The holiday season is a time to give and our region — the Carolinas — has so many charities dedicated to addressing pressing societal challenges and helping those in need. Today, we will shine a light on several remarkable organizations that are making a significant impact in our region, each pursuing a noble cause. Let’s take a closer look at the simple yet profound work these charities do and how you can contribute to their efforts. Here are some of the best Carolina charities to donate to this holiday season.
Charlotte Rescue Mission
Charlotte Rescue Mission is a beacon of hope for individuals fighting with drug addiction. Their 120-day residential drug abuse recovery program is a transformative journey that empowers men and women to break free from the vicious cycles of homelessness and addiction. Besides offering shelter, the mission provides sustenance by serving over 200,000 meals annually at Rebound (the men’s program) and Dove’s Nest (the women and children’s program).
Your support can be instrumental in sustaining this vital work. You are helping individuals regain control of their lives and become productive members of the community.
Durham Rescue Mission
North Carolina’s oldest and largest long-term shelter, the Durham Rescue Mission operates tirelessly, 365 days a year. They provide safe shelter and addiction recovery programs for 400 men, women and children on a daily basis. The mission welcomes donations at its thrift stores scattered across Durham, Raleigh, Wake Forest and Chapel Hill. Your tax-deductible contributions directly benefit the hungry and homeless in the Triangle area.
Your Durham rescue mission donations can make a significant impact in creating a community where everyone has a place to call home.
Triad Health Project
Triad Health Project is dedicated to promoting sexual health and justice, working diligently to free the community from the grip of HIV and its stigma. With a visionary outlook for a future free from HIV, the project relies on individual, foundation and corporate contributions, as well as federal and state grants.
By supporting the Triad Health Project, you actively contribute to the mission of creating a stigma-free environment and addressing the root causes of HIV. Your involvement can help pave the way for a healthier, more inclusive community.
RAIN
Based in the Charlotte metropolitan area, RAIN is committed to empowering individuals living with HIV and those at risk. They aim to foster an environment where they can lead healthy and stigma-free lives. The nonprofit organization is working towards putting an end to HIV in the community.
You can support RAIN through one-time gifts, monthly contributions, or by giving a gift in honor or memory of a loved one. Each contribution, regardless of size, plays a crucial role in making a meaningful difference in the lives of those affected by HIV.
Blind Cat Rescue & Sanctuary Inc
Situated in St. Paul’s, NC, Blind Cat Rescue & Sanctuary Inc. operates a cage-free, no-kill shelter specifically designed for blind and leukemia-positive cats. Dependent solely on generous donations and receiving no government funds, the organization currently cares for over 60 senior and leukemia-positive cats.
Your support is pivotal in ensuring these special felines receive nourishing food, safe shelter and regular medical care. By contributing, you become an essential part of their mission, providing love and care to these precious furry friends.
CDH International
CDH International is a global initiative committed to stopping Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia (CDH). Their mission involves providing support services for families of babies born with CDH, promoting research and raising awareness about this birth defect.
Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia occurs when a baby’s diaphragm fails to fully form, allowing abdominal organs to enter the chest cavity, hindering lung growth. CDH International actively works to address this condition through a multifaceted approach. Your donations can help save the lives of many babies.
The Summer Science Program
The Summer Science Program is a residential enrichment program designed to challenge and inspire talented and motivated high school students from around the world. With roots dating back to 1959, this program provides a unique immersion experience for rising seniors, fostering collaboration and helping them overcome limits.
This pre-college program is an educational experience and a cultural immersion that encourages young minds to discover their limits and surpass them through collaboration and learning.
North Carolina Wildlife Federation
North Carolina Wildlife Federation has been working diligently for wildlife and habitat conservation. They bring conservationists, outdoor enthusiasts, hunters, anglers, government and industry together to protect North Carolina’s natural resources. It is one of the top North Carolina charities.
Your contribution to the North Carolina Wildlife Federation can go even further with matching gifts. Many companies match donations made by their employees, spouses, and retirees, effectively doubling or even tripling your gift. This ensures your support has a more significant impact on preserving the state’s rich biodiversity.
Harvest Hope Food Bank
Harvest Hope Food Bank is dedicated to providing over 20 million meals across its service area each year. They rescue, pack, transport and deliver nutritious food to soup kitchens, shelters, food pantries and schools in twenty counties in South Carolina. It is one of the top South Carolina charities.
