FOR GOOD

Compiled by Emily Uhland /

For Good

Throughout the hardships of 2020, dedicated local nonprofits have continued to work hard serving southern Wake and beyond. In the following pages,

hear inspiring stories from the directors and founders of these organizations

and what we can do to help.

*Responses have been edited for clarity and length.

FUQUAY-VARINA EMERGENCY FOOD PANTRY

Founded in 2001, when several local churches combined their individual efforts to form a central food pantry for Fuquay and surrounding areas.

MISSION STATEMENT: To bring glory to our Lord through feeding and strengthening people in need. To find those in need and be sure they are fed, removing the handicap of hunger for as many families as possible.

SERVICES: Distribution of a balanced nutritional supply of fresh produce, breads, canned goods, meat and dairy, as well as hygiene items such as soap and toilet paper to those in need. Provide special needs items when possible, such as heaters, firewood and fans.

Serves 500 families per month

Provide turkeys and trimmings at Thanksgiving and a special Christmas bag to help with treats during the holidays.

HOW HAS THE ORGANIZATION BEEN AFFECTED BY THE PANDEMIC?

We have seen a 25% increase in clients and experienced an inability to purchase some products on the open market.

FOOD PANTRY VOLUNTEER PETER CZECH UNLOADS PRODUCE DONATED BY FOOD LION.

BIGGEST NEEDS: Many seasonal food drives have been cancelled or made virtual, so neighborhood food drives, individual food donations and sponsors are sorely needed.

WAYS TO HELP: Drop off donations during open hours, or sponsor a turkey dinner for a family. Dinners are $25.00 and can be sponsored by donating online at fvfoodpantry. com or mailing a check. We like to include an enclosure card with each dinner that lists the sponsor’s first names. Email information to fvfoodpantry@gmail.com.

Fuquay-Varina Emergency Food Pantry

Physical: 216 West Academy Street, Fuquay-Varina Mail: P.O. Box 1463, Fuquay Varina (919) 552-7720 fvfoodpantry.com

FACES /

(FAMILY AND COMMUNITY EMPOWERMENT SERVICES)

Founded in 1964 as the Family Aid Council of Fuquay-Varina by the Fuquay-Varina Ministerial Alliance to centralize financial crisis support for neighbors in FuquayVarina and Willow Spring.

MISSION: Provide emergency financial assistance, information and referral in the communities of Fuquay-Varina and Willow Spring, for those experiencing crisis situations related to shelter, utilities and other basic needs.

As a Christian ministry, FACES has operated for 57 years on donations from local churches and businesses, individuals and the town of Fuquay-Varina.

HOW HAS THE ORGANIZATION BEEN AFFECTED BY THE PANDEMIC?

Like the entire country, our service area has been severely hit by COVID-19. Our office is closed, but we have adapted to the times. Intake forms are available under the assistance tab on our website. Voicemails are retrieved on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Direct inquiries can be sent to exec@faces-cares.org.

BIGGEST NEEDS: Financial donations.

WAYS TO HELP: Checks lovingly donated in the amount of stimulus checks, accompanied by personal notes acknowledging neighbors who may be hurting are amazing blessings. Desires of the heart like this keeps FACES in the fight. No one could have ever predicted how much we would all need each other.

FACES

605 Bridge St, Fuquay-Varina (919) 567-8100 faces-cares.org

“Local people helping local people.”

Jonathan Fredin

GARDEN CLUB VOLUNTEERS MAINTAIN HOLLY SPRINGS FOOD CUPBOARD’S COMMUNITY GARDEN, WHICH GROWS PRODUCE THAT IS DISTRIBUTED TO CLIENTS

Founded in 2010

HOLLY SPRINGS FOOD CUPBOARD / MISSION: To provide supplemental food and referral assistance to those in need in the Holly Springs community. SERVICES: Our food distribution includes track-out bags with kid-friendly snacks and foods to families with school-age children. Healthy, fresh produce grown in our garden joins nonperishable foods donated by community members. These foods are supplemented with protein and dairy products that we purchase and with food donated by local businesses.

