By Chris Russell
Contributing Writer
Sporting Santa hats and lugging armloads of canned foods, members of the Wilmington Regional Association of Realtors unloaded more than $5,000 worth of food and supplies at Mother Hubbard’s Cupboard on Friday, Dec. 11.
The donation was just one of many that groups in the Wilmington area are making during the Christmas season to help the homeless, school children, and many who may be in the group of nearly 17 percent who fall below the poverty level in New Hanover County in a 2014 census report.
“I think helping the community is very important, especially during the holidays. We have a lot to be thankful for,” said Bobby Jean Harvey, chairman of WRAR’s Community Affairs Committee. “Most of us have so many blessings and to be able to provide a little happiness for others during the holidays is what it is all about.”
Philanthropic surveys and websites confirm November and December are the busiest months for charity donations. The National Philanthropic Trust reports the average American household donates close to $3,000 per year to charities.
North Carolinians may wonder where they rate among donors in the 50 states. A 2012 Chronicle of Philanthropy report states North Carolina ranked ninth in total charitable giving.
It is not hard to find ways to donate to good causes. Opportunities abound at local chain stores, fast food restaurants, schools, civic groups, hair salons, churches, grocery stores and even stoplights.
Great Clips hair salons raised more than $20,000 for New Hanover Regional Medical Center’s Foundation in support of children with cleft lip or cleft palate. Part of the monies help provide specially shaped bottles and nipples and teddy bears wearing lip-area stitches like the patients who will undergo surgery.
Feeding New Hanover County children is the priority of Nourish N.C. The non-profit’s website states that one in four children in the county lack sufficient food at home. They are currently supplementing food to over 500 area children, with plans to aid 600. County employees and others have been donating canned foods and non-perishables through a drive, which ends this week.
“We are almost there, we are just 15 children short, but things are going to ramp up this week,” executive director Steve McCrossan said.
The group is also preparing holiday boxes to help children through the long break during school closings. Donors can help to meet these needs at www.nourishnc.org.
“Schools are closed 16 days and we hope to provide three meals a day,” McCrossan said.
Duke Energy will make Christmas brighter for 59 students in 11 different NHC schools with the gift of bicycles.
“Our students and families are very appreciative of this generous donation from Duke Energy. Nothing says ‘Merry Christmas’ like a shiny new bike and for many of our families this would have otherwise been out of reach,” said Cyndy Bliss, principal of Castle Hayne Elementary School.
Public Radio WHQR (91.3 and 96.7fm) partnered with Food Lion for a one-day on-air fundraiser Dec. 10. They raised $25,052 from 399 donors, meeting the goal of $25,000. Funds go toward the programming costs and other expenses of WHQR. And for every pledge made, Food Lion is donating five pounds of food to the Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina. Almost one ton of healthy food will be donated. The Wilmington Branch Director for the Food Bank, Beth Gaglione, said the gift will provide hundreds of families with much-needed meals this holiday season.
Those who are short on cash or just prefer to give sweat equity have options for giving, too. The local Habitat for Humanity group will be digging footings for a new home this Saturday, Dec. 19. To find the location and hours contact [email protected].
