United Way of Central Carolinas Young Leaders

Muffin Ministry

2010-11-17T13:01:00.000-05:00

Young Leaders served breakfast to the people standing in line for assistance at Crisis Assistance Ministry as part of Week to Fight Hunger.

Hunger Challenge in the News

2010-11-17T11:48:00.000-05:00

United Way group is sampling life on $7 per day - Charlotte Observer

Hunger Challenge Meal From One Participant

2010-11-17T11:41:00.000-05:00

Thank you to Ellen Cary for providing us with her meal plan and grocery list that she used while taking the Hunger Challenge. Take note in preperation for next year! Also see her breakdown of what she spent each day.

Meal Planning

Tuesday:

Oatmeal and milk
Apple slices, peanut butter
Billingsville Elementary School lunch (breaded chicken sandwich with mayonnaise, pears, tater tots, green beans, milk
Apple slices, peanut butter
Vegetarian chili, ½ grilled cheese sandwich, milk

Wednesday:

Eggs, toast, milk
Banana
Turkey Sandwich with cheese, tangerine, cheetos
Yogurt, carrots
Dinner at Relatives

Thursday:

Oatmeal and milk
Apples, peanut butter
Vegetarian chili, crackers, milk, Tangerines
Milk, banana
Spaghetti, carrots

Friday:

Eggs, toast, milk
Banana, peanut butter
Turkey Sandwich with cheese, tangerine, cheetos
Yogurt, apple slices
Out to eat??

Saturday:

Pancakes, eggs, milk, banana
Peanut butter and honey sandwich, apple, cheetos, yogurt
Popcorn with parmesan cheese
Homeade pizza (spinach)

Sunday:

Oatmeal, banana, milk
Leftover Chili, Grilled cheese, Tangerine
Cheetos, apple slices, peanut butter
Leftover spaghetti/pizza, carrots

Grocery List

Fruit: 6 apples, 5 bananas, 5 Tangerines
Vegetables: 1 bag spinach, 4 servings baby carrots, 1 green pepper, 1 onion
Grains: Oatmeal, crackers, cheetos, pizza dough, bread, spaghetti noodles, popping corn
Canned goods: black beans, pinto beans, diced tomatoes, tomato sauce
Meat: turkey deli meat
Dairy: ½ gallon milk, 4 yogurts, parmesan cheese, mozzarella cheese, cheddar cheese
Condiments: garlic, chili powder, brown sugar, butter, peanut butter, sugar, salad dressing

Hunger Challenge Participants

2010-11-11T09:30:00.000-05:00

How is the Hunger Challenge going for you? Is it easy? tough? Below are some comments from Hunger Challenge participants. Let us know in the comments how you are doing or e-mail to youngleaders@uwcentralcarolinas.org

Kandance Leap says:

DAY ONE - it's much harder than I thought to eat on just $7 a day. I think I came close yesterday but it was tough. A lot of planning goes into it and eating healthy at that cost is very difficult. Today is a new day and I do have a better plan....wish me luck!

Leslie McCray says

Shopping this weekend to prepare for the “Hunger Challenge” was definitely . . . challenging. It was hard to pass by so many goodies that were simply too expensive for our budget: wine, coffee beans, cheese, nuts. But it wasn’t only the treats we had to forego. We like to eat a lot of fresh vegetables – we like green salads, roasted vegetables, soups, and pastas made with vegetables. We are fond of some of the more unusual vegetables such as fennel, leeks, chard, eggplant, jicama, butternut squash, kohlrabi, bok choy (anyway, I don’t think they’re unusual, but I often have to tell the checkout people what they are) – and they cost too much for our budget this week. So I brought home onions, carrots, kale, a head of iceberg lettuce and frozen peas. A little dull, but nourishing, I’m sure.

We also like to keep a bowl of fresh fruit on the counter at all times. Usually, that includes apples, bananas, mango, a kiwi or two, with grapes or berries in the fridge . . . . this week, it’s a bunch of bananas and that’s pretty much it. I did buy applesauce cups to go in my daughter’s school lunches, and a can of frozen orange juice to reconstitute with water. I mean, you’ve got to have your vitamin C!

I’ve done a lot of planning for dinner menus this week -- Spanish rice, stuffed peppers, lentil soup – and I’m sure we’ll be very well fed on that front. But our budget certainly didn’t allow for the snacks and extras I usually bring home. We’ll see how my teenage daughter reacts to no soft drinks, granola bars or Greek yogurt when she gets home from school today.

Take the Hunger Challenge

2010-10-15T09:26:00.027-04:00

We challenge you to feed yourself on $7.00 a day for 6 days

The Challenge—an Exercise in Understanding

Take The Challenge Tuesday, November 9^th thru Sunday, November 14^th and
experience what it would be like to live on Food Stamps.

Budget: $7/day for 1 person; $12/day for 2 people; $18/day for 3 people, $22/day for 4 people.
Tuesday, November 9th thru Sunday, November 14th
Don’t use food you already own. Don’t accept food from friends or co-workers.
Salt and pepper don’t count. All other seasonings, oils, and condiments do.
Try to include fruits, vegetables, and healthy proteins each day.

Share your experience with others via Facebook and the UWYL Blog and help create awareness about what it's like to feed yourself on a tight budget.

To sign up to participate in the Hunger Challenge

please fill out the form below.
(To volunteer with UWYL during Week to Fight Hunger Click Here)

** We are looking for guest bloggers who are willing to share their experience leading up to, during and after The Challenge. Examples: menu planning, shopping for food, your day-to-day eating and recipes you have found or created. What's difficult? What's easy? What do your family and friends think? If interested send your posts to youngleaders@uwcentralcarolinas.org. **

Thank You to our Sponsors

2010-10-14T11:14:00.042-04:00

A Week of Volunteer Opportunities and Events

(Looking to Join the Hunger Challenge? Click Here)

Meet & Greet/Information Session on Monday, November 8th, 5:30 pm - 7:00 pm at The King's Kitchen, 129 West Trade Street, Charlotte, NC 28202

-Bring 2 jars of baby food (or $5 cash) to support Summit House.
-Drink Specials ($5.00 per drink ticket).

Serve Dinner @ Salvation Army Center of Hope on Tuesday, November 9th, 4:30 pm - 6:30 pm.
-534 Spratt Street, Charlotte, NC 28206.

Project Is Full - Serve Dinner @ The Relatives on Wednesday, November 10th, 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm.
-1100 East Boulevard, Charlotte, NC 28203.

Project Is Full -Serve Breakfast @ Crisis Assistance Ministry on Thursday, November 11th, 7:30 am - 9:00 am.
-500-A Spratt Street, Charlotte, NC 28206.

Project Is Full -Serve Lunch @ Men's Shelter on Friday, November 12th, 11:00 am - 1:00 pm. -
-1210 North Tryon Street, Charlotte, NC 28206.

Project Is Full -Serve Dinner @ Florence Crittenton on Saturday, November 13th, 5:00 pm - 6:30 pm.
- 1300 Blythe Boulevard, Charlotte, NC 28203.

Serve Dinner @ United Family Services on Saturday, November 13th, 4:30 pm - 6:30 pm.
- Address will be given to volunteers closer to the project date.

Prepare & Serve Dinner @ The Villages at Hope Haven on Sunday, November 14th, 3:00 pm - 6:00 pm.
- 3815 North Tryon Street, Charlotte, NC 28206.

Wrap-Up on Monday, November 15th, 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm at Mortons, 227 West Trade St, Charlotte, NC 28202.
- Bring 1 large box of animal crackers (or $5 cash) to support YWCA.
- Complementary hors d'oeuvres and drink specials.

For more information or to RSVP

for a project or event please e-mail youngleaders@uwcentralcarolinas.org

Thank You to our Sponsors

Help Give the Children at Salvation Army Center of Hope's Boys and Girls Club a Halloween/Birthday Party

2010-09-29T15:50:00.050-04:00

DUE TO OVERWHELMING RESPONSE
THIS PROJECT IS NOW FULL

The Details

Date: Monday, October 11th

Time: 5:30 pm - 7:30 pm

Location: Salvation Army Center of Hope, 534 Spratt Street, Charlotte, NC 28206

Special Instructions: Sorry, but due to privacy issues children are not allowed at this project.

Join United Way Young Leaders as they provide games, prizes, cake and fun to the children at the Salvation Army Center of Hope's Boys and Girls Club. (The children who have a birthday in October will also get presents from Birthday Blessings).

About Salvation Army Center of Hope:

Every day school buses stop at the Center of Hope to bring more than 100 children “home.”

For the sake of these children—more than 1,000 pass through the Center of Hope’s doors each year—the shelter seeks to provide daily stability and a permanent way out of homelessness. As Charlotte’s only 24/7 year-round emergency shelter, the Center of Hope— a 36,000 square-foot facility with 224 beds—routinely operates at capacity. In 2009 it admitted more than 5,600 people, including five women over the age of 85, and welcomed 27 newborns directly from the hospital.

The largest such shelter in the Southeast, the Center of Hope offers a comprehensive program of on site services, including the nation’s only Boys & Girls Club within a homeless shelter.

For more information please visit their Website.

About Birthday Blessings:

Birthday Blessings was founded in 2005 by Amy and John Cervantes of Charlotte, North Carolina.

The goal of Birthday Blessings is to bring joy, recognition, and support to needy children and families during difficult and sad times in their lives. Our three core programs raise spirits and boost confidence for homeless children ages tots to teens, and offer help and hope to homeless parents and their babies.

Every year, Birthday Blessings makes a positive impact in the lives of thousands of needy youth and families across our greater Charlotte community. As an all-volunteer organization, our dedicated "staff" of volunteers are truly the heart of all that we do.

For more information please visit their Website

United Way Young Leaders Breakfast Event

2010-02-19T09:47:00.017-05:00

You are cordially invited to attend the

United Way Young Leaders Breakfast Event

“What’s happening with HealthCare Reform?”

Thursday, March 25, 2010

7:30 a.m. – 8:00 a.m. Registration/Breakfast

8:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m. UWYL Program

Carolinas Medical Center Auditorium

1000 Blythe Blvd, Charlotte, NC

Featuring:

Martha Ann McConnell

Vice President of Government Relations

There is no charge for this event! However, space is limited. You must RSVP to Shelly Wright (704) 664-2284, or youngleaders@uwcentralcarolinas.org

Directions/Parking: Parking is available in the Morehead Medical Plaza parking deck. From Kenilworth, turn left onto E. Morehead Street, then an immediate right onto Morehead Medical Drive. Turn right into the parking deck located on the right-hand side. Volunteers will be positioned from the parking deck elevators and throughout CHS to guide attendees to the Auditorium. Parking will be validated.

April Volunteer Projects

2010-02-11T15:59:00.015-05:00

Join United Way Young Leaders as we work to make a difference in our community by volunteering at agencies helping our neighbors in need.

The Sixth Annual Hope Floats Duck Race

KinderMourn’s “Sixth Annual Hope Floats Duck Race
Established in 1978, KinderMourn provides a safe haven for and addresses the special needs of parents, children and young people whose lives have been shattered by the death of a child. Join UWYL as we have some fun and help KinderMourn to prepare for and execute one of their more critical fundraisers.