Drive-through food distribution is every Thursday, 2-5 p.m. Deliveries are available to senior citizens and persons with compromised health or without transportation.

HOW HAS THE ORGANIZATION BEEN AFFECTED BY THE PANDEMIC?

The number of families we serve has increased significantly due to Covid-19. From January through July this year, we’ve served an average of 209 families per month, a 24% increase from this same period last year.

Distribution of track-out bags for school-age children is up by 253%. We’ve distributed 940 bags so far this year. We want to make sure children who don’t have access to school meals have food during the pandemic.

Covid-19 has changed the way we distribute food, which is now a drive-through operation. Food deliveries are made to vulnerable populations.

BIGGEST NEED: Due to the increased number of clients, our greatest need is nonperishable food donations. We typically rely on food drives by community organizations, but many of these groups are unable to meet due to the pandemic.

WAYS TO HELP: Food collections are essential to keeping our doors open and our shelves stocked. Even the smallest donations make a difference. The Cupboard can receive donated food on Mondays, 9 a.m.-11 a.m. (our preferred time) and on Thursdays, noon-5 p.m. If you want to do more, please consider organizing a food drive.

HOLLY SPRINGS FOOD CUPBOARD

621 W Holly Springs Road, Holly Springs (919) 577-2210 www.hsfoodcupboard.org

181,324

pounds of food donations received

1,225 pounds of produce from our garden

100% volunteer staff

204 Thanksgiving meals provided

431 Student lunch kits for track-out and summer break

MAMA’S HOUSE /

Founded on August 1, 2018

MISSION: To help feed, clothe and provide necessary household items to impoverished or struggling families in need locally, whether short- or long-term situations. We welcome all in need with open arms regardless of their sex, religion, race or beliefs.

SERVICES:

In an attempt to keep families out of homeless situations, Mama’s House provides food, toiletries, baby items, clothing and household goods to families in need in Wake, Johnston and Harnett counties.

Deliveries of food are made to those that cannot leave their home due to illness, disability or lack of transportation. Special events for back-to-school and the holidays collect clothing, food and toys.

HOW HAS THE ORGANIZATION BEEN AFFECTED BY THE PANDEMIC?

Sales at Mama’s House of Thrift — a 1940s, two-story home converted to a thrift store — provide proceeds used to purchase food for our clients. The thrift store was forced to close due to Covid-19, resulting in a significant decrease in resources. Our enrollment numbers grew to over 2,400 in less than 30 days. A GoFundMe campaign helped us survive and continue to make thousands of food deliveries, and the food bank did not stop operations at any time. As of August 1, Mama’s House is in full operation, and our thrift store, donation area and food bank are open.

BIGGEST NEEDS: Volunteers and donations are always welcome and needed. We accept all household items, including toys, clothing, shoes, toiletries, pet supplies, linens, books, magazines, newspaper, office supplies, school supplies and more. Canned/dried/non-perishable/non-expired/unopened food and pet-food items are also accepted.

WAYS TO HELP: Shop the thousands of beautiful, low-cost items at Mama’s House of Thrift. Every dollar spent at the thrift store buys two cans of food for a family in need. Volunteers are needed to help sort clothing donations, staff the thrift store and make deliveries. Financial, tax-deductible donations are accepted online at mamashouseofthrift.org.

MAMA’S HOUSE

1501 North Main Street, Fuquay-Varina (984) 225-2386 mamashouseofthrift.com

JANETTE ROD, FOUNDER OF MAMA’S HOUSE

MAMA’S HOUSE OF THRIFT

Lil’ Mama’s House

A second thrift shop location offers a “no shaming” shopping experience. Lil Mama’s House in Willow Springs was created in order for clients to pick out their clothing as if they were shopping. The only difference is that when clients check out at the register, they never have to pay.

MILITARY MISSIONS IN ACTION (MMIA)

Founded in 2008, by Michael Dorman, a retired Coast Guard member

MISSION: To assist veterans with disabilities, armed forces and their families.

