Adult Care and Share Center Provides day care to older and disabled adults. Services include therapeutic activities, assistance with medical needs, three nutritious meals daily, and caregiver support group. Material needs: Financial contributions, computer printers, cameras, Bingo prizes (Male & Female).
Volunteers needed.
To help: Call Jeremy Barrows, 704-567-2700.
Alexander Children’s Center Serves children ages 5-18 with emotional and behavioral problems.
Material needs: New clothing and toys.
Volunteers: People to help with a “store” and carnival.
To help: Call Andrea Towner, 704-362-6760.
American Red Cross Teaches life-saving health education courses, responds to disasters, educates the community on how to prepare for an emergency, collects blood, provides transportation to medical appointments, supplies emergency communications for military personnel, and provides international tracing services.
Material needs: Life-saving blood donations and monetary donations to support local efforts.
Volunteers: Especially those with daytime availability.
To help: Call 704-376-1661.
Big Brothers/Big Sisters Transforms the lives of youth and volunteers through a variety of quality one-to-one mentoring relationships.
Material needs: Non-perishable foods for low income families, school supplies, a full size refrigerator for the office (used is fine as long as it is in good working condition).
Volunteers: Men needed to be Big Brothers to male youth ages 6-14 in our community-based program. Both men and women needed to be BIGS to youth 6-14 in school-based programs at Park Road and Sedgefield Elementary Schools.
To help: Call 704-377-3963.
Catholic Social Services Provides pregnancy counseling, licensed adoption and foster care programs, limited material assistance including burial assistance for those who qualify, individual family, marriage and substance abuse counseling, and Hispanic outreach services. Serves people of all denominations.
Material needs: Food vouchers, nonperishable food items, three office desks (wooden and in good condition), four new Pentium computers with printers.
Volunteers: Bilingual volunteers needed.
To help: Call 370-6155 weekdays 9am-5pm.
Charlotte Area Gleaning Network/Society of St. Andrew Salvages produce from farms to help feed the hungry and eliminate waste. Volunteers gather crops that would otherwise be left in fields and orchards after harvest. Gleaned produce is distributed to neighborhoods in need and to soup kitchens and food pantries.
Material needs: Financial contributions.
Volunteers: Names of farmers who would allow gleaning (a 10 percent sales tax credit is available), gleaners of all ages, people who could make telephone calls or write thank-you notes at home.
To help: Call 704-553-1730 anytime.
Charlotte Emergency Housing Provides opportunities through advocacy, temporary shelter and support services for homeless families in their transition to stable housing.
Material Needs: Organizes a Christmas Store for adult residents and their children to go into and pick out gift items for each other. Need gifts for mom, dad, infants, young children, and adolescent boys and girls. Gifts for store can include candles, lotion, potpourri, frames, lamps, basketballs, footballs, toys and games, purses, books, videos (any kind), new (or new looking) clothes, (coats, sweaters, long sleeve shirts), holiday supplies (gift boxes, wrapping paper, bows, gift tags, tape, holiday decorations, gift certificates (to Target, K-mart, Michael’s, Wal-mart). Also needed are paper plates, paper cups, plastic ware, napkins.
Volunteers: People to make holiday decorations with the children, have a holiday cookie decorating party, adopt a family for Christmas, bring in Santa to give gifts to children, bring in groups to sing Christmas carols.
To help: Call Angie, 704-335-5488 ext. 17.
Charlotte Rescue Mission Ministers to individuals caught in cycles of poverty, hopelessness, and chemical addictions by meeting their spiritual, physical, emotional, social and vocational needs.
Material needs: Forks, knives, spoons, dinner plates, cereal bowls, paper products (paper towels, napkins, cups, plates), disposable gloves, kitchen towels, potholders, plastic 90″ round tablecloths, food donations, over the counter medications, first aid supplies, office supplies, copy paper, printing services, hand tools, power tools for maintenance, paint brushes, clean up rags, cleaning supplies.
