By Brigida Mack - bio l email

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (WBTV) - The annual list is out: Charlotte is now a safer city than it was just two years ago.

That's according to the list of the most dangerous cities in America compiled by the CQ Press, a company that uses data from the FBI to determine the rankings.

The list shows the Queen City has dropped more than 50 spots since 2007. The city came in at 118 out of 274 for 2009. That's compared to being the 70th most dangerous city in 2008 and the 62nd in 2007.

But Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Chief Rodney Monroe greets the news with measured optimism.

CHARLOTTE, NC (WBTV) - It's hard to catch Stanley Edwards with a free moment. He's either cooking, cleaning, cutting or serving at Charlotte's Rescue Mission. Seeing the conditions it takes to keep up with Edwards, we took no offense having to interview him while he worked.

Edwards has two other jobs, but says he earns the most at the Rescue Mission, where he has no paycheck at all. 

"This place was here for me when I needed it, I came through here myself in 2006," he recalled. When Edwards came to the shelter 4 years ago, he was coming from a hard life and memories he's not proud of.

He vows to never walk through the shelter doors or any door in that same condition ever again.

MECKLENBURG COUNTY - Seven churches are serving as distribution sites for the Feeding the Multitude project this year.

This is an effort pioneered by First Baptist Church, Charlotte in 2008 and joined last year by Metrolina Baptist Association to share real hope and supplies for a meal with families at Thanksgiving.

Churches in the association started collecting food (family size cans of green beans and yams, boxes of rice and a $7+ donation for ham & bread) in October, and have prepared packages for 2,500 families.