PROGRAMS:

Fill The Footlocker is a three-part program that ships care packages to active duty service members and K9 units who are deployed; supplies homeless veterans in North Carolina with hygiene, clothing and comfort items; and provides assistance during the holiday season through gift cards to grocery and department stores and unwrapped gifts and toys to military and veteran families.

Homes for Healing provides furniture and household goods to formerly homeless veterans.

Operation Building Hope provides necessary home modification services and wheelchair ramps to ensure veterans or military children with disabilities are able to live independently in their homes.

HOW HAS THE ORGANIZATION BEEN AFFECTED BY THE PANDEMIC?

Fundraising events have been cancelled, and volunteers are unable to come together in large groups, resulting in a 75% decrease in funding.

MMIA is creating new programs to serve the active duty and veteran populations, such as “Taking it to the Streets,” which supports homeless veterans throughout the state.

No contact donation drop offs are available. Supporters are encouraged to donate to our Fill the Footlocker care package program through online ordering and shipping directly to our packaging or office locations.

BIGGEST NEEDS: With donations down by over $400,000, financial support is our number-one need. We also need volunteers and partners to help with projects like bathroom modifications, wheelchair ramp builds, and picking up and delivering furniture to our previously homeless veterans.

WAYS TO HELP: Organize a collection for a care-package drive. Get a group together to help with a ramp build, warehouse work or delivery of furniture.

MMIA PROVIDES WHEELCHAIR RAMPS AND HOME MODIFICATIONS FOR VETERANS.

Increase awareness by inviting MMIA to speak at your small groups and club meetings.

You can support MMIA financially with donations of stocks, property and vehicles; through a one-time or recurring monetary contribution or sponsoring a care package directly through militarymissionsinaction.org.

MILITARY MISSIONS IN ACTION

411-B N Judd Pkwy, Fuquay-Varina (919) 552-1603 Militarymissionsinaction.org

Courtesy of MMIA

SHOP SAFE. SHOP LOCAL.

• Shop in-store • Curbside Delivery • Phone Orders • Online Shopping

15,000+ tools for cooking and entertaining

COOKING CLASSES

Technique classes, date nights, ethnic and regional cuisines, and so much more!

100% LOCAL AND FAMILY OWNED

WE SHARPEN KNIVES!

316 Colonades Way, Cary, NC Open Every Day of the Week! www.whiskcarolina.com (919) 322-2458

WAKE ENTERPRISES / Founded in 1979 MISSION: Wake Enterprises serves adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, including cerebral palsy, autism and traumatic brain injuries, and helps them achieve their maximum level of independence.

Not only are we committed to serving adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, but we also serve local businesses and the community. Wake Enterprises is about more than work. We are about all members of the community having a place.

PROGRAMS: Wake Enterprises enables adults with disabilities through vocational training, job placement and community inclusion activities to contribute their work, attitudes, opinions and insights for the benefit of the community. These services help participants become more self-sufficient by addressing barriers, which have historically kept them from employment.

Using a tiered approach, Wake Enterprises provides job training and employment first through internal contract work, then through community employment. We provide support and training; our participants provide the hard work and dependability.

HOW HAS THE ORGANIZATION BEEN AFFECTED BY THE PANDEMIC?

We have had to lay off approximately 60% of our staff and have experienced a 40% decrease in funding since March. Due to Covid-19 restrictions, many of our participants are under the

ZACH’S TOY CHEST / Founded in 2009 MISSION: To bring joy, hope and normalcy to patients and their families during stressful and often traumatic medical situations. Our goal is to provide an environment of healing that inspires an overall higher quality of cancer care.

PROGRAMS: We supply new toys, blankets, gift cards and other essential items, as requested, all year long to local N.C. hospitals, primarily serving Duke Children’s, UNC Children’s, James & Connie Maynard Children’s and WakeMed Children’s Hospital, along with all outlying WakeMed Emergency Departments across Wake County.

Courage Cards are homemade cards and notes with encouraging messages given to children who are in the hospital. Volunteers of all ages can participate in this program from home. 2020 has provided over 2,400 cards from 300 volunteers as of August!