To help: Call Beverly Barr, Volunteer Coordinator, 704-334-4635 ext. 214.
Child Care Resources Provides information and referrals to families in search of child care or after-school programs. Administers child-care financial assistance to eligible Mecklenburg County families. Offers training and support to professionals in child-care and after-school care. Supports area employers in addressing employees’ work/life needs.
Material needs: Books, games and puppets (may be used if in good condition), new stuffed animals — all for children in grades K-6.
Volunteers: People to check out and distribute books through mobile lending library.
To help: Call Jeff Ready, 704-376-6697 ext. 192, weekdays 8am-5pm.
A Child’s Place Works in collaboration with Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools to provide education and support services and to advocate for children and their families who are homeless or at risk of being homeless.
Material Needs: Christmas sponsors, food certificates, gift certificates, linens, towels, dishes, curtains, pots/pans, kitchen items, bathroom items, trash bags, hygiene items, school combination locks, alarm clocks, irons, hair care products, and money for class fieldtrips. All items must be new.
Volunteers needed.
Call: Cheryl Carrothers, 343-3792 weekdays 8am-5pm.
Children’s Law Center Provides legal assistance to children confined to a mental health facility, caught in a contested custody dispute, charged in juvenile court or in need of special educational services from the school system.
Material needs: Tax deductible donations.
Volunteers: People to serve as children’s advocates to work with attorneys, the children, their families and social service agencies.
To help: Call 704-331-9474 ext. 10 anytime.
Community Food Rescue Volunteers fight hunger and food waste by rescuing surplus perishable food from grocers, food brokers, produce wholesalers, farmers, restaurants and other food service businesses. All food is distributed free to Charlotte-area organizations that serve people in need.
Material needs: Money to buy food containers and pay for truck fuel and maintenance.
Volunteers needed.
To help: Call 704-342-3663 anytime.
Community Link Reduces homelessness by supporting individuals and families through customized services that link clients to counseling, job training, educational programs, substance abuse treatment and any other resources needed to equip people with the tools to take care of themselves.
Material needs: Most of the families have very little clothes and toys. By filling a laundry basket with dishes, pots and pans, silverware, cooking utensils and other necessities, families can be provided with the basic “start-up” housekeeping tools that it might take them months to purchase.
Volunteers needed.
To help: Call 704-372-6440 ext. 13.
Crisis Assistance Ministry Provides assistance and advocacy for people in financial crisis, helping them move toward self-sufficiency.
Material needs: Financial donations.
Volunteers needed.
To help: Call 704-371-3001.
Elon Homes for Children Offers campus-based residential care, specialized foster care, on-campus charter public school and family preservation for at-risk, abused, neglected and troubled boys and girls ages 11 to 17.
Material needs: Good used furniture, school supplies, towels, washcloths, twin sheet sets, comforters (twin), personal hygiene supplies, iron with ironing boards, video games, basketball goals, pillows, VCR, G- & PG-rated movies, computers, wall pictures, plants, vacuum cleaner, art and craft supplies, cleaning supplies.
Volunteers: Tutor during school and after school, adult mentor for boys and girls, ropes course coordinator, graphic designer, gardener, coordinate fund raiser for summer trip, landscaping, vocational trade skills, church group.
To help: call Robert Alexander, 704-542-3310 ext. 226.
Family Center Prevents and treats child abuse and neglect. Offers prevention, intervention, and treatment programs.
Material needs: Working computers with monitors (Pentium or better), Polaroid film, camcorder and video camera monitoring system, floor lamps, office supplies, art supplies, portable and regular sized combination TV/VCR and VCR tapes, disposable cameras, copier paper and colored card stock paper, educational toys for ages infant through 10, board games and puppets (all new) for ages four to 12, dust buster, new duffle bags, non-stick cookware.
Volunteers: Volunteers to help families for the holidays, especially with gift certificates to grocery and super stores, and to provide small gift items for holiday baskets. Volunteers to assist programs and to provide clerical help. Spanish-speaking volunteers especially needed. Training provided.
