"We're in for a challenging year," said Doug Hartjes, Director of Development at Crisis Assistance Ministry. "Some major gifts will not be renewed, and individual donations are not keeping pace with the rate of inflation. So we're going to have to look for new sources of funding in order to meet our goals, especially if the economy continues the way it is. Even people with the deep pockets are holding back and being more careful about their donations."
Hartjes says the floundering economy is particularly trying for the poor because as the number of donations dwindles, the number of people who need help increases. "The need is great in the Charlotte community," he said. "We've had more people come through our doors this year looking for assistance than ever before. There are a lot of us who are more fortunate than others, and have the ability to still give. We hope that those people will come out of the woodwork during the holidays."
Compounding the struggles of charity organization and the poor are county budget cuts, as well as the United Way's new, and widely criticized, policy of allowing donors to designate contributions to specific groups. This has resulted in a lot of funds going outside the community and away from the local network of charities within the United Way Agency.
"This affects all the agencies because most of us work so closely together," said Karen Montaperto, Executive Director of Charlotte Emergency Housing. "For instance, United Family Services couldn't afford to send their Consumer Credit Counseling services to our site this year because of the cuts. So it really has a domino effect."
Montaperto added that they had to lay off a social worker because of the increases in health insurance costs. "When the economy goes sour, the people that are living in poverty or close to poverty are the first ones to feel it," she said. "But when it gets better, they're the last ones to recover. Their income doesn't go up as much as most other people, and their expenses, like housing, go up a lot more. It's the irony of living in poverty."
Linda Castleberry, Director of Development at Community Link, said they were forced to cut their domestic violence program by $116,000 this year. "We serve about 3,000 people a year, primarily on a long-term basis," she said. "The vast majority are homeless or at risk of homelessness, and most have come from a domestic violence situation. So it was really tough when we had to make cuts in that program. We are continuously going to foundations, corporations and individuals that have an interest in what we do, and who have been partners with us through the years. I think the people are there, but there are more agencies competing for funds. There are people who are still opening up their pocketbooks, but I think the amount is not as great as in the past. But we're fortunate people are still giving."
Considering that the poor are being hardest hit by the current recession, CL is urging readers to remember the underlying reasons for the holiday season and give as generously as possible to those organizations that help those most in need. Following is a list of agencies and organizations that could use your time or money or both.
-- Sam Boykin
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 Maddy Stein or Luann Peters, 704-567-2700.
Alexander Children's Center -- Serves children ages 5-18 with emotional and behavioral problems. Material needs: New clothing and toys. Volunteer needs: People to help with a holiday "store." 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. Volunteer needs: 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 and school supplies. Volunteer needs: 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 Long Creek 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, non-perishable food items, office furniture (in good condition), and holiday sponsorship of families. To help: Call 704-370-6155.
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. Volunteer needs: 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 704-553-2730 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. Needs 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. Volunteer needs: 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 Brooke Beckham, 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: Winter coats for men, women, and children, new pillows, blankets, new or gently used winter clothing items, socks (especially men's), T-shirts, and paper products (paper towels, napkins, cups, plates) To help: Call Shannon Faehy, 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. Volunteer needs: 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, English and Spanish dictionaries, alarm clocks, irons, hair care products, and money for class fieldtrips. All items must be new. Volunteers needed. To help: Cheryl Carrothers, 704-343-3792, 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. Volunteer needs: 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.
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 Lisa Platok at 704-342-3663 anytime.
Community Link -- Reduces homelessness by supporting individuals and families as they draw upon their own strengths to achieve independence. Offers 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 clothing and few 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, blankets/bedspreads, XL men's and women's clothing, towels, sheets, pots/pans, dishes/glasses, pillows, cooking utensils, beds, mattresses, kitchen tables and chairs, refrigerators, stoves, washers and dryers. Volunteers needed. To help: Call 704-371-3001.
Elon Homes for Children -- Offers campus-based residential care, specialized foster care, mental health 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, book bags, towels, washcloths, twin sheet sets, comforters (twin), sleeping bags, personal hygiene supplies, iron with ironing boards, video games, pillows, VCR, G- & PG-rated movies, computers, wall pictures, plants, vacuum cleaner, art and craft supplies, cleaning supplies. Volunteer needs: 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 Eric Hunter, 704-369-2500 ext. 511.
Family Center -- Acts in partnership with families and communities to strengthen individuals and build healthy families through prevention, intervention, education, and treatment aimed at eliminating child abuse and neglect. Material needs: Working computers with monitors (Pentium II or higher), digital cameras, 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 hand puppets (all new) for ages four to 12,car seats, new/used baby equipment, used cribs and bedding new/gently used clothing for infants/toddlers. Volunteer needs: Mentors, tutors, clerical help, volunteers for special events such as Run for Peace marathon and Best of Charlotte. To help: call Nancy Kramer at 704-376-7180 ext. 104, 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. Includes a residential mother-child foster care and non-pregnant foster care program. Material needs: Winter coats, twin size sheets, blankets, baby clothes, toiletries, disposable diapers, alarm clocks, Christmas gifts, journals and maternity clothes. Volunteer needs: Mentors, activity leaders, transportation assistants and childcare workers. 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. Volunteer needs: People to deliver meals. To help: Call 704-333-9229.
