It’s common to hear people describe Charlotte as a big city with a small town feel. More likely than not you have run into friends and family while shopping at your neighborhood grocery store or seen fellow League members while enjoying dinner and drinks on the patio at RuRu’s. The longer you live in Charlotte, the more connected you become.
This year, the JLC has over 130 provisional members. Many of our provisionals are new to the Charlotte area and reach out to the League to find footing and create connections that will one day make Charlotte feel more like home. Some have connections to the League before even joining, maybe even connections they didn’t realize.
Ashley Shapiro joined the League to have a more organized approach to service. Passionate about serving and educating the community in health and wellness, Ashley was drawn to the League since it offered multiple vehicles to accomplish that goal. “It is a beautiful thing that so many passionate and strong women can come together to serve a common goal.” To fully understand the impact that the League has had and is having in our community, Ashley took part in the first bus tour of the year and recounts that as her favorite memory so far.
The League and Ashley are connected in more than just membership. Ashley is an occupational therapist with Charlotte-Mecklenburg School System (“CMS”) and each day she serves children from pre-K to fourth grade at CMS schools including at JLC partner Reid Park Academy. She is making a difference in the lives of children through her work, but her dedication to children does not end there. One morning last year, Ashley found herself driving to work and, amidst sipping her coffee and bopping along to the music in her warm car, she specifically remembers looking out of the window at a stop sign to see a child awaiting their bus in the freezing weather without a coat. “I could see her breath – it was so cold! It broke my heart and from that moment, I became even more hypersensitive to the needs of the children in our community.”
Ashley speaks of a child she works with who had to wear a women’s winter jacket because he didn’t have one of his own. While she wanted to run to the store and buy him a coat, she knew that would not be appropriate – or fair. This child was one of many that needed clothes to protect them from the harsh winter weather.
Ashley promised herself that she would do whatever she could to make a difference and she followed through. This year, Ashley hosted an event at Triple C Brewing Company called Share the Warmth Charlotte. At the event, attendees could bring a new or gently used coat for local children ages 3-14 in exchange for a Triple C beer. If you were unable to make it to the event but want to learn more about Ashley’s efforts, email sharethewarmthclt@gmail.com.
Getting to know Ashley:
Favorite Restaurant in Charlotte: Luna’s Living Kitchen
Favorite Store in Charlotte: Lululemon
Favorite Activity in Charlotte: Yoga on Tap, NoDa Run Club and Panther’s games!
Favorite Vacation Spot: Charleston or the Mountains
Favorite Book: She couldn’t pick just one!