To help: call Bess Kercher, ext. 149 or Sandra Willoughby, ext. 213 at 704-376-7180, weekdays 8:30am-5pm.
Florence Crittenton Services United Way agency and residential maternity home for high-risk single pregnant women, providing comprehensive health, educational and social services to pregnant adolescents, women and their families in the Carolinas.
Material needs: Winter coats, twin size sheets, blankets, baby clothes, toiletries, disposable diapers, alarm clocks, Christmas gifts, journals, maternity clothes.
Volunteers: Mentors, activity leaders, transportation assistants. Individuals and groups welcome.
To help: call Sarah Smith Hyde, 704-372-4663 weekdays 9am-5pm.
Friendship Trays Home delivered meal program which delivers a hot, nutritious lunch to those in the community who are unable to prepare or obtain a healthy meal for themselves. Meals are delivered by volunteers who use their lunch hour to serve their neighbors. All gifts are tax deductible and will be used to provide meals for those unable to pay.
Material needs: Financial contributions.
Volunteers needs: People to deliver meals.
To help: Call 704-333-9229.
Guardian Ad Litem Program Provides trained community volunteers who speak on behalf of abused and neglected children involved with the court system. Serves children and newborns to age 18.
Material wishes: Office equipment and personal computers.
Volunteers: Adults 21 and older with flexible schedules and willing to undergo 30 hours of training. Must agree to commit to the program for at least 18 months. Must be willing to devote 15 to 20 hours per month gathering information, attending court hearings, visiting the children and performing other duties as required. People needed to assist with office functions including filing, answering phones and providing clerical support. Students willing to act as unpaid interns to provide staff support and assistance with advocacy work.
To help: Call Vanessa Colston, 704-417-1853 weekdays 8am-5pm.
Goodwill Industries of Southern Piedmont Uses the revenue from the sale of donated clothing and household items to fund its education and career services for people with disabilities and disadvantages such as welfare dependency, homelessness and lack of skills training, education or work experience. Has 39 donation drop-off sites conveniently located throughout the Southern Piedmont region of North and South Carolina.
Material needs: Clothing, household items, older model used cars for “Cars for Work” program.
Volunteers needed.
To help: Call 704-372-3434 or visit www.goodwillsp.org.
Habitat for Humanity Builds simple, decent, affordable houses in partnership with low-income families. Homes are sold at zero interest with 15-20 year mortgages. Mortgage payments are recycled to build additional houses.
Material needs: Land to build on and sponsors to underwrite the cost of homes.
Volunteers: Gifts from the Heart Holiday Program. Habitat will send a special holiday card as a gift to people who donate.
To help: Visit www.habitatcharlotte.org or call 704-376-2054 ext. 14.
Hands On Charlotte Addresses Charlotte’s most critical education, social and environmental needs. Strengthens community and enriches lives by mobilizing a diverse, committed corps of citizens in direct volunteer service.
Material needs: Financial contributions.
Volunteers needed.
To help: Call Caroline Bynum, Development Director, 704-333-7471 ext. 107.
Hope Haven Inc. Provides life skills for chemically dependent adults and families within a supportive residential environment leading to independence.
Material needs: Infant diapers and formula, learning materials (i.e. elementary reading and math material, books on phonics), adult literacy tutors, food servers for lunch and dinner and youth under clothes (male and female).
Volunteers needed.
To help: Call 704-372-8809 weekdays.
Hospice at Charlotte Provides quality health care and support services to individuals and families facing end of life concerns.
Material Needs: Prepared and unprepared holiday meals for patients and families.
Volunteers: Volunteers to visit with patients and their families in the home for caregiver respite, to run errands or provide transportation.
To help: Call Judy Sidell, 704-335-3577.
International House Advocates for and assists people of different national backgrounds and works to promote intercultural understanding and cooperation.