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.
Guardian Ad Litem Program -- Provides trained community volunteers who speak on behalf of abused and neglected children involved with the court system. Serves newborns and children to age 18. Material needs: Office equipment and personal computers. Volunteer needs: 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 in 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 8-5.
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. Volunteer needs: Habitat invites everyone to participate in their Gifts from the Heart Holiday Program. Habitat will send a special holiday card as a gift to people who donate. Also needed are mentors for children in habitat families. To help: Visit www.habitatcharlotte.org or call Judy Smith, 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. Volunteer needs: People to participate in Secret Santa program. To help: Call Doug Macomb, 704-333-7471 ext. 103.
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 underclothes (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. Volunteer needs: 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, outdoor security lights, PowerPoint projector, laser printer, filing cabinets, office furniture, traditional upholstered furniture in good condition. Volunteer needs: 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 (refinishing hard wood floors & reupholstering furniture), 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. Volunteer needs: 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 Avery, 704-944-5100 ext. 144, weekdays 9:00am-5:00pm.
Loaves & Fishes -- Emergency food assistance program that provides a week's worth of groceries to families and individuals in crisis. Operates 16 food pantries across Mecklenburg County. Material needs: Financial donations, canned food such as fruit, juice, soup, and meat, and small turkeys. Volunteer needs: 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 704-523-4333, weekdays 8:30-4:30.
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: Monetary donations (please write Creative Loafing in memo field), 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: Finanacial 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: monetary gifts, donations of stock, cars, Braille equipment, low vision devices, postage stamps and office supplies, plastic or paper tableware, and computers with at least Windows 98, Word 97, and 64 megs ram. Volunteer needs: People to drive and escort clients to medical and shopping appointments, help with office tasks. To help: Call 704-887-5118.
Pets are Loving Support -- Helps people with life-threatening illnesses and 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 palskaren@aol.com.
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. Volunteer needs: 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 Katie Tobin, 704-535-4793, weekdays 8am-5pm.
RAIN (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. Volunteer needs: 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 9-5
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 and monetary donations. Volunteers needed. To help: Call Sonya Gaskins, 704-536-6661.
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 and school supplies. Volunteer needs: 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 Bonita, 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). Volunteer needs: People to help sort and pack food and assist with other duties. To help: Call 704-376-1785.
SET of UCP (Formerly Supported Employment Training) -- Secures jobs for adults with severe disabilities in Mecklenburg, Union and Cabarrus counties. Material needs: Financial donations for client services, office supplies, office furniture, file cabinet, computer, printer. Volunteer needs: People to help with fund raising, publicity and newsletter. To help: Call 704-333-8220, weekdays 9am-4pm.
The Shelter for Battered Women -- Offers counseling, support and a safe haven for women and their children who are in danger of abuse from the woman's intimate partner. Material needs: New gift items for women and children, wrapping paper, boxes and tape, non-perishable food items, shampoo, deodorant, conditioner, lotion (not sample size), diapers, copy paper, industrial vacuum cleaner, laundry detergent and bleach. Volunteer needs: Office assistants daytime and evening, childcare workers daytime and night (urgent) and Workers for Holiday Store December 14. To help: Call 704-332-2513
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. Volunteer needs: 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
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 Sara Ashcraft, 704-921-6054.
Thompson Children's Home -- Serves children who have been abused and/or neglected or who are at risk of school failure through residential treatment, education day treatment, weekend 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. Volunteer needs: Office and special event volunteers to assist with mailings and seasonal activities. To help: Call Tiffany Slack, 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. Volunteer needs: 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: Financial support (group donations of $550 pay for lease and maintenance of shelter van), toiletries (soap, disposable razors, toothbrushes, deodorant, body lotion, shaving cream, combs and 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. Volunteer needs: 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, laundry detergent, towels, socks, hats, and gloves. Volunteers needed. To help: Call Liz Clasen, 704-347-0278
YouthNetwork (Formerly The Relatives Inc.): Keeps kids safe, families together and reduces 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.
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: Twin sheets and comforters, towels, school supplies, day planners, journals, combination locks, dishes, basketballs, footballs, music/bookstore gift certificates, Blockbuster gift certificates, bowling passes, movie passes, G- and PG-rated videos, portable CD players, digital alarm clocks and toiletries. Volunteer needs: Tutors to meet weekly or biweekly with a child, mentors, people to help with special activities and projects. To help: Call Maria Prewitt, 704-334-9955, weekdays 8:30am-4:30pm.
YWCA Women in Transition -- Provides affordable transitional housing and personal opportunities to homeless or at risk women. Material needs: New pillows, blankets, grocery store gift certificates and day planners. Volunteer needs: Groups to participate in various interactive and fundraising activities with program participants. To help: Call 704-525-5770.
Information compiled by Adam Hyatt and Sheri Pickens