Are you interested in finding local service opportunities for your family? Check out this list of upcoming events in our area that are family-friendly. Click on the link provided to learn more about each organization and their outreach opportunities. (Note: Rea View is not affiliated with nor endorses these organizations.)

FEBRUARY 2020:

2020 Greater Charlotte Relay For Life Citywide Kickoff (2/1) - The American Cancer Society Relay for Life is in need of volunteers to help with such things as event set up, registration table, assist with "interactive" area, attending to guests speakers and honorary chairs. This is a family-friendly event and suitable for ages 5 and up. If interested, please complete a volunteer application form at https://sharecharlotte.org/2020-greater-charlotte-relay-life-citywide-kickoff

Carrington Place Ice Cream Social (2/1) - Come care for our neighbors at Carrington Place Nursing Home! Serve ice cream, visit, encourage and care for residents. The Ice Cream Social will take place from 1:45 pm - 3:30 pm. To register, go to https://carmelbaptistchurch.goentrepid.com/opportunities. This event is arranged by Carmel Baptist Church but you do not need to be a member of this church to volunteer for this event.

Hope Vibes Serve Day (2/8) - Join us as we hit the streets of Uptown Charlotte & the Women's Shelter to provide hygiene items and encouragement to those living without homes. During these times amazing conversation occurs, games are played with the kids at the shelter and hope is being exchanged. This event is suitable for kids ages 5 and up with a parent. For details, including a video about this event, and registration, go to https://www.hopevibes.org/

Books for Promising Pages - Now that the holidays are over, it’s time to clean out your kid’s bookcase. Please consider donating outgrown books to Promising Pages. This organization collects donated books and distributes them to children in need. All books, ages baby/toddler to adult are accepted, with the greatest need for PK-5th grade children's books. They are also in need of encouraging notes for students and teachers in the CMS Schools as well as handmade bookmarks. For more information, please visit www.promisingpages.org or contact Dana Barber, Operations and Volunteer Coordinator at 704-399-1934.

Host a child from Belarus this Summer - The American Belarussian Relief Organization (www.abro.org) was established in 1991 to help the children from Belarus impacted by Chernobyl - the worst nuclear disaster the world has ever seen. With 70% of the radiation reaching Belarus, the children are still at the greatest risk with a 200% increase in thyroid diseases and cancers, birth defects and vitamin deficiencies all from the increased radiation levels in the air, water and food. The country is in severe economic hardship with the majority of families lacking funds to provide their children with basic medical care and relief from the radiation. Here’s where you can help! Please consider opening your home this summer for six weeks to host one of these beautiful children (or the adult translator from Belarus) who are deprived of the basic necessities we all take for granted every day. There are over 150 children currently on the waitlist. Last summer, the children arrived from Belarus the first week of June and were able to attend the Rea View end of year class parties. It was such a wonderful experience for our students to engage with children from a different country, different language, and different culture but show the same love and friendship! Another way to help is by making a financial donation to assist the Charlotte/Waxhaw families who will be hosting (many corporations offer matching incentives too). Applications are due soon, so if you would like more information, please contact Michelle King at MMKing1024@gmail.com. She is a Rea View mom who has hosted the same little girl for the past two summers and is looking forward to hosting again this summer.


ON-GOING SERVICE OPPORTUNITIES:

Friendship Trays - This organization prepares and delivers meals to elderly and infirm individuals in the Charlotte community who are unable to obtain or prepare their own meals. They cook and courier a meal to the doorstep of over 700 recipients. Children 10 and older can help serve in the kitchen and families with younger children can help deliver meals. If interested, please visit https://friendshiptrays.org

Loaves & Fishes (for ages 10 years old and up) - This organization provides a week’s worth of nutritionally balanced groceries to individuals and families experiencing a short-term crisis through a network of 35 emergency food pantries located throughout Mecklenburg County. Please consider volunteering in the warehouse or in the pantry to help inspect and pack non-perishable food items for distribution to families and individuals in need. For more information, please visit: https://loavesandfishes.org

Operation Sandwich: Held the second Saturday of every month, Operation Sandwich is hosted by Weddington United Methodist Church. This program makes sandwiches for the Charlotte Urban Ministry to help feed the homeless in and around the Charlotte area. https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0b44acab2aa64-2016

Bright Blessings: This organization brings joy, care, and hope to more than 13,000 homeless and impoverished children around the charlotte greater region through their programs such as Bless-A-Baby and Bless-A-Birthday. They also host educational and enrichment activities as well as providing the kids with gifts, new books and basic care essentials. Visit their site to learn about upcoming events. https://www.brightblessingsusa.org

Color A Smile: Distributes cheerful drawings to senior citizens, our troops overseas, and anyone in need of a smile. Every month they mail thousands of new drawings to people on our mailing list. School children, scouting troops, and anyone of any age, can volunteer to color and help us spread smiles. https://colorasmile.org/about_us/

Cards for Hospitalized Kids (CFHK): CFHK is an internationally recognized charitable organization that spreads hope, joy and magic to hospitalized kids across American through uplifting, handmade cards. Using their card-making guidelines, individuals and group can make cards and then send them to CFHK for distribution to Children's Hospitals across the United States in all 50 states as well as Ronald McDonald Houses. http://www.cardsforhospitalizedkids.com