Two volunteer opportunities

Phase I - Help Tag Ducks for the Race

Thursday, April 15th

7:00 am - 11:00 am

KinderMourn
1320 Harding Place, Charlotte, NC 28204
(Near the corner of Morehead and Kenilworth)

20 volunteers needed to help with various tasks, including the following:
Unloading boxes of rubber ducks
Tagging the individual rubber ducks
In consideration of the work week, volunteers may come and go as necessary.
Please register at youngleaders@uwcentralcarolinas.org by April 9^th!

Phase II - Volunteer at the Duck Race - Family Friendly Project
Sunday, April 18th
1:00 pm - 5:00 pm

U.S. National Whitewater Center
5000 Whitewater Center Parkway, Charlotte, NC 28214

40 volunteers needed to help with various tasks, including the following:
Children’s Activities
Souvenir and Concession Sales
Parking and Traffic Control and more
Please register at youngleaders@uwcentralcarolinas.org by April 9^th!

Many thanks to those of you who have volunteered with United Way Young Leaders. We encourage you to forward this e-mail to other young professionals.

Click Here for Directions to the Whitewater Center

March Volunteer Projects

2010-02-11T14:34:00.021-05:00

Join United Way Young Leaders as we work to make a difference in our community by volunteering at agencies helping our neighbors in need.

Book Drive to Support Seigle Avenue Preschool's Read-A-Thon

Monday, March 1st - Friday, March 5th

Join Young Leaders as we collect books needed for Children aged 2, 3, and 4. Seigle Avenue provides tuition free, high quality preschool education to at-risk families in the Seigle Avenue/Belmont community. Join UWYL and support their “Annual Read-A-Thon.”

Collection Locations:

United Way of Central Carolinas

301 S Brevard Street

Charlotte, NC 28202

Seigle Avenue Preschool

3045 N. Davidson Street

Charlotte, NC 28202

For questions, please contact: youngleaders@uwcentralcarolinas.org

Fence Painting/staining with the Salvation Army Center of Hope

FULL, THANK YOU! - Saturday, March 13th, 10:00am-3:00pm (9:45 introduction)

534 Spratt Street
Charlotte, NC 28206

- 15 Volunteers Needed - This project has now reached the maximum number of volunteers, thanks everyone!

- Lunch and materials will be provided

- Please dress appropriately

Salvation Army Center for Hope is the largest women and children's homeless shelter in the Southeast, providing food, shelter, clothing, training and love for roughly 300 individuals every day and night. Join UWYL as we work to create a more beautiful facility for them.

Please register at youngleaders@uwcentralcarolinas.org no later than March 8th.

FULL - Become a “Lunch Buddy” with A Child’s Place (ACP)

Friday, March 26^th, 10:15 am -11:15 am

Druid Hills Elementary School

2801 Lucena Street, Charlotte, NC 28206-2168, (980) 343-5515.

- 8 Volunteers Needed - This project is now full, thank you!!!

A Child's Place is working to erase the impact of homelessness on children and their education. In as little as an hour, you have the opportunity to provide a mentoring friendship for an identified ACP Kindergarten student of Druid Hills Elementary School. In addition to having lunch with a child, volunteers will learn more about A Child’s Place, the school itself, and other opportunities to help those need. Become a Lunch Buddy with UWYL.

Register no later than Monday, March 15^th!

To register for this event, you must:

1) Confirm your intent to volunteer at youngleaders@uwcentralcarolinas.org

AND

2) Click here to register as a new Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools volunteer on the CMS homepage. (Registration Instructions – on the registration form, choose A Child’s Place as your Business/Organization and Druid Hills Elementary as your school of choice.)

Many thanks to those of you who have volunteered with United Way Young Leaders.

Men's Shelter Project Date Change

2010-02-03T09:52:00.002-05:00

DATE CHANGE
Men's Shelter of Charlotte
Saturday, February 13th
1:00 pm - 5:00 pm

Men's Shelter of Charlotte
1210 N Tryon Street, Charlotte, NC 28206

The Men's Shelter offers two services to their guests: emergency shelter and the FOCUS program. Join UWYL as we help by sorting, organizing and taking inventory of donations.

Click here to RSVP
Click Here for Directions

For more information on Men's Shelter of Charlotte please visit http://www.mensshelterofcharlotte.org/

REMINDER - WE STILL NEED VOLUNTEER FOR
Serve Dinner at Salvation Army Center of Hope
Tuesday, February 9th
4:00 pm - 6:30 pm

Salvation Army Center of Hope
534 Spratt St, Charlotte, NC 28206(Upon arrival go to the front door and tell them you are there to serve dinner)

The Salvation Army Center of Hope is a 36,000 square foot homeless shelter for women and children. There are frequently "home" to 300 women and children, even though they only have 204 beds. Families who are homeless, hungry and hurting can come to The Salvation Army Center of Hope to be fed, sheltered, clothed, trained, and most importantly, loved. Join UWYL volunteers as we serve dinner to those in residence at the shelter.

Click Here to RSVP
Click Here for Directions

Click Here for more information about Salvation Army Center of Hope

February Volunteer Projects

2010-01-21T11:19:00.005-05:00

Join United Way Young Leaders as we work to make a difference in our community by volunteering at agencies helping our neighbors in need.

Serve Dinner at Salvation Army Center of Hope
Tuesday, February 9th
4:00 pm - 6:30 pm

Salvation Army Center of Hope
534 Spratt St
Charlotte, NC 28206
(Upon arrival go to the front door and tell them you are there to serve dinner)

The Salvation Army Center of Hope is a 36,000 square foot homeless shelter for women and children. There are frequently "home" to 300 women and children, even though they only have 204 beds. Families who are homeless, hungry and hurting can come to The Salvation Army Center of Hope to be fed, sheltered, clothed, trained, and most importantly, loved. Join UWYL volunteers as we serve dinner to those in residence at the shelter.

Click Here to RSVP
Click Here for Directions

Click Here for more information about Salvation Army Center of Hope

We are also still accepting volunteers for
Men's Shelter of Charlotte
Saturday, January 30th
(Two time slots @ different locations)
8:00 am - 12:00 pm (Statesville Ave)
1:00 pm - 5:00 pm (N Tryon Street)

3410 Statesville Ave, Charlotte, NC 28206
1210 N Tryon Street, Charlotte, NC 28206

Click here to RSVP for the 8:00 am shift.
Click here to RSVP for the 1:00 pm shift.

Click Here for Directions to the Statesville Ave location.
Click Here for Directions to the N Tryon location.

For more information on Men's Shelter of Charlotte please visit http://www.mensshelterofcharlotte.org/

January Volunteer Projects

2010-01-12T13:24:00.008-05:00

Join United Way Young Leaders as we work to make a difference in our community by volunteering at agencies helping our neighbors in need.

Classroom Central Volunteer Project
Wednesday, January 20th
8:30 am – 10:00 am

Classroom Central
2116 Wilkinson Blvd.
Charlotte, NC 28208

Classroom Central equips students to effectively learn by collecting and distributing free school supplies. Classroom Central currently serves over 119 schools and more than 80,000 students in the Charlotte-Mecklenburg and surrounding districts

Join UWYL volunteers to help stock the free store and help with other miscellaneous tasks at Classroom Central.

Click here to RSVP.
Click here for Directions

For more information on Classroom Central please visit
www.classroomcentral.org

Muffin Ministry @ Crisis Assistance Ministry
Project is full
Tuesday, January 26th
6:45 am-8:00 am

Crisis Assistance Ministry
500-A Spratt Street
Charlotte, NC 28206

Crisis Assistance Ministry is helping people avoid home evictions and utility disconnections, as well as with free clothing and household items. Muffin Ministries is the act of bringing a warm breakfast snack to over a hundred individuals waiting in line at Crisis Assistance Ministry every morning. Help United Way Young Leaders make this morning a little less difficult for those in need.

Click here to RSVP.
Click Here for Directions

For more information on Crisis Assistance Ministry please visit http://www.crisisassistance.org/

Men's Shelter of Charlotte
Saturday, January 30th
(Two time slots @ different locations)
8:00 am - 12:00 pm (Statesville Ave)
1:00 pm - 5:00 pm (N Tryon Street)

3410 Statesville Ave, Charlotte, NC 28206
1210 N Tryon Street, Charlotte, NC 28206

Click here to RSVP for the 8:00 am shift.
Click here to RSVP for the 1:00 pm shift.

Click Here for Directions to the Statesville Ave location.
Click Here for Directions to the N Tryon location.

For more information on Men's Shelter of Charlotte please visit http://www.mensshelterofcharlotte.org/

2nd Annual Men Count Program

2009-12-28T14:58:00.000-05:00

Friday, January 15, 2010.

Hidden Valley Elementary at 5100 Snow White Lane, Charlotte, NC 28213.

Men Count is a way to let the students see a mass of positive male role models who support them. We are seeking as many positive male role models as we can get to the building on this day, it does not matter what your job is but that you are a productive citizen. Hidden Valley Elementary is school where 95% of the student population is on free/reduced lunch, but with smiles and determination to continue on. We ask that on this one day you all drop in and let them know just how much they matter.

Program runs from 8:00 – 1:30pm, but we are only asking for an hour of your time. (lunch buddy, reading partner, math tutor, teacher assistant, or recess coordinator.)

In order to participate you must sign up to be a volunteer on the CMS website https://www.cmsvolunteers.com

For more information and to sign up please contact Hope McGuire at: hope.mcguire@cms.k12.nc.us
(Work) 980-343-6810
(Cell) 704-619-8776

Thank you in advance for making this day a success!

Holiday Volunteer Project at the Belmont Ave Boys & Girls Club

2009-12-01T14:59:00.007-05:00

United Way Young Leaders is looking for Volunteers to help Host a Holiday Celebration at The Boys & Girls Club

Wednesday, December 16th
4:30 pm – 6:00 pm

Please arrive by 4:15 pm for set-up

Project has reached capacity for volunteers, but if you would still like to help you may sign up to purchase gifts.

901 Belmont Avenue
Charlotte, NC 28205

Volunteers will be asked to purchase

a book, hat & pair of mittens for a child.
All wrapped packages need to be dropped off at
United Way of Central Carolinas (301 S Brevard St, 28202)
by 5:00pm on Monday, December 14th.

(Please contact Shelley Townsend at 704-371-6391 or youngleaders@uwcentralcarolinas.org with any questions)

Children will also get a picture taken with Santa and a frame to decorate and wrap.

Click Here to RSVP.
Click Here for directions

Harris Teeter Harvest Feast Volunteer Project

2009-10-11T11:49:00.000-04:00

Join United Way Young Leaders and Harris Teeter to Feed our Community at the
2009 Harris Teeter Harvest Feast

20 Volunteers Needed
Friday, November 27, 2009
9:00am - Project Begins
4:00pm - Project Ends

Charlotte Convention Center
501 South College Street
Charlotte, NC 28202

There are a variety of volunteer opportunities at the event, including greeters, table cleaners, runners, transportation and food (servers, beverage and runners). Ages 16 and up welcome to volunteer.

