The Rev. Ralph Williamson plays matchmaker for the government and for God. Williamson Williamson, a Charlotte minister and a Mecklenburg County employee, pairs welfare recipients with church folk willing to be mentors for at least one year. Welfare recipients face new deadlines and sanctions, and for the first time a two-year cutoff for cash benefits.
Churches have a long tradition of giving the needy soup, soap and salvation.
But now some counties want to formalize that relationship with contracts and training for volunteers. Henderson and Edgecombe counties have already started similar programs. Durham and Wilson counties are searching for ministers to lead their own mentor programs. A free breakfast is served on Wednesdays at St. Joseph's Episcopal Church in Fayetteville. Cumberland County is considering tapping into church groups for welfare work.