It's time to revisit "reader favorites" from our Sunday posts on the Charlotte Smarty Pants blog. Your favorite post from June 2014 was about Surfrider Foundation Charlotte Chapter. Enjoy!
“The Sea, once it casts its spell, holds one in its net of wonder forever.” ― Jacques Cousteau
For an ocean lover, being land-locked in Charlotte can be tough. Fortunately, this local organization has got you covered. Surfrider Foundation – Charlotte Chapter brings the ocean to you through education, awareness, and local volunteer opportunities.
As an ambassador for Charlotte-Mecklenburg Parks and Recreation, Surfrider hosts monthly cleanups at nature preserves that border our local lakes and waterways. Each month, volunteers collect over 100 pounds of garbage that otherwise would have ended up in the ocean.
We're happy to bring a guest post to you from our friends at Mental Health Association of Central Carolinas. Their evidence based Compeer Program brings benefits for everyone involved. Here's one story! Get more information about the program here.
“Being friends with Tracey has made me a more understanding and compassionate person. She has an unconditional devotion to her friends and inspires me to be a better person with all of my relationships,” said Ashley who became a Compeer volunteer in 2007. Tracey shared, “Ashley is a great friend, she’s understanding and listens well. We get excited when we share good news with each other and we hear each other’s problems. She also inspires me to get creative.”
Teens have unique health care and wellness needs. This local organization works to meet them through a wide range of services for kids and young adults ages 11 through 22. Watch the video to discover - Where's SHARE?
So much more than a summer school, this organization provides a "summer opportunity" that's about literacy skills, character building, and much more! Watch the video to discover and then visit ourNon-Profit of the Week!
Kathleen and her daughter Delaney spent an afternoon at Saturday Serve with Ronald McDonald House. Here’s how it went:
“When we arrived, we all got a tour – kids and parents alike – of the main part of the house. What a great space for families with children undergoing medical treatment! It’s welcoming and designed with them in mind. Next, the kids went to the basement to work on a craft. They created a small bouquet of flowers for each room, with a handwritten note of encouragement for the families. I can imagine coming ‘home’ to something cheerful like that would be a welcome sight for the RMH families after a long, difficult day.
Our most popular blog post featured on Charlotte Smarty Pants last month was about Soul 139. Here it is one more time in case you missed it!
“If you haven’t confidence in self, you are twice defeated in the race of life. With confidence, you have won even before you have started." - Marcus Garvey
If you’re like us, you’ll do just about anything to fit in an appointment with your stylist. We’ve braved snow, rearranged schedules, and gone on “wait lists” all because we know what it’s like to really need that haircut. We walk into the salon in a baseball cap and walk out with a new look, along with a boost in self-esteem.
Wow! They've served over 17,000 patients in only two locations. Watch the video to find out where we are, then check out this amazingNonprofit of the Week!
Our most popular blog post featured on Charlotte Smarty Pants last month was about Charlotte Family Housing. Here it is one more time just in case you missed it!
“Sometimes success is determined not so much by what you do, as how you do it.”
Charlotte Family Housing is a place that can’t simply be defined by what they do (they provide a shelter-to-housing program for homeless families). What makes them unique is how they go about it. They have an unwavering focus on empowerment for those they help. That means they will not do anything for a family that the family can do for themselves
Where are we this week? A safe haven for more than 7,000 kids every year. Watch this video of our Non-Profit of the Week to see if you'd like to get involved!
About one year ago I received a call from Providence Day School. They asked SHARE Charlotte if we could help them develop and execute a service-learning program for their freshmen class. It took me about 3 seconds to answer that question – YES!
We have so much great news to share from our nonprofit partners about their amazing work. But, we'd love to hear from you. Let us know if you have stories you'd like to tell and we'll make you a guest blogger!!