Click Here to RSVP. Please include the first name, last name and e-mail address of each volunteer. Please RSVP by Friday, November 20th.

Thank You to Everyone Who Participated in "A Week to Fight Hunger"

2009-10-10T15:39:00.000-04:00

Monday, October 5th – Saturday, October 10th.

What the volunteers accomplished
• 15 volunteers at Friendship Trays delivered over 50 meals.
• 7 volunteers at Crisis Assistance Ministry served around 200 people, 15 pizza’s (donated by Pizza Peel) 200 apples and bananas and 200 waters.
• 5 volunteers served dinner and spent time with the youth living at The Relatives.
• 6 volunteers served dinner and spent time with the women living at Florence Crittenton.
• 10 volunteers served breakfast to over 158 people in line at Crisis Assistance.
• 9 volunteers served lunch to 180-200 men living at Uptown Shelter.
• 8 volunteers served dinner to the women staying at the United Family Services’ Shelter for Battered Women.
• 13 volunteers sorted 3 pallets of food at Second Harvest Food Bank.

Statistics for the 2009 Week to Fight Hunger
8 Projects
7 Agencies served
12.5 service hours
72 volunteers
$2,409.76 in kind dollars (based on the Independent Sector figures from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Volunteers at Bagged Lunch Ministry at Crisis Assistance Ministry on Tuesday, October 6, 2009 (top picture)
Volunteers at Muffin Ministry at Crisis Assistance Ministry on Thursday, October 8, 2009 (bottom 3 pictures)

Volunteer for Boo Bash at Salvation Army Center of Hope

2009-10-10T15:15:00.000-04:00

15 Volunteers Needed
Program provided by Salvation Army Center of Hope (A United Way Member Agency) and Birthday Blessings
Thursday, October 29, 2009
5:15pm - Project Introduction and Setup
6:00pm - Project Begins
7:00pm - Project Ends

Salvation Army Center of Hope
535 Spratt St, Charlotte, NC 28206

Join UW Young Leaders as we team up with Birthday Blessings and Salvation Army Center of Hope to bring birthday smiles along with some Halloween fun to over 40 children. We'll have Trick-or-Treat game stations and prizes and will be serving birthday cake and juice.

Click Hereto to RSVP for Boo Bash
Click Here for directions to Salvation Army Center of Hope

Click Here to learn more about Salvation Army Center of Hope
Click Here to learn more about Birthday Blessings.

UWYL Hosted "Get Connected to the Charlotte Community"

2009-10-07T09:41:00.000-04:00

UW Young Leaders hosted a networking event on September 30th to introduce young professionals to the non-profit community and give them opportunities to get involved in a service capacity.

Special Thanks to
Our Guest Speaker, Bob Lacey from 107.9 The Link

Thank You to our Event Sponsors

Thank You to our Title Sponsors

October Volunteer Projects

2009-09-08T16:26:00.001-04:00

Join United Way Young Leaders for

A Week to Fight Hunger

Deliver Meals
30 Volunteers Needed
Program provided by Friendship Trays
Monday, October 5, 2009
11:00am - Project Introduction
11:10am - Project Begins
12:30pm - Project Ends
Friendship Trays
2401-A Distribution Street, Charlotte NC 28203

Friendship Trays is a home delivered meal program which delivers nutritious meals to those people in our community who are unable to prepare or obtain a healthy meal for themselves. Volunteers will team up in groups of two to assemble and deliver the meals to homes. A route with specific instructions will be provided by Friendship Trays.

Click Here to RSVP for the Friendship Trays project.
Click Here for directions to Friendship Trays.

Click Here for more information about Friendship Trays

Bagged Lunch Ministry
8 Volunteers Needed
Program provided by Crisis Assistance Ministry (A United Way Member Agency)
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
11:30am - Project Introduction
11:40am - Project Begins
12:30pm - Project Ends
Crisis Assistance Ministry
500-A Spratt St, Charlotte NC 28206

Crisis Assistance Ministry is helping people avoid home evictions and utility disconnections, as well as with free clothing and household items. Bagged Lunch Ministries is the act of bringing a bagged lunch to over a hundred individuals waiting in line at Crisis Assistance Ministry in the afternoon. Help United Way Young Leaders make this afternoon a little less difficult for those in need.

Click Here to RSVP for the Bagged Lunch Ministry project.
Click Here for directions to Crisis Assistance.

Click Here for more information about Crisis Assistance Ministry

Dinner at The Relatives
5 Volunteers Needed
Program provided by The Relatives (A United Way Member Agency)
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
5:30pm - Project Introduction
5:40pm - Project Begins
7:30pm - Project Ends
The Relatives
1100 East Boulevard, Charlotte NC 28203

The Relatives is a 9 bed, co-ed emergency shelter for runaways, homeless and other youth in crisis from age 7 to 17. Volunteers will serve and enjoy dinner with the youth currently living in the house. An after dinner activity will also be planned.

Click Here to RSVP for The Relatives project.
Click Here for directions to The Relatives.

Click Here for more information about The Relatives

Serve Dinner at Florence Crittenton
7 Volunteers Needed
Program provided by Florence Crittenton (A United Way Member Agency)
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
5:15pm - Project Introduction
5:20pm - Project Begins
6:45pm - Project Ends
Florence Crittenton Services
1300 Blythe Blvd, Charlotte NC 28203

Florence Crittenton Services provides a safe and healthy environment for pregnant girls and women, adolescent mothers in foster care, and non-pregnant at risk foster care adolescents. Help serve dinner to the women currently living at the residence.

Click Here to RSVP for the Florence Crittenton project.
Click Here for directions to Florence Crittenton Services.

Click Here for more information about Florence Crittenton Services

Muffin Ministry
8 Volunteers Needed
Program provided by Crisis Assistance Ministry (A United Way Member Agency)
Thursday, October 8, 2009
6:45am - Project Introduction
7:00am - Project Begins
8:00am - Project Ends
Crisis Assistance Ministry
500-A Spratt St, Charlotte NC 28206

Crisis Assistance Ministry is helping people avoid home evictions and utility disconnections, as well as with free clothing and household items. Muffin Ministries is the act of bringing a warm breakfast snack to over a hundred individuals waiting in line at Crisis Assistance Ministry every morning. Help United Way Young Leaders make this morning a little less difficult for those in need.

Click Here to RSVP for the Muffin Ministry project.
Click Here for directions to Crisis Assistance.

Click Here for more information about Crisis Assistance Ministry

Serve Lunch at Uptown Shelter
12 Volunteers Needed
Program provided by Uptown Shelter (A United Way Member Agency)
Thursday, October 8, 2009
11:00 am Introduction
11:15 am Project Begins
1:00 pm Project Ends
Uptown Shelter
1210 N Tryon St, Charlotte, NC 28236

The Uptown Shelter is the only permanent, year-round homeless shelter in Mecklenburg County dedicated to serving the population of adult homeless men. Help Young Leaders as they serve lunch to the 180-200 homeless men at the shelter.

Click Here to RSVP for the Uptown Shelter project
Click Here for directions to Uptown Shelter

Click Here for more information about Uptown Shelter

Serve Dinner at United Family Services
10 Volunteers Needed
Program provided by United Family Services (A United Way Member Agency)
Thursday, October 8, 2009
5:30 pm Introduction
5:35 pm Project Begins
8:00 pm Project Ends
Address will be provided to volunteers upon registration.

United Family Services which provides a shelter for battered women, works in diverse ways and in partnership with others to restore all individuals and families to basic levels of security and self-sufficiency. Volunteers will be serving dinner to the women and children currently living at the shelter.

Click Here to RSVP for the United Family Services project
Click Here for directions to United Family Services

Click Here for more information about United Family Services

Help at the Food Pantry
20 volunteers needed
Program provided by Second Harvest Food Bank
Saturday, October 10th
9:00 a.m. - Project Introduction
9:10 a.m - Project Begins
12:00 p.m. - Project Ends
Second Harvest Food Bank
500-B Spratt St, Charlotte, NC 28206

Second Harvest Food Bank of Metrolina strives through education, advocacy, and partnerships to eliminate hunger by the solicitation and distribution of food. Volunteers will be helping by sorting, inspecting, boxing and stocking food for the agency.

**Please note - Only closed toed shoes are allowed.**

Click Here to RSVP for the Second Harvest Food Bank project
Click Here for directions to Second Harvest Food Bank

Click Here for more information about Second Harvest Food Bank

Note: If you are aware of vendors interested in donating food items for any of the above projects, please contact us at youngleaders@uwcentralcarolinas.org.

September Volunteer Projects

2009-09-08T16:01:00.000-04:00

Join United Way Young Leaders in September as they improve our communities through collaborative actions.

Reading to Children & Playground Beautification
5 Volunteers Needed
Program provided by Child Care Resources (A United Way Member Agency)
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
7:30am -Project Introduction
7:35am-Project Begins
9:30am-Project Ends
Community Weekday School
408 E 18th Street, Charlotte, NC 28206

Since 1982, Child Care Resources has been supporting families, enhancing children's early childhood and school-age learning services, building family-friendly workplaces and connecting the community to children. Join UW Young Leaders as they help beautify the playground and read to the children at Community Weekday School, one of the daycares helped by Child Care Resources.

Click Here to register for this project
Click Here for directions to Community Weekday School

Click Here for more information on Child Care Resources

Thank You From UW Young Leaders and Summit House

2009-08-26T09:30:00.000-04:00

The United Way Young Leaders (UWYL) would like to thank donors for their support in making the Summit House supply drive a success. We received enough baby formula, cleaning supplies and diapers to last more than a month! This tremendous show of support during difficult economic times significantly reduces the financial strain on Summit House and will help the United Way agency fulfill its goal of keeping families together during rehabilitation. Again, we appreciate everyone’s support in this drive and look forward to seeing you at the next UWYL event!

Item Drive to Benefit Summit House-Deadline Extended

2009-08-25T10:28:00.000-04:00

Deadline Extended

United Way Young Leaders will be hosting a drive to collect items for Summit House.

Summit House is an alternative to incarceration for female felons who are pregnant or have young children. Instead of the mother being incarcerated and her children sent to foster care, Summit House provides a stable environment where mom and the kids are able to remain together as a family. While at Summit House, the mom works towards building the life skills necessary to put her family’s life back together. To learn more about Summit House and to read a mother’s testimonial, please click on the following link: http://www.summithouse.org/amother_sstory.html

United Way Young Leaders is asking volunteers to collect the following items for Summit House:

-Diapers: Stage 1-2, & Stage 4 & Stage 5
-Baby Wipes
-Paper Towels
-Toilet Paper
-Cleaning Supplies
-Enfamil Formula
-Baby Food (all stages) and Fruits & Vegetables

As part of the project, you are encouraged to spread the word around your office about this wonderful service opportunity and to collect items from co-workers. Items can be dropped off at the UW building at 301 S Brevard St anytime prior to September 9th. At that time, UW will deliver the items to Summit House directly.