Special events usually include a golf tournament and annual Toy Chest Mingle. We also host a very special event for pediatric cancer survivors and their families each July called A Summer’s Night with Santa. This free event is a wonderful day of fun to let kids be kids and have a good time. Safer-at-Home order and are not able to attend programs in person. We have shifted much of our programming to remote learning through Wake E Live!

We host live, 45-minute online classes each day, during which participants interact with our trainers and their peers.

Classes include nutrition, safety, health, art, self-advocacy and exercise.

WAYS TO HELP: Financial donations are vital to allow us to continue assisting a population that cannot afford for us to discontinue services. No donation is too small.

Financial donations are accepted online at www.wake-enterprises. plies, personal protective equipment or arts and crafts supplies are also appreciated.

WAKE ENTERPRISES

3333 Air Park Road, Fuquay-Varina (919) 714-6100 wake-enterprises.org

Staggering Statistics

People with disabilities between ages 18-64 are less likely to be employed, creating subsequent gaps in income, health care and transportation, according to the 2000 N.O.D./Harris Survey org. Donations of cleaning sup

of Americans with Disabilities.

In the United States, the unemployment rate for people with disabilities is approximately 70% .

The goal of Wake Enterprises is to combat these statistics.

HOW HAS THE ORGANIZATION BEEN AFFECTED BY THE PANDEMIC?

Toy donations have slowed significantly. No new toy drives have been held to produce toys for the fall season, and the hospitals’ needs have been great. Mass deliveries to hospitals at the beginning of the pandemic have cut down on our inventory of toys. Our special events and fundraisers for this year have been cancelled.

BIGGEST NEEDS: New toy donations for kids of all ages, blankets and monetary donations. When toy donations start coming back in, volunteers will be needed to help sort, organize and pack toys for hospital deliveries.

WAYS TO HELP: Hold a toy drive, in person or virtually, within your community, work, church or sports club. Or make a purchase from our Amazon wish list that can be shipped directly to us.

If you are able to, new video games for XBox and PlayStation 4 units are needed for teens. Gift cards are always welcome, as they are used for older kids and for expenses families incur each time they travel to appointments.

ZACH’S TOY CHEST

PO Box 1013 Holly Springs (702) 439-9394 Zachstoychest.org

MEG’S SMILE FOUNDATION /

Founded in March 2011. First “smile” completed in May 2011.

MISSION: To bring smiles to the faces of children and young adults affected by serious illnesses and their families. Through gifts and fun days, we endeavor to help them forget, maybe for just one moment, what they are going through.

PROGRAMS: We create special days and give gifts to children, teenagers and young adults battling serious and lifethreatening health issues. Past “smiles” have included trips, concert tickets, room makeovers, gifts of technology and accessible recreation equipment to help children with physical disabilities.

HOW HAS THE ORGANIZATION BEEN AFFECTED BY THE PANDEMIC?

We have not been able to do our major fundraisers, including our annual silent auction and golf tournament. We can’t send people on trips right now, but we have been able to purchase lots of gifts. Two recent examples are a go-cart and a dirt bike.

BIGGEST NEEDS: We would love donation items for our silent auction and always appreciate volunteers for our events. We are 100% volunteer, so all the money raised goes right to the kids.

WAYS TO HELP: Stay tuned for when we are able to resume our events and fundraisers. In the meantime, donations and referrals are accepted on the website.

MEG’S SMILE FOUNDATION

105 Hickory Glen Lane, Holly Springs (919) 434-5050 megsmile.org

REACH “NEW HEIGHTS” WITH THE ENVIRONMENTAL CONNECTIONS THEME AT LINCOLN HEIGHTS MAGNET ELEMENTARY

Come GROW with us where we:

• Boast several outdoor learning environments that spark our students’ love of learning

• Cultivate students’ curiosity through daily environmental expedition electives

• Involve the whole family in

environmentally-themed activities

To learn more about us, please visit www.wcpss.net/lincolnheightses

Lincoln Heights Environmental Connections Magnet Elementary School

307 Bridge Street Fuquay-Varina, NC 27526 (919) 557-2587