The Relatives’ Family Update – November 2017
Please ensure you scroll down to read all of the recent stories in this month’s newsletter. If you would like to be added to our email distribution please email your information to development@therelatives.org.
Our Family is Growing
It was a crisp morning, Tuesday, October 17 when over 380 attendees filled the Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church. This year’s Annual Breakfast was themed “Be A Relative” and after hearing riveting testimonials from a past and current youth who have were served by The Relatives the attendees joined us as Relatives and helped us raise over $800,000 in donations and pledges.
Spencer Guthery the Development Director at The Relatives was humbled, “We are beyond amazed at the way our community stepped up and gave to help youth in crisis.” The Relatives family is growing! Thank you to all of our sponsors, table captains, supporters, volunteers and staff members who made this year’s event such a big success. Know that just like Sally mentioned in her emotional speech, “The Relatives saved my life.” You are The Relatives.
Please see below pictures and videos from the event and feel free to share them with your friends and family. We only want to grow our family so that we can continue to help more youth and young adults in our community who find themselves in crisis.
Thank You to All our Sponsors
Client Story Video by Kim Brattain Media
Speakers at the Breakfast
National Runaway Prevention Month
Between 1.6 and 2.8 million youth run away each year. If all of these young people lived in one city, it would be the fifth largest city in the United States. According to the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department’s Missing Person Division, over 2,000 kids ages 13 -17 run away each year in this area.
These numbers are unacceptable, particularly when you consider the fact that 1 in 7 of these young people will end up homeless. These are not bad kids; they are good kids in bad situations. The Relatives Crisis Center is always a safe haven for these youth. “The Relatives continues to recognize the importance of runaway youth coming through our doors – that young people need support, guidance, and opportunities during adolescence to help them develop self-assurance and create healthy,successful lives,” stated Curtis Joe, Executive Director.
The theme of NRPM 2017 is “Friends Helping Friends.” A friend is there to support, listen and care. They can come in the form of teachers, mentors, peers, or even family members. The National Runaway Safeline is here 24/7 to be a friend and provide support for youth in crisis. The goal is to unite our community to help support youth as they navigate their world. Be a Relative to those youth in crisis and join us today as a volunteer and supporter. Learn more by visiting our website at www.therelatives.org.
Giving Tuesday 2017
GivingTuesday is the global philanthropic response to Black Friday and Cyber Monday. #GivingTuesdayCLT is an unprecedented collaboration of over 400 Charlotte nonprofits as well as corporations, local businesses, professional sports teams and community organizations working together for the greater good. Tell your friends and family to join The Relatives on social media to help us grow our reach before #GivingTuesday on November 28.
Caroling with The Relatives
Come join us on Sunday, December 10 to have fun with friends while spreading some holiday cheer and goodwill.
The festivities will begin at 5:30 PM at our Crisis Center at 1100 East Blvd.
Please mark your calendars and we will send out more information.
Holiday Needs List
- Men’s & women’s underwear, men’s white t-shirts – all sizes from small to XXL
- Coats, hoodies
- Gift cards and bus passes
- Prepaid phone gift cards for minutes
- Earbuds
- Bluetooth speakers
- Wallets
- Watches
- Head phones
- Phone chargers, phone cases – all brands
- Household items- queen sheet sets, towels, pots and pans, shower curtains, plates, utensils, etc. for our clients moving into their own apartments
- Vanity sets for females and males- like an Old Spice grooming set and women’s set of makeup, soaps or nail products- lots of those around for the holidays at Walmart’s and Targets
- Backpacks and duffle bags
- Baby clothes
- Blankets
- Clothing to keep warm- hoodies, sweat pants, small-XXL for the On Ramp clients
- Shoes- variety of sizes
- Activity tickets for the kids at the crisis center to use while out of school- would need to be a total of 11 per activity/outing.
- hand & foot warmers
- umbrellas, rain ponchos
- sleeping bags
Please email us at development@therelatives.org if you are interested in helping.