Thank you for helping Summit House continue being a successful part of the North Carolina community.

For questions please contact Shelley Townsend at 704-371-6391 or youngleaders@uwcentralcarolinas.org

August Volunteer Project

2009-08-06T10:21:00.000-04:00

Join United Way Young Leaders in August as they improve our communities through collaborative actions.

Game Night
10 Volunteers Needed
Program provided by Uptown Shelter (A United Way Member Agency)
Saturday, August 22, 2009
2:00pm - Program Introduction
2:10pm - Project Begins
5:00pm - Project Ends
Uptown Shelter
1210 North Tryon Street, Charlotte, NC 28206

Uptown Shelter is a 268-bed facility managed by a professional staff, supported by dedicated volunteers and donors, and focused on meeting the needs of our guests. Founded in 1985 as a day shelter for people experiencing homelessness in Charlotte, Uptown Shelter has evolved into a comprehensive service provider that specializes in helping homeless men. Join Young Leaders as they enjoy games of chess, checkers, spades and others with the men living at the shelter.

Click Here to register for this project.
Click Here for directions to Uptown Shelter

For more information about Uptown Shelter please visit http://www.uptownshelter.org/

Painting Project
20 Volunteers Needed (10 per shift)
Program provided by Charlotte Speech and Hearing (A United Way Member Agency)
Saturday, August 29, 2009
1st Shift
8:30am - Program Introduction
8:40am - Project Begins
12:30pm - Project Ends
2nd Shift
1:30pm - Program Introduction
1:40pm - Project Begins
5:30pm - Project Ends
Charlotte Speech and Hearing
210 E. Woodlawn Rd, Ste 150, Charlotte, NC 28217

At Charlotte Speech and Hearing Center they believe communication is the key to connecting with the world. Their mission is to provide a full range of effective, family-centered speech-language and hearing services to everyone in need. Join Young Leaders as the help the agency by providing much needed painting services.

Click Here to register for this project.
Click Here for directions to Uptown Shelter

For more information about Charlotte Speech and Hearing please visit http://www.charlottespeechhearing.com/

Thank you to Big Day volunteers

2009-07-20T17:03:00.000-04:00

Dear Big Day volunteers,

BIG THANK YOU for spending your time at Big Day at the Lake!!

This event continues to grow each year, and we thank you for coming out to help with food, games, water balloons, bubbles, and general playing with the kids….! Our pictures should be loaded up onto the Young Leaders website soon….so check them out.

If you were unable to make this event, we missed you!! Please stay tuned for additional volunteer opportunities offered by the United Way Young Leaders.

Thanks again for making a difference in our community,

Holli Helms
Carolinas Healthcare System
UW Young Leaders Council Member

July Volunteer Projects

2009-06-22T13:42:00.000-04:00

Join United Way Young Leaders in July as they improve our communities through collaborative actions.

Conduct Mock Interviews
20 volunteers needed (5 per session)
Program provided by Urban League (A United Way Member Agency)
Session 1:
Monday, June 29th
11:50 a.m. - Project Introduction & Orientation
12:00 p.m. - Project Begins
1:30 p.m. - Project Ends
Session 2:
Monday, June 29th
1:20 p.m - Project Introduction & Orientation
1:30 p.m. - Project Begins
3:00 p.m. - Project Ends
Session 3:
Wednesday, July 1st
11:50 a.m. - Project Introduction & Orientation
12:00 p.m. - Project Begins
1:30 p.m. - Project Ends
Session 4:
Wednesday, July 1st
1:20 p.m. -Project Introduction & Orientation
1:30 p.m. - Project Begins
3:00 p.m. - Project Ends

Urban League
740 West Fifth Street, Charlotte, NC 28202

Urban League's programs can benefit anyone in need of education, skills training, career development, employment services, and youth programs. They serve persons from all economic levels - from area professionals to those living within designated "fragile" and "at risk" neighborhoods. Help Urban League with their Professional Adult Empowerment Program by conducting mock interviews for under served (low-skilled, underemployed or unemployed) adults in the program.

Click Here to RSVP for the Mock Interview project, please indicate which session you would like to attend.
Click Here for directions to Urban League

For more information about Urban League please visit urbanleaguecc.org

Help in the Crisis Assistance Ministry Free Store
Friday, July 10th
10 volunteers needed
Program provided by Crisis Assistance Ministry (A United Way Member Agency)
11:45 am - Program Introductions
12:00 pm - Project Begins
1:00 pm - Project Ends
Crisis Assistance Ministry
500-A Spratt Street Charlotte, NC 28206

Crisis Assistance serves Mecklenburg's "working poor," generally people working multiple low-wage jobs, struggling to reach a reasonable living-standard, by offering multiple programs that help these families make ends meet. Those accepting support from Crisis Assistance may even be your neighbors in need of a little extra help with avoiding eviction, utility loss, or providing clothes for their children. Given the current economic environment, Crisis Assistance's services are being strained like never before.One of the services Crisis Assistance offers is a Free Store. Clothing, housewares, furniture and appliances are donated to Crisis Assistance, which are in-turn, distributed to families in need. This subsequently allows those families to utilize their limited income to pay for other necessities, such as housing, utilities or food.As such, UWYL is sponsoring an event where volunteers will assist Crisis Assistance with sorting, inspecting and preparing the donated items. All materials are provided. Crisis Assistance simply asks that you bring yourself. Please note that you will be working on a concrete floor in a warehouse-type atmosphere, so please wear comfortable shoes and appropriate clothing.

Click Here to RSVP for the Crisis Assistance Project
Click Here for directions to Crisis Assistance Ministry

For more information about Crisis Assistance Ministry please visit crisisassistance.org

Food Pantry
20 volunteers needed
Program provided by Second Harvest Food Bank (A United Way Member Agency)
Thursday, July 16th
6:00 p.m. - Project Introduction
6:15 p.m - Project Begins
8:00 p.m. - Project Ends
Second Harvest Food Bank
500-B Spratt St, Charlotte, NC 28206

Second Harvest Food Bank of Metrolina (SHFBM) strives through education, advocacy, and partnerships to eliminate hunger by the solicitation and distribution of food. SHFBM has been in existence since 1981. Volunteers will be helping by sorting, inspecting, boxing and stocking food for the agency.

**Please note - Only closed toed shoes are allowed.**

Click Here to RSVP for the Second Harvest project
Click Here for directions to Second Harvest Food Bank

For more information about Second Harvest Food Bank please visit secondharvestcharlotte.org

5th Annual Big Day at the Lake
25 volunteers needed (10 for AM shift, 15 for PM shift)
Program provided by Big Brothers Big Sisters (A United Way Member Agency)
Saturday, July 18th

Morning Shift
11:00 - Project Introduction
11:10 - Project Begins
3:00 - Project Ends

Afternoon Shift
12:30 - Project Introduction
12:40 - Project Begins
4:30 - Project Ends
Duke Energy Explorium
Lake Norman
13339 Hagers Ferry Road, Huntersville, NC 28078

"Bigs" and "Littles" enjoy a day of fun at Lake Norman! Last year, more then 200 children from the BBBS youth mentoring program in greater Charlotte joined their Big Brothers/Big Sisters for a day of fun activities on Lake Norman. Boat hosts take the kids for boat rides on the lake in the morning, and then everyone enjoys a cookout and games at the Explorium in the afternoon.

Volunteers needed for: Food preparation and service, staff a table or booth, supervise games and activities and event clean-up

Click Here to RSVP for Big Day at the Lake
Click Here for directions to Big Day at the Lake

For more information about Big Brothers Big Sisters please visit bbbs.org

Thank you from Young Leaders and Urban Ministry Center

2009-06-17T14:39:00.000-04:00

Thank you for participating in Saturday’s “Day of Action” volunteer event at Urban Ministry Center. Over 55 of you participated in completing several valuable projects for Urban Ministry Center.

As a result of your hard work, we were able to complete a number of different projects, including;

Painted the Community Relations Room and the upstairs hallway (and various body parts and clothing!)
Cleaned and organized the kitchen which is used to serve meals to the Center’s 300-700 clients 365 days a year
Filled a dumpster (we needed at least 2) with “trash” from behind the train depot. Once complete, this area will be used for an outdoor art gallery

I hope you feel as much satisfaction from your involvement in this project as Urban Ministry Center appreciates all that you accomplished

Call to Action Stuff the Bus

2009-06-05T09:59:00.000-04:00

June Volunteer Projects

2009-05-19T10:16:00.000-04:00

Join United Way Young Leaders in June as they improve our communities through collaborative actions.

Help in the Free Store
Thursday, June 4th
Crisis Assistance Ministry
500-A Spratt Street Charlotte, NC 28206
20 Volunteers Needed
Program provided by Crisis Assistance Ministry (A United Way Member Agency)
9:00 am - Program Introductions
9:10 am - Project Begins
11:00 am - Project Ends

In an effort to answer the call to action at the "Leaders Breakfast Seminar," the United Way Young Leaders (UWYL) will be hosting a volunteer event at Crisis Assistance Ministry.

Crisis Assistance serves Mecklenburg's "working poor," generally people working multiple low-wage jobs, struggling to reach a reasonable living-standard, by offering multiple programs that help these families make ends meet. Those accepting support from Crisis Assistance may even be your neighbors in need of a little extra help with avoiding eviction, utility loss, or providing clothes for their children. Given the current economic environment, Crisis Assistance's services are being strained like never before.

One of the services Crisis Assistance offers is a Free Store. Clothing, housewares, furniture and appliances are donated to Crisis Assistance, which are in-turn, distributed to families in need. This subsequently allows those families to utilize their limited income to pay for other necessities, such as housing, utilities or food.

As such, UWYL is sponsoring an event where volunteers will assist Crisis Assistance with sorting, inspecting and preparing the donated items. All materials are provided. Crisis Assistance simply asks that you bring yourself. Please note that you will be working on a concrete floor in a warehouse-type atmosphere, so please wear comfortable shoes and appropriate clothing.

Click Here to RSVP for the Crisis Assistance Project
Click Here for directions to Crisis Assistance Ministry

For more information about Crisis Assistance Ministry please visit crisisassistance.org

Painting Project
Saturday, June 6th
10 Volunteers Needed
Program provided by Love, Inc (A United Way Member Agency)
10:00 am - Program Introductions
10:10 am - Project Begins
2:00 pm - Project Ends
Location is a private home

Charlotte, NC 28208

Love INC brings Christian churches together, across denominational lines, to help the poor by meeting immediate needs such as food and clothing, to longer-term responses through relational ministries such as life skills training and transitional housing.

Elaine is a wonderful woman who needs help painting two rooms and three closets in her home. She lives alone on a small income and is wheelchair bound, therefore unable to paint herself. This project will consist of moving and covering furniture and painting.

Lunch will be provided at noon.

Click Here to RSVP for the Love INC Project

For more information about Love INC please visit loveinc.org

Day of Action at Urban Ministry Center June 2009

2009-05-18T16:49:00.000-04:00

How can you help Urban Ministry serve over 100,000 lunches in 2009?