You can support Harvest Hope Food Bank in two ways – by donating money or food. Every dollar donated provides four meals for people in need. Alternatively, you can drop off non-perishable foods at various locations in the Upstate, Midlands and Pee Dee regions.
Palmetto Conservation Foundation
The Palmetto Conservation Foundation offers the Palmetto Trail as a gift to South Carolina, encouraging and inspiring active outdoor recreation, land conservation and the preservation of historical and cultural landmarks. Their mission involves teaching conservation and preservation while helping people learn and practice outdoor skills.
By supporting the Palmetto Conservation Foundation, you contribute to the growth and prosperity of South Carolina communities while preserving local character and historic landmarks and improving the overall quality of life. The foundation actively engages in teaching conservation and preservation principles, helping individuals practice outdoor skills and fostering a deeper connection to nature.
Charlotte Mecklenberg Dream Center
By forming collaborations with businesses, organizations, and churches, the Dream Center actively closes the divide between individuals in desperate situations and the essential resources, aspiring to establish meaningful connections and provide hope.
Assistance League of Charlotte
The Assistance League is a non-profit organization dedicated to improving the lives of children and families through community-based philanthropic programs that feed, clothe, educate youth, and provide mentors for children. They have five philanthropic programs: Operation Check Hunger, Operation School Bell, Mecklenburg County Teen Court, Assistance League of Charlotte Scholarship Fund, and Assistance League Outreach. Support the cause by shopping at their thrift shop located at 3405 S. Tryon St., where all proceeds go to support these different philanthropic programs.
PFLAG Charlotte
PFLAG Charlotte is a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting LGBTQ+ individuals and their families. They focus on creating space to understand the ever changing experience of an LGBTQ+ individual in the Charlotte community, and also connect the families of these individuals together with the goal of creating a safer, more equitable society and world for LGBTQ+ people. They offer a variety of resources including peer and parent support groups, suicide prevention resources, as well as blogs and newsletters that share the experiences of LGBTQ+ youths and their families. Head to their website for more information, or explore options to donate and volunteer.
Block Love CLT
Block Love CLT is a non-profit organization that provides essential resources and tools to those who have fallen on hardships in the Charlotte community. With a focus on human rights advocacy, they aim to improve quality of life for diverse communities and work to remedy homelessness and domestic issues by donating supplies and clothing all across Charlotte. To donate, head to The Block on the corner of North Tryon and Pfeifer Avenue or visit the website for more information.
The Arts and Science Council
The Arts and Science Council acts as the cultural background of Charlotte, providing arts advocacy, funding, and cultural event planning for the city. The organization combines funds from the federal, public, and private sector to allow the arts and culture institutions of the queen city to thrive. To help support the museums, theatres, galleries, and creative monuments in Charlotte, check out their website.
Autism Charlotte
Autism Charlotte is a non-profit organization dedicated to helping families in the Charlotte area that are impacted by autism by creating programs after school that cater to their skill development. They have four main programs: Extended Learning and Development, PATHS, University Autism Outreach, and iCan Bike. Autism Charlotte has impacted the lives of over 4000 children that have been affected by autism, making sure the families and children know that they are not alone and still searching for answers.
Justice Ministries
Justice Ministires is a non-profit organization fighting sex trafficking and sexual exploitation, with a focus on rehousing and rehabilitating the women that went through this trauma. One of the important Carolina charities to support: Justice Ministries reaches out to sex trafficking victims in an attempt to relocate them and get them out of the situation without causing them any harm by their trafficker, they then help them rise above the situation by trying to help them adapt back into a normal life with schooling or a job. Support the cause by donating to their team or by organizing a fundraiser for the team where all the proceeds will go towards rescuing these women.
Feeding Charlotte
Feeding Charlotte is a non-profit organization striving to reduce hunger among families by delivering fresh food to said families and attempting to cut back on food waste in Charlotte by educating the public about the food they are delivering. This programdelivers fresh food to other non-profits in the Charlotte area that are focused on feeding the hungry, they partner with other local organizations to save their leftovers and distribute it properly to those in need. Support Feeding Charlotte by donating food containers for distribution or your own fresh meal following the guidelines on the donations page of their website.
Arts for Life
Arts for Life provides patients at the Levine Children’s Hospital (and their families) with a variety of educational art programs. During their stay, children have access to instructor-led classes and group events, or are given the option to have art supplies delivered directly to their bedside. Their mission is to promote a positive healthcare experience for children and their families, while also inspiring these children to be creative. You can support Arts for Life by purchasing art supplies from their wish list, or by making a donation directly on their website.
