For their 95th anniversary year, the Junior League of Charlotte, Inc. (JLC) spent 95 consecutive hours last week volunteering in our community. Yes, that means women got up at 2:00 a.m. to keep the hours going. In a year like no other, they wanted to live out their mission and help other organizations throughout the Charlotte community, even if just from their home. It’s something the League chose to do right before the holiday season as it’s a wonderful time to give back to those less fortunate. Many projects are ones you and your family can also do while still social distancing.
Here are 13 ways you can give back in Charlotte this weekend:
Bright Blessings
Last year, Bright Blessings brought the gifts of joy, care, and hope to more than 17,000 homeless and impoverished children. Due to the challenges that 2020 has brought, their work is more important than ever. You and your family can get together to create snack packs and hygiene kits. Learn more here.
Digi-Bridge
Digi-Bridge provides individual at-home STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and math) kits to students in Title 1 schools in Charlotte Mecklenburg. This Thanksgiving, shop their wishlist to purchase supplies to fill these kits for students in their after school programs.
ParentChild+
With the onset of Covid, ParentChild+ has found themselves serving families in a larger capacity than they originally had. They are specifically in need of educational toys and books, technology, and emergency relief materials for our families. You can donate here.
Classroom Central
While many students are still learning virtually, that hasn’t changed the fact that students still require school supplies. Classroom Central would not be able to fulfill its mission without community members who donate their time and talents each year as volunteers. Click here to learn how to volunteer. Click here to learn how to donate and what the organization needs.
OneBlood
COVID-19 has caused blood donations to severely decline. Think about starting a new Thanksgiving tradition by donating blood to those in need through OneBlood. You can search for blood center locations and mobile drives here.
Promising Pages
This year has been extra hard for students and teachers. Give them some extra love by creating bookmarks for students and encouraging notes for teachers. Templates can be found here. You can also drop off books at one of their drop-off locations found here.
Angels & Sparrows Soup Kitchen
Angels & Sparrows serves a nourishing lunch, Monday through Friday 11 am-1 pm, year round to anyone who needs help. You can sign up to volunteer here.
Charlotte Rescue Mission
For the first time in 82 years, the Charlotte Rescue Mission will not have its usual sit-down Thanksgiving meal. But they are still helping the community and you can help them! Host a donation drive for new or gently used clothing for our residents. Contact stephanie.mcallister@charlotterescuemission.org (women and children’s clothing) or greg.goodsen@charlotterescuemission.org (men’s clothing) for more information.
Loaves & Fishes
Help feed hungry families this holiday season by purchasing your holiday cards from Loaves & Fishes. Cards can be purchased online for a donation of $12 per card and the money raised from card sales will provide families in crisis with nutritionally balanced groceries. Purchase cards here.
Humane Society of Charlotte
Adopt a pet! Visit humanecharlotte.org to check out our available adoptable animals and bring home a baby just in time to celebrate the holidays. If you can’t make the long-term commitment of adoption, you can become an HSC foster. They offer virtual foster orientations and provide foster families with all the supplies they need.
Charlotte Speech and Hearing Center
Charlotte Speech and Hearing Center is the only free-standing, nonprofit speech and hearing center in the state. To help them, you can purchase games and arts and crafts supplies for speech language therapy, or cleaning supplies to keep clinics safe as they continue seeing patients in person. Shop their wishlist here.
Salvation Army of Greater Charlotte
The Salvation Army has several ways to help bring smiles to people this holiday season, from a magical toy drive, to the famous red kettles. Sign up for several different volunteer opportunities here.
Second Harvest Food Bank of Metrolina
Second Harvest believes volunteers are vital to the success of the food bank and to the community in need. One hour of your time provides the organization with $24.19 in labor savings. These savings are dollars that are used to feed more hungry people. Head here to sign up for a volunteer shift.
To support the JLC in projects like these click here.