Not much is certain in the life of a homeless person, but they can count on one thing- St. Peter's Soup Kitchen at the Urban Ministry Center, an inter-faith organization in Charlotte serving those who face homelessness and poverty.
Join fellow young professionals in a Day of Action and help us beautify and improve Urban Ministry's Property by participating in a variety of volunteer projects.

JOIN US!
Saturday, June 13th
8:30 am - 11:30 am
75 volunteers needed

Urban Ministry Center
945 North College Street
Charlotte, NC 28206

Help us provide socks for Urban Ministry's homeless clients by bringing a donation of new men's white tube socks.

Click Here to RSVP for Day of Action

Click Here for directions to Urban Ministry Center

For more information about Urban Ministry Center and their work in the community please visit urbanministrycenter.org

Thank You to the volunteers who served on May 21st at Florence Crittenton

2009-05-17T16:29:00.000-04:00

I wanted to thank you for being a United Way Young Leader and coming out to serve dinner at Florence Crittenton on Thursday, May 21st. We served dinner to over 30 people which consisted of residents (including children) and staff.

I hope you found the opportunity to meet some of the residents worthwhile and will consider this organization for future volunteer events.

Kiala Felder-Furr

May Volunteer Projects

2009-05-14T18:51:00.000-04:00

Join United Way Young Leaders in May as they improve our communities through collaborative actions.

Serve Dinner at Florence Crittenton
7 volunteers needed
Program provided by Florence Crittenton (A United Way Member Agency)
Thursday, May 21st
5:15 p.m. Project Introduction
5:20 p.m. Project Begins
6:30 p.m. Project Ends
Florence Crittenton Services
1300 Blythe Blvd
Charlotte, NC 28203

Florence Crittenton Services provides a safe and healthy environment for pregnant girls and women, adolescent mothers in foster care, and nonpregnant at risk foster care adolescents. Help serve dinner to the women currently living at the residence.

Click Here for directions to Florence Crittenton

Click Here to RSVP for the project

Be a Lunch Buddy
8 volunteers needed
Program provided by A Child's Place of Charlotte (A United Way Member Agency)
Friday, May 29th
10:45 a.m. Project Introduction
11:00 a.m. Project Begins
12:00 p.m. Project Ends
Walter G. Byers Elementary School
1415 Hamilton St, Charlotte, NC 28206

A Child's Place is working to erase the impact of homelessness on children and their education. In as little as an hour, you have the opportunity to provide a mentoring friendship for an identified ACP student of Walter G. Byers Elementary School. In addition to having lunch with a child, volunteers will learn more about A Child’s Place, the school itself, and other opportunities to help those need.

Volunteers have the option of bringing a lunch or purchasing a lunch for themselves on site.
Volunteers are asked to meet in the front office of Walter G. Byers Elementary School at 10:45 a.m. for the Project Introduction.

Click Here for directions to Walter G. Byers Elementary School.

Click Here to RSVP to be a lunch buddy

Note: All volunteers will receive a brief application upon registration. This is a requirement of all first-time volunteers of A Child's Place. All forms must be completed and turned in as soon as possible.

Right Moves for Youth's Twilight 5-K Road Race and Walk

2009-05-07T09:53:00.000-04:00

One of the most eagerly anticipated events on the Right Moves For Youth Calendar is our Twilight 5K Road Race and Walk. This is a 5-K run through uptown Charlotte and is one of the only evening races in town.

Registration
Individuals and teams may register for the competitive run or walk. The registration process for individuals and teams differs as designated below:

Individual Runners/Walkers
Register in person at the following Run For Your Life locations:
• Dilworth – 2422 Park Road
Charlotte NC 28203
704-358-0713 (mail/person)
• Stonecrest Shopping Center
7868 Rea Road
Charlotte NC
704-541-9665
• University (Next to Trader Joe’s)
1816 East Arbors Drive #420
Charlotte, NC
704-503-1105

Or register online by 12 Midnight Thursday, May 7 at www.runforyourlife.com.

Run/Walk Team Information
Captains must submit completed entry forms, along with roster sheet, to Run For Your Life, 2422 Park Road, Charlotte NC 28203 or www.runforyourlife.com.

Teams should consist of at least five runners or walkers. TEAM CAPTAINS MUST SUBMIT ALL TEAM REGISTRATION INFORMATION AND ENTRY FORMS BY THURSDAY, MAY 1 IN ORDER TO QUALIFY FOR AWARDS. Only team members who have registered and paid entry fees by this date will be officially included on team rosters.

Come Rain or Shine!
This event will take place rain or shine. Cancellation will occur only due to extreme circumstances, in which case there will not be any refunds. All payments will be considered a donation to Right Moves For Youth.

Volunteers
Not a runner or quite ready to walk a 5K, but you would like to meet new people, have a great experience and help a worthwhile cause? VOLUNTEER! By contacting volunteer@runforyourlife.com, http://www.runforyourlife.com/volunteer.htm
704-358-0717.

Parking
Parking is available at various Center City locations. Parking not included in eace fee.

For more information please visit http://www.rightmovesforyouth.org/twilight.html

The United Way Young Leaders Breakfast Seminar Series

2009-04-25T11:15:00.000-04:00

The Economic Crisis and Its Impact on the Charlotte Community

Tuesday, May 12, 2009
7:30am to 9:00am

AT&T
1st Floor Auditorium
300 S. Brevard Street
Charlotte, NC 28202

$7.00 per person*

Keynote Speaker
Matthew Martin
Senior Vice President, Charlotte Branch of the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond

With
Jane L. McIntrye
CEO, YWCA of Central Carolinas

Annabelle Suddreth
Executive Director, A Child's Place

After years of tremendous growth and prosperity, Charlotte is experiencing the effects of today's economic downturn. All Charlotte residents are feeling the pinch, particularly those who rely on United Way agencies for assistance.

Please join us for a discussion of the current macro-economic climate, and how our community is being impacted. And, most importantly, what we can do to help.

Space is limited. Please RSVP by 5/5/09 to youngleaders@uwcentralcarolinas.org or 704-371-6391

Tickets may be purchased at the door or in advance. (Cash or Check accepted)

*Breakfast catered by Hope Haven, a United Way member agency, which provides life skills for chemically dependant adults and families within a supportive residential environment. The individual ticket price solely reflects the cost of food; the United Way will not receive any proceeds from this event.

Urban Ministries Seeking Volunteers

2009-04-25T08:07:00.000-04:00

Help Urban Ministries save on heating and air expenses by helping to weatherproof their train depot.

Saturday, May 2nd
8:30 am - 4:30 pm

Urban Ministry Center
945 North College Street
Charlotte, NC 28206

Volunteers will be working with engineers who specialize in weatherproofing.
Lunch will be provided

For more information or to volunteer: 704-347-0278 Ext 210 or volunteer@urbanministrycenter.org

Support Birthday Blessings at Charlotte's Biggest Birthday Bash

2009-04-24T15:44:00.000-04:00

MomsCharlotte.com celebrates its first anniversary to benefit Birthday Blessings, a local non-profit bringing birthday joy and support to homeless children and families.

Sunday, April 26, 2009
1:00 – 5:00 PM
* Bounce Houses
* Trackless Train Rides
* The Fun Bus
* Clowns & Characters
* Noah’s Art craft projects
* Mad Science experiments
* Face Painting
* Balloon Animals
* Birthday snacks
* Cake, juice, and loads of fun!

FREE ADMISSION with donations to help homeless children celebrate their special days:
* New, unwrapped birthday gifts for boys & girls (all ages)
* New party supplies & decorations
* Monetary contributions

Come join the festivities at Oogles-n-Googles in downtown Pineville!
103 Dover Street
For more information: 704-849-7942 or www.birthdayblessings.org

Goodwill Industries in Need of Volunteers

2009-04-15T11:38:00.000-04:00

Goodwill Industries is in need of volunteers to help with the selection process for their Occupational Skills Class by assisting with the interviewing of clients.
Thanks to their generous donors, volunteers and retail customers, Goodwill is able to provide employment, job training and career services to people with disadvantages, such as welfare dependency, homelessness and lack of education or work experience. Last year Goodwill Industries of the Southern Piedmont placed over 2,700 individuals in competitive jobs through their Occupational Skills Training Program. http://www.goodwillsp.org/

Available Dates and Time:
Friday, April 17th: 9am - 11am and 2pm - 4:30pm
Tuesday, April 20th: 9am - 11am and 2pm - 4:30pm
Wednesday, April 21st: 9am - 11am and 2pm - 4:30pm
Thursday, April 22nd: 9am - 11am and 2pm - 4:30pm
Friday, April 23rd: 9am - 11am and 2pm - 4:30pm

Click here for more information or to volunteer.

Bicycle Delivery Project with Right Moves for Youth

2009-04-15T08:46:00.000-04:00

Bicycle Delivery
10 volunteers needed
Program provided by Right Moves for Youth (A United Way Member Agency)
Tuesday, April 21st
8:00 a.m. Trucks and Vans depart for schools
10:00 a.m. Project Ends
Meet at: Right Moves for Youth Office
2211 West Morehead Street, Ste. 102, Charlotte, NC 28208
We also will need help at 7:30 am to load the trucks.

Right Moves for Youth is a local organization working to reduce the occurrence of student dropouts in Mecklenburg County. Their mission is to provide motivation and resources for students in grades 4-12 to succeed in school, improve their quality of life and become responsible members of society. United Way Young Leaders assembled 100 bicycles in February to be used in one of many incentive based programs provided by Right Moves For Youth sponsored organizations and now we would like to help deliver them to the children.
There will be 2 large trucks to haul the bicycles and Right Moves For Youth has 2 vans in which the volunteers can ride to each school.

For more information about Right Moves for Youth, visit http://www.rightmovesforyouth.org/.

Click Here to register for Bicycle Assembly at Right Moves for Youth
Click Here for directions to Right Moves for Youth

Thank you for your support of United Way Young Leaders and the community we serve!

April Volunteer Projects

2009-04-08T09:45:00.000-04:00

Join United Way Young Leaders in April as they improve our communities through collaborative actions.

Muffin Ministries
10 volunteers needed
Program Provided by Crisis Assistance Ministry (A United Way Member Agency) Thursday, April 16, 2009
6:45 a.m.- Set up
7:00 a.m.- Project Begins
8:00 a.m. - Project Ends
Crisis Assistance Ministry 500-A Spratt St, Charlotte, NC 28206

Crisis Assistance Ministry is helping people avoid home evictions and utility disconnections, as well as with free clothing and household items. Muffin Ministries is the act of bringing a warm breakfast snack to over hundred individuals waiting in line at Crisis Assistance Ministry every morning. Help United Way Young Leaders make this morning a little less difficult for those in need.

