The Need is Great 

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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.