals don’t have means of identification on their person. We are able to assist law enforcement and coroners put a name to a face.

Notification

We work to find next of kin to notify when an unhoused neighbor passes away. Though hospitals, officers, etc. may be able to relay the fact that someone has died; we are able to be in that moment to grieve and process with their loved ones; often times sharing things about the individual’s life that they may not have known.

Preparation

Through an exclusive partnership, we are able to bring an affordable option for body disposition.

Memorialization

We offer a traditional memorial or funeral service so loved ones, including members of the unhoused community, can mourn and remember the individual.

Reunification

We work tirelessly to bring unhoused neighbors who have passed away back to their loved ones, where they belong.

12 for the 12th Fundraiser

On March 12th, 2022, we lost 6 unhoused clients; all from varying circumstances.

To receive the news, one by one, of different individuals we loved and served as we traveled across the county that day is by far one of the hardest days we've ever experienced. On March 12th is essentially when our Dignity In Death program was born.

In honor of those we lost, we champion to raise $12,000 to cover the cost of final resting arrangements of unhoused neighbors who have died. We ask individuals to donate towards the fund and churches to corporately sponsor a service, which on average costs us about $1,200.

Visit our exclusive Dignity In Death fundraising platform at https://www.paypal.com/donate?campaign_id=5LDZWDXGEU6Q8

Funding Availabilty

Because our Dignity In Death Fund is completely supported by generous contributions from the community at large, we often times do not have funding to cover every request. On average, we receive roughly 25 requests per year for funeral assistance. We earnestly pray that one day we will be able to meet all the requests as they arise, but if you are a family/loved one in need, please understand that our funds are extremely limited currently.

Thank You