While lights are being strung up, gifts are being bought and crossed off lists, some North Carolinians are getting into the holiday spirit by giving back.
With food pantries, toy drives, and other community outreach programs in full swing, there are a number of ways to help out and spread holiday cheer to some of the most vulnerable people across the state.
Here are a couple of ways you can get involved and make a difference this holiday season.
Donate to your local food bank
Around this time of year, many families are getting ready to sit around the table and enjoy a meal with loved ones. However, there are many people in the state without reliable access to food to feed themselves and their families. This year, those in need and the organizations that serve them are feeling the squeeze even more with the delays to SNAP disbursements during the month of November, which left food banks in the state stepping up to meet the need.
This season, you can donate food, money, or even your time to help combat hunger in the state through a variety of organizations. Such organizations include:
- Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina, where Governor Josh Stein and Lt. Governor Rachel Hunt volunteered before providing $3.34 million in funds from the state to support the organization’s work.
- MANNA FoodBank, which operates in Asheville and serves 16 counties in western North Carolina.
- Feeding the Carolinas, a network of 10 food banks serving the Carolinas.
You can find more resources on where to donate and volunteer using this guide to food access in North Carolina.
Help Others Keep Warm
The holidays are also bringing cooler weather, with some parts of the state already seeing snow. With that, some residents may need additional help to keep warm as the weather continues to drop.
- Warmth for Wake, a seasonal program run by the Wake County Health & Human Services annually from October through March, assists low-income county residents with firewood or space heaters to keep warm.
- Share The Heat donation project allows you to donate to help cover heating costs for those in need.
Additionally, you could donate jackets, gloves, scarves, and sweaters to clothing centers or clothing drives across the state, which can be found using the One Warm Coat website and putting in your zipcode.
Protect The Coast
Though you might not be thinking of the beach during this cold weather, coastal clean-up projects aren’t just for the warmer months– these efforts to keep our beaches clean, our waters safe, and the local wildlife protected run all year round.
- You can find beach volunteer opportunities on the Outer Banks by checking out Volunteer OBX.
- The North Carolina Coastal Federation is also a useful resource for finding volunteer opportunities to protect our beaches, the people who visit them, and the wildlife that inhabits them.
Donate Blood
Blood drives are another great way to give. There is a constant need for blood donations, with someone in the United States needing blood every 2 seconds, according to the American Red Cross.
Pop-up blood drives or blood buses are a great way to donate, and you can check for an American Red Cross donation site or Community Blood Center in your area.
Give A Gift to Children In Need
Many children in the state won’t be getting gifts this holiday season, with prices soaring and layoffs increasing. You can step up and light up a child’s holiday by donating to organizations that aim to provide for children who would otherwise go without.
This isn’t just about toys, though toy donations and toy drives are plentiful across the state; organizations will also take donations of clothes, school supplies, or even funds to provide supplies for the children.
- Carolina Cares delivers donations ranging from Legos to socks and room decor to children in need throughout the Research Triangle with 11 drop-off locations.
- You can also check out Toys for Tots, which has several locations across North Carolina.
Donate To Vital Research
Another way you can give back to the Tar Heel State is by donating to vital research being conducted. Your donation allows these research studies to move forward, producing results that will benefit everyone in and beyond North Carolina.
- At NC Health Foundation, donations from you “provide hope to the people of North Carolina and communities around the world”.
- At Durham’s Rare Cancer Research Foundation, you can donate funds, create your own fundraiser, or donate tissue. They even ask for personal stories from caregivers or patients.
Volunteer With Furry Friends
Though there are plenty of ways to help your neighbor, there are also several ways you can help our furry four-legged friends.
Animal shelters provide opportunities to volunteer– whether you’re interested in greeting guests, walking the dogs, or showcasing the adoptable animals, there’s a way to help out.
- Wake County Animal Center has a volunteer program for individuals over the age of 18.
- Animal Protection Society of Durham includes volunteer options for the younger crowd, with even children 10 and under being able to volunteer by reading to cats.