Material needs: Roof and gutter repair services, indoor/outdoor carpeting, Powerpoint projector, laser printer, and furniture upholstery.
Volunteers: English tutors, home-hosting for international professional exchanges, coaches and mentors for children’s soccer league in at-risk neighborhoods, people to help with house repairs, painting, and yard work.
To help: Call 704-333-8099 ext. 18, weekdays 9am-5:30pm.
Lifespan Education, employment, and enrichment of people who have developmental disabilities.
Material needs: Personal hygiene items for teens and adults, multicultural dolls, film, batteries, music tapes (instrumental and classical), radios and tape players, musical instruments, musical toys, velcro, magazines (teen, sports, auto), nail polish and remover, adult clothing, household items, event tickets, arts and crafts materials, notebooks, flower pots, potting soil, seeds, exercise equipment, and exercise mats.
Volunteers: Help with painting and lawn and garden maintenance at group homes. People to attend social outings with adults at group homes. Volunteers who can sew (to make sand bags and bibs), lunch buddies and people who will read, play, sing, and attend field trips with children at their preschool and classrooms within Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools.
To help: Call Lori Livengood, 704-944-5121 ext. 147, weekdays 9am-5pm.
Loaves & Fishes Emergency food assistance program that provides a week’s worth of groceries to families and individuals in crisis. Operates 15 food pantries across Mecklenburg County.
Material needs: Financial donations, canned food such as fruit, juice, soup, meat, small turkeys.
Volunteers: Truck drivers to pick up food donations and help deliver and stock food in pantries. People to help with telephone referral for three-hour shifts, 10am-1pm or 1-4pm, once a week or twice a month. People to assist in administrative office.
To help: call 523-4333 weekdays 8:30am-4:30pm.
Lutheran Family Services Provides care for children and teenagers in Mecklenburg and Cabarrus counties through group homes and foster care programs. These children typically are in need of services due to abuse and/or neglect.
Material needs: Laundry/dishwashing detergent, shampoo, bar soap, toothbrushes, toothpaste, bath towels/washcloths, cleaning supplies (i.e. Clorox Clean-Up, Comet, Pine-Sol, 409, Pledge, etc.), mops/brooms/dust pans, sheets (twin sized), bed pillows, Christmas and birthday presents (i.e. CD Walkmans, football team sweatshirts, NY Yankee baseball caps, video games, footballs, basketballs, etc.), diapers, new toys for children.
Volunteers needed.
To help: Call 704-569-8322.
Mecklenburg Ministries Interfaith coalition of congregations that addresses issues of compassion and justice and sponsors community-building programs.
Material needs: Financial donations, in-kind donations of printing services.
Volunteers needed.
To help: Call 704-347-2404. Ask to be put on the mailing list.
Metrolina AIDS Project Combats HIV and AIDS by providing direct services to persons affected. Educates the public and advocates in fighting against the disease.
Material needs: Financial contributions.
Volunteers needed.
To help: Call 704-333-1435 weekdays 8:30am-5pm.
Metrolina Association for the Blind Reduces or eliminates the daily living problems imposed upon people by blindness or severe visual impairment. Uses cash donations or transfer of stocks to extend services to people who are blind and visually impaired.
Material needs: Braille equipment, global positioning systems, craft and office supplies, comfortable and adjustable office chairs, three laser printers, bean bags and children’s games, conference size table cloth, dishwasher, closed circuit televisions, two new vans to transport clients or other vehicles for auction, commercial carpet cleaning machine, talking watches and clocks, and other devices for people who are blind and visually impaired.
Volunteers: People to drive and escort clients to medical and shopping appointments, help with office tasks or record books on tape.
To help: Call 704-887-5118.
Pets Are Loving Support Helps people with life-threatening illnesses or senior citizens keep and care for their pets. Offers free in-home pet care such as feeding, dog walking and cat litter box cleaning, and provides free pet food and free veterinary care.