Volunteers are asked to arrive at 6:45 a.m. for set up.
Note: If you are aware of vendors interested in donating breakfast items for this project, or any other Young Leaders project through the year, please contact us at youngleaders@uwcentralcarolinas.org

Click Here to RSVP for Muffin Ministries
Click Here for directions to Crisis Assistance Ministry

Serve Lunch at Uptown Shelter
12 volunteers needed
Program provided by Uptown Shelter (A United Way Member Agency)
Wednesday, April 29th
10:30 a.m. Optional 45 min tour
11:15 a.m. Introduction
11:30 a.m. Project Begins
12:45 p.m. Project Ends
Uptown Shelter 1210 N Tryon St, Charlotte, NC 28236

The Uptown Shelter is the only permanent, year-round homeless shelter in Mecklenburg County dedicated to serving the population of adult homeless me. The shelter's mission is to care for people who are homeless and to provide them opportunities to rebuild their lives. Help Young Leaders as they serve lunch to the 180-200 homeless men at the shelter.

Click Here to RSVP for the Uptown Shelter project
Click Here for directions to Uptown Shelter

Hope Haven Garden Followup

2009-03-18T13:50:00.000-04:00

Hope Haven Garden Followup
What a great event! Thank you to all the volunteers who came out that day to help prep the vegetable garden for the folks at Hope Haven. It was so special to have volunteers alongside the residents of HH working together to beautify their garden. Thanks to you they will have plenty of fresh tomatoes this season and many more vegetables to come! The children thoroughly enjoyed making their birdfeeders to hang near their windows. Here are some pictures from the day:

For more information about Hope Haven please go to
http://www.hopehaveninc.org/

Never Miss a Post!

2009-03-16T13:03:00.000-04:00

Become a Follower of our Blog!

Want to stay up to date with all the volunteer and networking opportunities with the United Way Young Leaders? Then become a follower of the UW Young Leaders' blog and you'll never miss a new post! Just click on the "Follow" icon in the right hand column about mid-way down the page. Sign in and add a profile picture if you want and that is all there is to it! We have been busy so far and have much more to come as we roll up our sleeves and help those in need in our community.

Thank you for all your support and please encourage your friends to join us too!

March Volunteer Projects

2009-03-12T09:40:00.000-04:00

Join United Way Young Leaders in March as they improve our communities through collaborative actions.

Occupational Skills Training Program – Conduct mock interviews with members of our community who are looking to improve their interview skills in order to obtain employement.
20 volunteers needed (limited to 10 per shift)
Program provided by Goodwill Industries of the Southern Piedmont (A United Way Member Agency)
Tuesday, March 31st
First Session
8:45 a.m. 1st Shift Introduction and Orientation
9:00 a.m. 1st Shift Begins
10:30 a.m. 1st Shift Ends

Second Shift
10:20 a.m. 2nd Shift Introduction and Orientation
10:35 a.m. 2nd Shift Begins
12:00 p.m. 2nd Shift Ends

Goodwill Industries of the Southern Piedmont, Inc
2122 Freedom Drive, Charlotte, NC 28208

Thanks to their generous donors, volunteers and retail customers, Goodwill is able to provide employment, job training and career services to people with disadvantages, such as welfare dependency, homelessness and lack of education or work experience. Last year Goodwill Industries of the Southern Piedmont placed over 2,700 individuals in competitive jobs through their Occupational Skills Training Program.

Click Here to register for Session One from 8:45am - 10:30am.
Click Here to register for Session Two from 10:20am - noon.
Please RSVP by Wendesday, March 25th

Click Here for directions to Goodwill Industries of Southern Piedmont.

Questions?

Contact Keith Taylor at ktaylor@cplanning.com or 980-235-7819

Thank you for your support of United Way Young Leaders and the community we serve!

Thank you from Young Leaders and the YWCA

2009-03-12T09:23:00.000-04:00

Thank you so much for coming out and laying the mulch for us. It looks great. We are always delighted when United Way brings volunteers to help around the Y. If you ever have a group looking for a project we always have something that needs to be done and it is usually an outdoor project.

Thanks again,

Paul Peters
Facilities Manager, YWCA Central Carolinas

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Let me echo Paul’s thanks to you and your team of volunteers – thank you so much for the incredible mulch moving that took place Saturday! I hope each participant knows how much we appreciate them.

Kirsten D. Sikkelee

chief program officer, YWCA Central Carolinas

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Thanks to all of you for doing this. We really do appreciate it. It looks really good!

Jane L. McIntyre
Chief Executive Officer, YWCA Central Carolinas

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Join the Young Leaders as we help prepare the YWCA for spring!

2009-02-13T16:02:00.000-05:00

Beautify the YWCA Playground

We are taking no more volunteers for this project at this time. We have reached capity. Please keep an eye out for future volunteer opportunities with Young Leaders.

Program provided by YWCA Central Carolinas (A United Way Member Agency)
Saturday, March 7th
8:30 a.m. Project Introduction
8:45 a.m. Project Begins
11:00 a.m Project Ends
YWCA Central Carolinas
3420 Park Road, Charlotte, NC 28209

The YWCA responds to community needs with services in Mecklenburg and Union counties providing comprehensive programs for women, children and families.
Join United Way Young Leaders as we prepare the YWCA and their younger clients for a beautiful spring. Among other meaningful projects, our volunteers will mulch the children's playground located at the main facility. Come ready to get your hands dirty.

*Bagels and Coffee will be provided*

Click here to register for the YWCA project

Click here for directions to the YWCA

Bicycle Assembly Project with Right Moves For Youth

2009-02-11T14:29:00.000-05:00

UWYL was happy to help Tayaunee and Shannon at Right Moves For Youth assemble 100 bicycles for the students in their system. We had a great time and look forward to hearing about the achievements of the students who earned their way to getting a new bike. Special thank you to Mirza, Anthony, James and Ian for their expertise as we clearly would have been lost without them and thank you to all the volunteers for a great event.

Interview with three Charlotte young professional groups.

2009-02-11T13:07:00.000-05:00

Please click on the link below to watch Interim President and CEO Mac Everett facilitate a discussion with the chairmen of three young professional groups in Charlotte.

United Way & You hosts:

United Way Young Leaders
Arts & Science Council Young Donor Society
Engage Charlotte

http://www.uwcentralcarolinas.org/video/index.cfm?id=55

Thank You to the volunteers who served on January 22nd at Muffin Ministries

2009-01-27T09:21:00.000-05:00

On behalf of the United Way Young Leader's Council, I wanted to thank you for making time in your schedules to be with us this morning to bring a warm breakfast to approximately 150 individuals, including children, that were waiting in line at Crisis Assistance Ministry.

Through your efforts, we were able to touch the lives of many this morning with a simple act of kindness, offering them a warm cup of coffee and visiting with them while they were waiting in line for assistance.

I appreciate each of you braving the cold, particularly this morning, with the temperatures in the low 20s. I was told by many that the coffee, breakfast items and having us there was very much appreciated.

Thank you, again, for helping us make a difference in this great community, and we'll look forward to participating in the next initiative together!

Sincerely,

Trey Ackerman
Dixon Hughes PLLC

February Volunteer Projects

2009-01-14T16:05:00.001-05:00

We hope you will join us in February as we as we mobilize young leaders to make a significant impact in our community:

Bicycle Assembly
We are taking no more volunteers for this project at this time. We have reached capity. Please keep an eye out for future volunteer opportunities with Young Leaders.
Program provided by Right Moves for Youth (A United Way Member Agency)
Saturday, February 7th

8:00 a.m. Project Introduction
8:15 a.m. Bicycle Assembly Training
8:30 a.m. Project Begins
12:00 p.m. Project Ends
Right Moves for Youth Office
2211 West Morehead Street, Ste. 102
Charlotte, NC 28208

Right Moves for Youth is a local organization working to reduce the occurrence of student dropouts in Mecklenburg County. Their mission is to provide motivation and resources for students in grades 4-12 to succeed in school, improve their quality of life and become responsible members of society. United Way Young Leaders have been asked to assemble 100 bicycles to be used in one of many incentive based programs provided by RMFY sponsored organizations. Please arrive at 8:00 a.m. for the Project Introduction.
For more information about Right Moves for Youth, visit http://www.rightmovesforyouth.org/.

Click Here to register for Bicycle Assembly at Right Moves for Youth
Click Here for directions to Right Moves for Youth

Thank you for your support of United Way Young Leaders and the community we serve!

January Volunteer Projects

2009-01-08T13:15:00.000-05:00

Join United Way Young Leaders in January as they kick off the new year with the following projects:

Be a Lunch Buddy
We are taking no more volunteers for this project at this time. We have reached capity (in record time!). Please keep an eye out for future volunteer opportunities with Young Leaders.

Program provided by A Child's Place of Charlotte (A United Way Member Agency)
Tuesday, January 27th
10:45 a.m. Project Introduction
11:00 a.m. Project Begins
12:00 p.m. Project Ends
Walter G. Byers Elementary School
1415 Hamilton St, Charlotte, NC 28206

A Child's Place is working to erase the impact of homelessness on children and their education. In as little as an hour, you have the opportunity to provide a mentoring friendship for an identified ACP student of Walter G. Byers Elementary School. In addition to having lunch with a child, volunteers will learn more about A Child’s Place, the school itself, and other opportunities to help those need.

Volunteers have the option of bringing a lunch or purchasing a lunch for themselves on site.
Volunteers are asked to meet in the front office of Walter G. Byers Elementary School at 10:45 a.m. for the Project Introduction.

Click Here for directions to Walter G. Byers Elementary School.

Note: All volunteers will receive a brief application upon registration. This is a requirement of all first-time volunteers of A Child's Place. All forms must be faxed to 704-371-7191 or e-mailed to youngleaders@uwcentralcarolinas.org by 5 pm on January 21st.

Muffin Ministries
We are taking no more volunteers for this project at this time. We have reached capity (in record time!). Please keep an eye out for future volunteer opportunities with Young Leaders.
Program provided by Crisis Assistance Ministry (A United Way Member Agency)
Thursday, January 22nd
6:45 a.m. Set Up
7:00 a.m. Project Begins
8:00 a.m. Project Ends
Crisis Assistance Ministry
500-A Spratt St, Charlotte, NC 28206

Crisis Assistance Ministry is helping people avoid home evictions and utility disconnections, as well as with free clothing and household items. Muffin Ministries is the act of bringing a warm breakfast snack to over a hundred individuals waiting in line at Crisis Assistance Ministry every morning. Help United Way Young Leaders make this morning a little less difficult for those in need.

Volunteers are asked to arrive at 6:45 a.m. for set up.

Note: If you are aware of vendors interested in donating breakfast items for this project, or any other Young Leaders project throughout the year, please contact us at youngleaders@uwcentralcarolinas.org.

Click Here for directions to Crisis Assistance Ministry

Joint Holiday Project Was a Huge Success!

2008-12-17T14:02:00.000-05:00

Over 100 members of 4 different Young Professional groups came together on Tuesday, December 16 to roll up their sleeves and help out area organizations. The joint event was a huge success and will definitely be repeated next year! Members of Engage Charlotte, the McColl Center for Visual Art Contemporaries, The United Way Young Leaders and Hands on Charlotte were dispersed out to different charitable organizations including the Salvation Army Christmas Bureau, The Boys & Girls Club, Crisis Assistance Ministries and Second Harvest Food Bank. Volunteers helped sort donations, wrap gifts for the children in need and play with the kids at the Boys and Girls Club. Here are some pictures from the B&G club, please email heathergriffith@carolina.rr.com if you have more! Thanks to everyone who came out to help make the holidays brighter for our area children and people in need!