FeedNC
FeedNC is a Mooresville-based nonprofit organization that connects individuals and families with healthy and nutritious food. This program has created several programs to offer assistance. Their programs range from culinary training courses for those who are currently unemployed, access to fresh produce and other essential items from their food pantry, as well as a grocery delivery service for senior citizens. You can support this organization by donating desired grocery items directly to their pantry, or donating on their website.
Foster Village
Foster Village is a non-profit organization in Charlotte that supports children and families in the foster care system. Their mission is to equip these children with new clothes or personal hygiene products. Beyond that, Foster Village provides counseling services for children, and hosts events for foster families to instill a sense of community. Their new mentorship program provides resources and support for families new to foster care. You can support this organization by purchasing items off their Amazon wish list, or a donation on their website.
The HEARTest Yard
The HEARTest Yard is a local program from Receptions For Research: The Greg Olsen Foundation. Olsen, a top-tier tight end in the NFL, founded the organization in 2013 when his youngest son, TJ, was born with a congenital heart defect. The HEARTest Yard supports families of young children with Congenital Heart Disease. The goal is to provide long-term care, in addition to helping “heart kids” navigate their new normal. In a partnership with Levine Children’s Hospital located in the center of Charlotte, Olsen’s program keeps showing up for local kids who need assistance, care, and support. Olsen hosts a 5K race each year to raise money and benefits for those in need and donations are always accepted online. This is one of the many important Carolina charities to support this holiday season.
Go Jen Go Foundation
One-in-eight women are diagnosed with breast cancer. Go Jen Go is a non-profit organization that provides financial assistance to local individuals and their families during all stages of this vicious illness. This foundation is dedicated to and in memory of Jen Pagani, a Charlotte wife and mother who lost her seven-year battle with breast cancer in 2014. Since its inception, Go Jen Go has helped many Charlotte families with medical expenses and emotional support with fundraising events that happen year-round, including 24 Hours of Booty, the Run Jen Run 5K, Pink in the Rink, and Cheers Jen Cheers. Heartwarming stories of appreciation for the foundation and its help from survivors can be found online.
Project New Heights
Project New Heights is a North Carolina based non-profit dedicated to enhance the quality of life for underserved, at-risk youth through educational advocacy, support, and dropout prevention services. They work to strengthen communication between schools and their communities, engage families in students’ academic experiences, and involve students in their own academic planning. Project New Heights strives to address any challenges that may be impeding academic success, such as emotional and behavioral problems, substance abuse, truancy, homelessness, family relations, peers relations, and low academic performance. Overall, their commitment is to empower students to stay in school, graduate,and effectively transition into adulthood while achieving economic self-sufficiency. Support Project New Heights by donating a monetary contribution through their website, or shopping at the Amazon link on their site as well.
Jamie Kimble Foundation for Courage
The JK Foundation for Courage is dedicated towards creating a future without intimate partner violence. They seek to accomplish this by funding initiatives with defined outcomes that prevent intimate partner violence, that provide educational curriculum for youth and young adults, that promote awareness, and that provide credible research for the exploration of innovative methods that stop intimate partner violence. Support the Jamie Kimble Foundation for Courage by donating through their site, or sending a check to the Jamie Kimble Foundation for Courage, 1850 E. Third Street, Suite 110, Charlotte, NC 28204. Checks should be made payable to: Jamie Kimble Foundation for Courage.
Kids with PossAbilities
Kids with PossAbilities works to provide funding for therapy, assistive technology and educational scholarships for children with developmental delays in the Greater Charlotte area. The organization was inspired by the daughter of the founder, Ava, who was diagnosed with autism. Dana Leung started Kids with PossAbilties to help other families get access to critical therapies and educational opportunities for children with developmental delays. Support Kids with PossAbilities by donating on their website through the Novant Health Foundation.
Final Thoughts
These Carolina charities represent a diverse range of causes. From proclaiming the Gospel and supporting families facing congenital birth defects to inspiring the next generation of scientists, preserving wildlife and habitats, fighting hunger and fostering outdoor recreation. Your support, whether financial or through volunteer efforts, can play a vital role in advancing the missions of these Carolina charities and creating a positive impact in our region and beyond.