Material needs: Monetary donations, gift certificates to purchase pet food.
Volunteers needed.
To help: Call 704-376-0805 or 704-561-5179, or e-mail www.petsarelovingsupport.org.
Planned Parenthood Provides low-cost birth control services and counseling, gynecological care, pregnancy testing, HIV testing and counseling, abortion counseling, teen theater programs and parent-child workshops.
Material needs: Office supplies, financial donations.
Volunteers: People who can donate a few hours a week to help in medical clinics, do clerical work and/or help with advocacy programs and health fairs.
To help: Call 704-566-1979 weekdays 8am-5pm.
Refugee Office Catholic Social Services Refugee resettlement agency that provides housing, food, social services, cultural orientation and employment for new refugees.
Material needs: Financial donations, furniture in good condition, housecleaning detergents, towels, linens, lamps, frying pans, pots, silverware, dishes, kitchen towels, bed pillows, cooking and serving utensils, personal hygiene items, used cars in working condition.
To help: Call 704-370-6930, weekdays 9am-5pm.
Regional AIDS Interfaith Network Provides HIV/AIDS prevention education. Trains and supervises teams offering direct care to persons living with HIV/AIDS and their families.
Material needs: Financial donations.
Volunteers: People to transport clients to medical appointments, train for Care Teams and help with data entry and fund-raisers.
To help: Call 704-372-7246, weekdays 9am-5pm.
Residential Support Services Provides services to individuals with developmental disabilities and a wide variety of services to children and adults in home-based and community settings.
Material Needs: Computers, televisions, radios, furniture, personal hygiene items, monetary donations.
Volunteers needed.
To help: Call Danielle Derrick, 704-536-6661.
Right Moves for Youth Motivates at-risk youth to stay in school, improve academically and become leaders in their communities.
Material needs: Financial contributions.
Volunteers: Tutors, one-on-one mentors, club volunteers.
To help: Call 704-344-4425 anytime.
Salvation Army Supplies food, clothing shelter and social services for women and children who have no other place to go.
Material needs: financial contributions, food, paper products, towels, washcloths, twin-bed linens, toilet paper, combs, brushes, toothbrushes, toothpaste, shampoo, soap, detergent and cleaning supplies, disposable diapers, pajamas for women and children, sweat suits for women, school supplies.
Volunteers: People to assist with Christmas Bureau or to ring bells for Red Kettle Drive. People to adopt a family for Christmas or an angel or stocking for a child in the community.
To help: Call either Bonita or Shannon, 704-334-4731.
Second Harvest Food Bank of Metrolina Feeds hungry people through a network of nearly 550 charitable organizations helping people in need throughout the Metrolina area.
Material needs: Financial support (for every $1 received, provides $10 worth of food), food donations (most needed include high protein foods and canned fruits and vegetables).
Volunteers: People to help sort and pack food and assist with other duties. People to help with the Gift Wrap Booth at Carolina Place Mall.
To help: Call 704-376-1785.
Summit House Community-based corrections for non-violent female offenders with children under the age of 7. Keeps families together while rehabilitating the offender.
Material needs: Diapers, baby wipes, and baby related products. Educational toys, videos and books. Christmas toys for children under the age of 3 years old.
Volunteers: People to assist residents in preparing for their GED. Mentors to assist in vocational and life skill training.
To help: Call Linda Bryant or Jeri Arledge, 704-334-4423
Supported Employment Training Secures jobs for adults with severe disabilities in Mecklenburg, Union and Cabarrus counties.
Material needs: Donations for client services, office supplies, office furniture, file cabinet, computer, printer.
Volunteers: People to help with fund raising, publicity and newsletter.
To help: Call 704-333-8220 weekdays 9am-4pm.
Teen Health Connection Provides affordable and accessible physical and mental health care to young men and women ages 11-21, emphasizing a family-centered approach. Serves as a health education and advocacy resource to teens, their families and the community.