Joint YP Holiday Service Project

2008-12-11T13:23:00.000-05:00

Please help give back to the community by joining us on Tuesday, December 16, 2008 as we team up with other young professionals on this very special evening to benefit four local charitable organizations.

Participants will meet at the McColl Center for Visual Art then depart to Crisis Assistance Ministries, The Salvation Army Christmas Bureau, Second Harvest Food Bank, or the Boys & Girls Club where they will spread the holiday spirit by taking and sorting donations, wrapping gifts, or helping with homework and playing games. Afterwards we'll return to the McColl Center to celebrate the holidays.

Donated items are needed; please feel free to bring winter clothes, non-perishable food items, unwrapped toys or school supplies.

Itinerary:
5:00 p.m. - Arrive and check in at the McColl Center for Visual Art
5:30 p.m. - Depart for organizations
6:00 p.m. - Volunteer at assigned organization
7:30 p.m. - Return to the MCVA for beer, wine and socializing

Hosts:
Michael Juby, Engage Charlotte
Marc Gustafson, McColl Center for Visual Art Contemporaries
Jason Cipriani & James Wyches, United Way Young Leaders
Lex Erwin, Hands on Charlotte

Please RSVP to Sarah Lewis by December 15 at slewis@mccollcenter.org.

Directions & Parking:
During Business Hours:

Three parking options are available 1) Paved lot at corner of 10th and Church Streets; 2) On-street parking in front of the Center at meters on North Tryon Street; 3) Behind the building in a small lot, entrance off of Church Street. Handicapped parking and access is available in the lot behind the building, entrance off Church Street.

After 5:00pm:

In the evenings, parking is also available across the street from the Center at the Marshall Building parking lot on North Tryon Street.

Review Directions to McColl Center

Birthday Boo Bash Update

2008-12-03T14:10:00.000-05:00

Jamie Hughes and Trey Ackerman, UWYL Volunteers with the kids.

The Birthday Boo Bash was so much fun! The United Way Young Leaders teamed up with Birthday Blessings to help throw a Halloween themed party for several homeless children. Two birthday girls were the guests of honor and we celebrated with cupcakes and of course we all sang Happy Birthday! The kids had a ball and so did our volunteers. Check out the pictures from the evening that our star volunteer Ebony Stubbs took for us!

Birthday Blessings is a 501(c)(3) charitable nonprofit organization serving homeless children and families in the Charlotte, North Carolina area. They believe that every child's life should be celebrated, regardless of circumstance. If you want to volunteer with them, click here for more information on their events. Check our blog regularly for updated events through the United Way Young Leaders.

October Alternative Breaks

2008-09-09T09:57:00.000-04:00

Join the United Way Young Leaders in October as we bring smiles to deserving children in our community through the following projects:

Friday, October, 17 - LUNCH WITH A STUDENT
11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Walter G. Byers Elementary School
1415 Hamilton St, Charlotte, NC 28206

We will need as few as one and as many as 15 volunteers to have lunch with a child who is affiliated with A Child's Place, an organization that works to erase the impact of homelessness on children and their education.

If you are available and would like to participate, please fill out the attached forms (click on it to view and print it - Please note you need to fill out both pages.) and either email or fax it to Shelley Townsend at: youngleaders@uwcentralcarolinas.org or 704-371-7191 by Monday, October 2nd. Volunteers will meet in the front office where they'll be given an overview of the program and introduced to the children. Click here for directions to Walter G. Byers Elementary School.

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Thursday, October 30
Birthday Boo Bash
At the Salvation Army Center of Hope
534 Spratt St, Charlotte, NC 28206
Time: 5:00pm - 6:30pm

On October 30th, we will need 20 volunteers as we team up with Birthday Blessings and Salvation Army Center of Hope to bring birthday smiles along with some Halloween fun to over 40 children. We'll have Trick-or-Treat game stations and prizes, crafts for the kids and will be serving birthday cake and juice.

If you would like to participate, click here to rsvp by Friday, October 24th.
Click Here for Directions to the Salvation Army of Hope Center.

Want to learn more about the non-profit Birthday Blessings? Click here

Young Leaders help Kick Off the Campaign

2008-08-10T14:28:00.000-04:00

Campaign Kudos
United Way's Tocqueville Society and Young Leaders Lend a Helping Hand

Janet Singerman, Executive Director of Child Care Resources, can remember the time as a child when her mother read her a book. She recalls not only the story, but the special time that she and her mother shared together, reading. It was a wonderful experience.

Charles Bowman and Andrew Golomb also understand how important it is that children and their families share these same experiences. That is why they volunteered, together with other Tocqueville Society and Young Leaders members, at Pathway Preschool Center on Friday, September 5th as part of United Way’s Annual Kickoff.

For the first time, members of these two volunteer leadership groups were invited to participate together in a volunteer effort to support the Raising a Reader program, being launched in this market through Child Care Resources. Side by side these committed volunteers sorted books and organized learning kits that would make their way to the shelves of the traveling library bus. Each month, in neighborhoods across the county, children and parents eagerly await the arrival of the books and learning kits.

That is how Charles and Andrew, along with all the volunteers who helped that day, LIVE UNITED.

September Events

2008-08-01T14:42:00.000-04:00

Please join us in September for the following great events:

Thursday, September 11, 2008 -
Community Connection Luncheon
"Engaging Charlotte's Leaders for the Future."

12:00 p.m. until 1:30 p.m. (Registration begins at 11:30)

Charlotte Convention Center, located at 501 S. College Street

Featuring the Following Speakers:
Cathy Bessant, Bank of America
Mac Everett, Community Leader
Johnny Harris, Lincoln Harris
Dana Rader, Dana Rader Golf School
Richard "Stick" Williams, Duke Energy

Click here to purchase tickets for the Community Connection Luncheon.
Table for eight people and recognition at the event site $500.00
Individual Tickets $25.00
This event is open to the public.

Parking is available at The Westin Hotel across the street or at any of the surrounding lots along the block of Stonewall, College, Martin Luther King and Brevard. Parking will not be validated. Directions to parking at The Westin

Directions to the Charlotte Convention Center

For questions please contact Shelley Townsend at 704-371-6391 or youngleaders@uwcentralcarolinas.org

* * * * * * * * * * * * *
Friday, September 26, 2008 -
Friendship Trays 11:30 a.m. until 12:30
Come out to help deliver a warm meal to those who are disabled and homebound. You'll be put in teams of two and given a driving route which will take about 30 minutes to complete. Arrive at the Friendship Trays headquarters at 11:30 a.m. to check in and receive your meals.
Directions

Click here to rsvp for the Friendship Trays event on September 26th

August Events

2008-08-01T09:16:00.000-04:00

Join us as we focus on children's needs in our community by participating in one or both of the following Alternative Breaks:

The Relatives
August 7th
5:30 p.m - 7:00 p.m.
The Relatives is a 9 bed, co-ed emergency shelter for runaways, homeless and other youth in crisis from age 7 to 17.
Volunteers will provide, serve and enjoy dinner with the youth currently living in the house. Volunteers will receive specific instructions prior to the event.

Click here to REGISTER for The Relatives Project
We can accommodate only 5 volunteers.
Directions to The Relatives

Classroom Central
August 27th
9:45-11:00 a.m.
Minimum of 10 volunteers
Sort product donations, stock and straighten shelves, create displays and perform general housekeeping duties, re-bundle bulk items.
Click Here to register for the Classroom Central Project
Directions to Classroom Central

Friendship Trays says THANK YOU!

2008-07-31T15:09:00.001-04:00

Friendship Trays would like to thank all the volunteers from the United Way Young Leaders for delivering meals on Tuesday, July 29th. Friendship Trays prepare, package, and deliver over 750 meals every day and accomplish this with the help of 85-90 volunteers daily. The Young Leaders delivered 10 routes to recipients living all over the Charlotte Mecklenburg area. The total number of recipients was approximately 60 people. Thank you all so much for your enthusiasm and dedication to community service and to the mission of Friendship Trays. We would love to have you back to volunteer again so please email me or call Friendship Trays at 704.333.9229, llawrence@friendshiptrays.org.

Lani Lawrence, Volunteer Coordinator
Friendship Trays
704.333.9229 x205

Friendship Trays is a home delivered meal program which delivers nutritious meals to those people in our community who are unable to prepare or obtain a healthy meal for themselves. Meals are delivered primarily by volunteers who use their lunch hour to serve their neighbors. Can you help? Could you volunteer or make a financial contribution? All gifts are tax deductible within the charitable giving guidelines and will be used to provide meals for those unable to pay the full price of their meal. Please visit our website at www.friendshiptrays.org.

Extreme Makeover Home Edition Comes to Charlotte!

2008-07-24T20:28:00.000-04:00

Its official, the hit TV show Extreme Makeover Home Edition is coming to Charlotte the week of July 28th!!! Keep up with all the information at www.extrememakeovercharlotte.com

YOU can be a part of this amazing event by coming out on Wednesday July 30th for a Night of Great Food, Cold Beer, and Incredible Entertainment, as Extreme Makeover Home Edition presents MuzikMafia Performer and Hickory Native Damien Horne as he performs songs from his hit album "Somebody's Hero." Admission is Free and all concession proceeds will benefit the family being helped by Extreme Makeover Home Edition.

Wednesday July 30th, 7:30 to 10:00
Symphony Park at Southpark

To learn more about Damien Horne, visit his website www.damienhorne.com or check out the following youtube clips. http://youtube.com/watch?v=OykLBzYogrs Damien singing God Bless America at the Nascar all-star race in Charlotte http://youtube.com/watch?v=Q5jZuF8Z9AU Damien on the 700 club, http://youtube.com/watch?v=tz_wsloKn4E Damien performing one of his infamous back flips.

You never know who may show up!!!!!!!!!

PRESS RELEASE BELOW:
AMERICAN HEARTLAND JOINS EXTREME "MAKEOVER: HOME EDITION"
TO BUILD A SECOND EXTREME DREAM HOME

Charlotte, N.C., July 14, 2008 – Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, the Emmy-award winning hit reality show on ABC Television, is coming to the Queen City to surprise one lucky family with an extreme home makeover. This season’s theme is “Heroes in the Community.” With a goal to construct a new house in one week, local builder, American Heartland Homebuilder and local developer, JED Development joined forces to help the deserving family.

This will be the second extreme homebuilding experience for American Heartland Homebuilder. In 2006, American Heartland set a show record by completing an Extreme Makeover home in 53 hours and 54 minutes.

