The Need is Great 

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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.