Material needs: Monetary donations, incentives for teens (i.e. compact discs, gift certificates for merchandise, tickets to various events, individually wrapped snacks such as cookies, crackers, candy bars, etc.)
To help: Call 704-355-8114.
Thompson Children’s Home Serves children who have been abused and/or neglected or who are at risk for school failure through Residential Treatment, Education Day Treatment, Group Homes, Foster Care, and two Child Development Centers.
Material Needs: New children’s clothing, diapers and pull-ups, toiletries (liquid soap, toothpaste, shampoo, etc.), twin sheets, towels, batteries (all sizes), educational toys, art and craft supplies, school supplies.
Volunteers: Office and special event volunteers to assist with mailings and seasonal activities.
To help: Call Tiffany Taylor, 704-536-0375
United Family Services Victim Assistance Helps crime victims, their families and the community cope with the trauma of victimization and increases awareness of safety issues and options.
Volunteers: People to assist on the 24-hour hotline, take part in role-playing situations and talk to new recruits about their experiences.
To help: Call Mary Russ, 704-336-2190.
The Uptown Shelter Cares for people who are homeless and provides them opportunities to rebuild their lives.
Material needs: Toiletries (soap, disposable razors, toothbrushes, deodorant, body lotion, shaving cream combs, brushes); men’s clothing (all sizes of socks, underwear, jeans, casual clothes, belts, shoes, work boots); seasonal items (warm coats, hats, gloves, scarves, shorts, t-shirts, bathing suits); food (fresh fruits, vegetables, and meats); office supplies (note paper, envelopes, stamps, pencils, pens); cleaning supplies (laundry detergent, bleach, cleansers, etc); paper products (toilet paper, paper towels, styrofoam plates, 8 oz. styrofoam cups); garbage bags, garden tools, suitcases, drawstring bags.
Volunteers: People to help with meal and program services, resident activities, fund raising, administration support, check-in and store help.
To help: Call Marge Preston, 704-334-1337, ext. 111.
Urban Ministry Center Serves people who are poor and homeless with love, compassion, and tangible assistance. Among their services are the St. Peter’s Soup Kitchen, Room in The Inn emergency winter housing, and the Servant Leadership School.
Material needs: Financial contributions, food and paper products, toiletry items, soap, towels, socks, hats, and gloves.
Volunteers needed.
To help: Call Liz Clasen, 704-347-0278
Youth Homes Inc. Helps at-risk children ages 8-18. Works to strengthen families through group homes/family mentoring program, emergency placements, and intensive, long-term care. Provides safe and stable homes for abused and neglected children through foster-care programs.
Material needs: Umbrellas, irons, twin sheets and comforters, towels, suitcases, school supplies, combination locks, dishes, basketballs, footballs, music/bookstore gift certificates, Blockbuster gift certificates, bowling passes, movie passes, G- and PG-rated videos, digital alarm clocks, toiletries.
Volunteers: Tutors to meet weekly or biweekly with a child for a minimum of six months, mentors to help older youth with independent living skills, people to help with special activities and projects.
To help: Call Tammy Thompson, 704-334-9955 weekdays 8:30am-4:30pm.
Youth Network (Formerly The Relatives Inc.) Works to keep kids safe, families together and to reduce the incidence of juvenile crime in the local community.
Material needs: Toiletries (soap, toothpaste, toothbrushes, deodorant, hair care products for African American and Caucasian hair, etc.), Sports equipment (basketballs, footballs, soccer balls, frisbees, badminton, NO BIKES, ROLLERBLADES OR SKATEBOARDS), food (main course and side dishes needed during the holidays.), appliances (washer/dryer, stoves, dishwasher, microwaves, toasters, and refrigerators.), linens (twin bed sheets, comforters, pillow cases, etc.).
Volunteers needed.
To help: Call Emily Moss, 704-335-0203, ext. 15 or email her at emoss@youthnetworknc.org. *
This article appears in Nov 24-30, 2001.