“It was an honor to have been called by Extreme Makeover to participate in the show again,” said Rick Merlini, CEO of American Heartland Homebuilder. “Charlotte has embraced this opportunity, especially Duke Energy and Stock Building Supply, who both have made significant contributions to make this build possible. To me, Charlotte is a city of second chances. I couldn’t have helped this family without the support and hope from my good friend Ed Estridge of JED Development. With this build, Ed and I, along with thousands of other Charlotteans, will be able to provide a second chance for a family in need.”

Duke Energy is a lead sponsor of the project and will work closely with the builder to incorporate energy efficient elements throughout the home.

Ty Pennington, team leader of the show, as well as his design team, will notify the selected family by showing up at the family’s Charlotte-area residence on Monday, July 28.

Want to get involved?
Volunteer Information
American Heartland Homebuilder and JED Holdings are seeking volunteers for the build. All individuals interested in participating can visit the build’s website at www.extrememakeovercharlotte.com for more information.

Sponsor and Donation Information
To make a donation toward the build, please visit www.extrememakeovercharlotte.com. An account has been set up with PayPal to ensure safe, direct donations. To become a sponsor, please contact sponsorship coordinator, Ed Estridge, at ed@jedllc.com.

Upcoming July Events

2008-07-22T09:02:00.000-04:00

Alternative Break Opportunities

Create long-lasting change in July by participating in these special volunteer projects:

July 22nd, 2008 and July 29th, 2008 -- Alternative Lunch
Friendship Trays
11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

Partner with a friend or coworker and deliver meals to homebound recipients in the Charlotte area.

Click here to REGISTER for July 22nd.

Click here to REGISTER for July 29th.

Directions

For questions contact Shelley Townsend

Day of Action

2008-06-22T10:41:00.000-04:00

On Saturday, June 21st, the United Way Young Leaders participated in the United Way's Day of Action event. That day, the United Way of Central Carolinas’ introduced a new way of thinking about the community around us. On this day, the longest day of the year, United Ways across the country participated in Day of Action, a day when we all can make a difference right where we live by giving, advocating or volunteering.

All of this comes as United Way shares with the community a new invitation for involvement: LIVE UNITED. The Young Leaders held various projects in the Clanton Park neighborhood including: Reading, face painting and games with the neighborhood children at the church; online job search training and other computer training for adults, made available by Charlotte Enterprise Community’s Career Cruiser; and working in yards and on homes completing repair projects and lawn care. Below is a personal story contributed by Robert Langdon, a Young Leader volunteer and intern with Bank of America:

United Way Day of Action - by Robert Langdon, UWYL Volunteer, Bank of America Intern

“Hold the paint brush between your fingers like so. Then sweep back and forth. Smoothly back and forth.”

This was me using my rudimentary knowledge of painting to teach 8 year old Nathan how to paint during the United Way’s Day of Action. Nathan joined us on Saturday as his mother, a Bank of America employee, brought him along to join her and several other Bank of America folks working at the Charlotte house of a 90-year old lady. My name is Rob Langdon and I’m a summer intern with Bank of America and also decided to use part of the longest day of the year (June 21st) to join in helping give back to the Charlotte community.

The volunteers spent the day painting a room indoors and a deck outdoors, mowing the lawn, trimming tree limbs, digging up bushes, and mulching around the house for a lovely elderly lady that has lived in the same house for over 40 years. Her fixed income coupled with rising prices has left her unable to pay for some of the lawn care and the fresh new coat of paint that United Way Young Leaders and the volunteers helped to provide on Saturday.

So, I hope that Nathan learned the basics of holding a paint brush and making smooth brushstrokes. But more importantly, I hope that Nathan learned a little about the importance of giving back and helping less-advantaged folks in his community. I hope the people at United Way and Bank of America allowed Nathan to see a glimpse of the good that can be done in serving one’s community.

Finally, I hope that the Day of Action serves as a genuine, albeit small, example to 8 year old Nathan of how to “Live United.”

LIVE UNITED COMMERCIAL

2008-05-27T19:22:00.000-04:00

Homeless to Homes

2008-05-18T11:08:00.000-04:00

Above: Helen in her new home and Robert on his new porch with the volunteers

Group Picture

On Saturday, May 17, 2008, the United Way Young Leaders partnered with the Young Affiliates of the Mint to help start a pioneer program for the local Urban Ministry Organization called "Homeless to Homes." Modeled after successful programs across the country, Homeless to Homes will offer permanent supportive housing to Charlotte's chronically homeless. Since the average length of time each of these individuals has been homeless is almost ten years, this is a landmark day for the individuals as well as Charlotte. Homeless to Homes is creating the first proven model for ending homelessness in Charlotte which has been successful in cities like Salt Lake City, Seattle, Denver, New York and Philadelphia. Recognizing that the transition from street to home after so many years is a difficult one, Homeless to Homes will offer intensive case management to participants to help them succeed in attaining personal goals.

The day was a huge success! We had over 75 volunteers to help get the apartments ready for the first five participants in the pilot project. We thoroughly cleaned each apartment, arranged the furniture and household items donated by The Blake Hotel and South Charlotte Interest Group, made the beds and put fresh flowers in the living room, all to make it feel like home. Young Leaders also painted the fence, mowed the lawn and planted beautiful annuals in front of each apartment.

Below are a few quotes from the day and pictures of the event. Enjoy!

William, one of the new residents has already made his own first trip to the grocery store!

Robert, another candidate, set a personal goal for volunteering for Crisis Assistance and says "I feel so blessed that I was chosen!"

Helen, a third resident, on the next day met Kathy with Urban Ministries with a huge smile and said "It rained yesterday and I didn't get wet! I pulled my mattress into the living room and laid down and watched it rain!"

"Working with Urban Ministries on the Homeless to Homes project was a very eye-opening experience! Helping to make the houses a home for those who had worked hard to gain a sense of security was moving- I think those who participated in the project, like Wren, will gain a GREAT jump start on the path to success with the support Urban Ministries will give him, along with the fact that he now has a place to call home. The project showed me how often we take for granted some of the simple things in life, like how fortunate we are to have a space that we can call home." - Laura Beth Ellis, Shower Me With Love, United Way Young Leader

"My experience Saturday was very gratifying in the sense that you had people from all walks of life excited about contributing to the betterment of other people and their situations. The excitement and appreciation seen in the individual’s eyes that would be moving in was priceless!" Brian N. Middleton, Carolinas HealthCare System, UWYL Council Member

"Thank you for inviting me! It was an honor and a privelege to be a part of this transition in their lives!" - Maurita Smith, Equipment Services, United Way Young Leader

WFAE will be doing a series on one of the residents, Robert Flowers, following him for the next few months. Click here to Listen to the first interview. Click on the link to follow their story: http://www.wfae.org/wfae/nav1024.cfm?cat=1&subcat=87&subsub=115&action=display&id=3962

United Way Young Leaders Social

2008-05-15T12:07:00.000-04:00

On Wednesday, May 14, 2008, the United Way Young Leaders held a social for the members of the Council and their guests at CANS bar downtown. Over 35 people came out to enjoy drinks and get to know each other a little better. We had several new people who enjoyed the opportunity to meet other young professionals in the area and hear more about what the UWYL's are about. Due to the overwhelming positive feedback we received from Young Leaders and from our guests, we plan to offer similar socials in the future, and we'd like to extend an advance invitation to you for those events. Stay tuned!

The Relatives

2008-04-30T10:30:00.000-04:00

On Tuesday, April 29th, our Young Leaders spent the evening preparing dinner for the residents at The Relatives. The Relatives is a 9 bed, co-ed emergency shelter for runaways, homeless and other youth in crisis from age 7 to 17. Volunteers enjoyed fellowship with the children there. If you would like to stay involved with The Relatives, visit their link to find out how to volunteer: The Relatives.

Friendship Trays

2008-04-16T12:16:00.000-04:00

As part of our ongoing "Alternative Lunch" volunteer opportunities, on Tuesday, April 15, the United Way Young Leaders volunteered at our local Friendship Trays to take food to homebound residents in need. In less than 60 minutes, the team delivered food to 60 homebound Charlotte residents and contributed time and energy equal to $856. This was the second project at Friendship Trays and our attendance doubled. For those that came out, Thank You for making this service project a success! If you want to volunteer for Friendship Trays, click on their link above. We hope to make this a reoccuring Alternative Break this year since the feedback was so good. Check out our calendar for upcoming volunteer opportunities!

Muffin Ministries

2008-03-01T11:14:00.000-05:00

On Friday, February 29th, the United Way Young Leaders held the "Muffin Ministries" service opportunity. Volunteers met at the Crisis Assistance Agency at 6:45 a.m. to serve warm coffee and muffins to those waiting in line for assistance. The doors don't open until 8 a.m. and many mornings the line forms well before 7 a.m. Our volunteers talked with the people waiting and received many thanks for what we were doing. One encounter I had was with a middle aged woman there. She thanked me for what I was doing and said "I once was on your side of this line and greatly appreciate you all coming out to volunteer. I'm just going through a tough time now, but this too shall pass!" It brought me to tears and solidified in my mind that getting up that early was completely worth it! We hope to make the Muffin Ministry an ongoing project throughout the year so check out our calendar for upcoming projects! That day we also had a group serving breakfast at The Center of Hope facility across the street.

To learn more about the organizations, click on their links below:
Center of Hope - www.uss.salvationarmy.org/uss/www_uss_charlotte_ac.nsf/
http://www.crisisassistance.org/

Young Leaders Kick Off Event

2008-01-31T20:00:00.000-05:00

On Thursday, January 31st, the United Way Young Leaders kicked off our year with a service project at the Crisis Assistance and Second Harvest Food Bank. The event was a huge success drawing over 75 volunteers!

In a little less than 2 hours of time, the team achieved the following:
- Inspected and sorted 15 bins of clothing. (480 square feet)
- Completed sort faster than any other volunteer group.
- Served breakfast to several individuals as they waited for assistance.
- Inspected and sorted over 500 lbs of food.
- Saved Second Harvest over $700 in labor costs.
- Helped restock the Ministry store.

The Year ahead has started off on a wonderful foot and we're excited about all the upcoming service opportunities that lie ahead! If you want to learn more about these facilities and volunteer, click on the links below:

http://www.crisisassistance.org/ - Crisis Assistance Ministry serves the low-income citizens of Mecklenburg County, often classified as "the working poor," who are facing financial emergencies and are struggling to meet life's basic needs.

http://www.secondharvestcharlotte.org/ - Second Harvest Food Bank of Metrolina (SHFBM) strives through education, advocacy, and partnerships to eliminate hunger by the solicitation and distribution of food. SHFBM has been in existence since 1981.

Wish Upon A Star Event

2007-12-16T10:48:00.000-05:00

On Friday, December 14, 2007, The United Way Young Leaders helped make children's wishes come true by volunteering at the YWCA's Wish Upon a Star event at the Gladedale Child Development Center. Our Young Leaders bought gifts and delivered Christmas stockings to the children there. Volunteers got a special treat when they watched the play performed by the kids. A few Carolina Panthers even surprised the group! And the day wouldn't have been complete without a visit from Santa! It's hard to tell who enjoyed the day more, the kids or our young professionals! Stephen Belenky sure got in the holiday spirit (see his picture with Santa above).