The holiday season is a meaningful time to share with family and friends, but it’s also a wonderful time to give back to those less fortunate. Here are 10 ways you can give back in Charlotte this weekend:
Angels & Sparrows Soup Kitchen
Get active for a cause at the Angels & Sparrows Soup Kitchen’s 7th annual family 5K on Thanksgiving morning. The event kicks off at Fleet Feet Sports in Birkdale Village at 8 a.m 11/22/18. Individual tickets are $20 and $50 per family with up to six people. Register here. (The event is pet-friendly.)
Charlotte Rescue Mission
Charlotte Rescue Mission is looking for volunteers to help prepare and serve their annual Thanksgiving meal. Between the mission’s two campuses there are several different three hour shifts available on Thanksgiving day starting at 6:30 a.m. and ending with a shift that starts at 12:30 p.m. For more information or to sign up to volunteer, click here. (All volunteers must be registered ahead of time.)
If you aren’t in town this weekend there are still ways to give back by donating to the Charlotte Rescue Mission online. For less than $50 you can donate 25+ meals.
Community Blood Center of the Carolinas
Start a new Thanksgiving tradition by donating blood to those in need through the Community Blood Center of the Carolinas. Centers will be open during the holiday weekend and there will also be several mobile drives open and spread throughout the city. You can search for blood center locations and mobile drives, here.
Humane Society of Charlotte
Don’t forget about our furry friends this holiday season! You can support the animals at the Humane Society of Charlotte by purchasing a Huggable Holiday Card pack for $20. Each package includes 12 holiday cards that feature adorable animals that have called the facility home. All the proceeds from card sales will support the HSC. Purchase cards here.
Lake Norman Turkey Trot
Break a sweat to support the military during the family-friendly Lake Norman Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving day. The event features several options for participants to choose from, including a 5K, 10K, Distance Dare (15 Km), and a Half Marathon, which takes place Saturday, November 24. Registration starts as low as $25 for the 5K and proceeds benefit the Green Beret Foundation. Awards will be given out to the top three overall males and females as well as first place runners in each age group. Register here.
Loaves & Fishes
Help feed hungry families this holiday season by purchasing your holiday greeting cards from Loaves & Fishes — a network of over 30 food banks located throughout Mecklenburg County. Cards can be purchased online for a $10 donation and the money raised from card sales will provide families in crisis with nutritionally balanced groceries. Purchase cards here.
Men’s Shelter of Charlotte
This year give back by giving the gift of warmth to those in need by donating winter hats and gloves to the Men’s Shelter of Charlotte. The shelter has a goal of collecting 405 pairs of gloves and hats for the homeless by Tuesday, November 27 — and has made it exceptionally easy to donate by setting up an Amazon Wish List where items can be purchased online and sent directly to the shelter. Click to see the wish list here.
Salvation Army of Greater Charlotte
Between now and Monday, December 10 stop by SouthPark Mall’s Giving Tree to adopt an angel from the Salvation Army of Greater Charlotte’s annual Angel Tree program. The popular program provides children in Mecklenburg and Union County with thousands of gifts each year. Here’s more information.
Second Harvest Food Bank of Metrolina
From now through December 31st local Harris Teeter stores will collect canned goods and non-perishable items for Second Harvest Food Bank of Metrolina. Each store will have a red Second Harvest barrel in its lobby for donations. At checkout shoppers will also have the opportunity to donate to the food bank by rounding up the each transaction to the nearest dollar. The money raised will go toward feeding less fortunate families this holiday season.
South Charlotte Turkey Dash
Kick off Thanksgiving morning with a four-mile run or one-mile walk during South Charlotte’s Turkey Dash at The Village at Robinson Farms. The charity event will benefit Charlotte-based Beds for Kids, which provides beds and other essential furniture for families in need. The run starts at 8:30 a.m. and the walk begins at 9:30 a.m. Tickets are $29 for the walk and $43 for the run. Register here.
What are your favorite ways to give back during the holiday season? We’d love to hear about them.
