Alongside Families

In this episode, Jeff welcomes Meghan Macy, COO of Alongside Families, and Mary Kay Portaro, board member and former staff volunteer, to share the story behind this Charlotte-based nonprofit. 

Founded in 2017 by Emily Kemmann, Alongside Families works to prevent unnecessary foster care placements by providing temporary child hosting and wraparound support for families in crisis — with a track record of 100% family reunification across 350 child hostings and nearly 5,000 nights of care.

Meghan and Mary Kay walk through the real-life situations the organization steps into — from single moms facing medical emergencies to families experiencing homelessness — and explain how anyone in the Lake Norman area can get involved, whether by hosting, volunteering, championing through financial support, or connecting their church as a partner. 

To learn more or attend a free online interest meeting, visit alongsidefamilies.org.

Special thanks to:
Mary Kay Portaro
Ivester Jackson | Christie’s Real Estate
https://marykayportaro.com/

About the Host:

Jeff Hamm is the creator and producer of The Best of LKN. He’s a licensed real estate broker and savvy digital marketing professional.

Since 2020, Jeff has been sharing the stories of Lake Norman’s most inspiring small businesses and nonprofits.

When he isn’t working, you can usually find Jeff boating, playing pickleball, hiking local greenways, and taking walks with his dogs Sam and Maisy.

Photo credit: LKN Images by Kathleen Martin