LIFT UP CAROLINAS

GEAR UP CAROLINAS PROVIDES NEW CLOTHING FOR CHILDREN IN NEED IN CHARLOTTE-MECKLENBURG SCHOOLS. COUNSELORS AND SOCIAL WORKERS FROM HIGH POVERTY ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS WILL "SHOP" AT THE LIFT UP CAROLINAS ORGANIZATION FOR THESE STUDENTS FOR UNIFORMS, COATS, UNDERWEAR, SOCKS, AND HYGIENE SUPPLIES. MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS IDENTIFIED BY THEIR COUNSELORS AND SOCIAL WORKERS ARE INVITED WITH THEIR PARENTS TO SHOP AT A LOCAL TARGET STORE FOR SCHOOL APPROPRIATE CLOTHING. IN 2024-2025, GEAR UP CAROLINAS SERVED 7,382 CHILDREN IN GRADES K-5 WITH COMPLETE UNIFORMS; 2,053 MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS WITH CLOTHING AND SUPPLIES; 552 CHILDREN WITH A PAIR OF SHOES; 2,784 CHILDREN WITH A COAT/4,320 FLEECE JACKETS; 600 K-12 STUDENTS WITH BOOKBAGS AND SCHOOL SUPPLIES; 1,540 ELEMENTARY SCHOOL CHILDREN WITH 7,700 BOOKS; 120 MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS FROM 2 SCHOOLS WERE SERVED AT TARGET, AND 928 INDIVIDUALS WERE AWARDED A VERITY OF COMMUNITY AWARDS.

CHECK HUNGER WAS ESTABLISHED IN 1992 AND IS DESIGNED TO ALLEVIATE CHILDREN'S HUNGER BY DISTRIBUTING FOOD IN THESE WAYS: (1) PROVIDING WEEKLY TAKE HOME BACKPACKS TO CHILDREN AT RISK IN CHARLOTTE MECKLENBURG SCHOOLS - EACH BACKPACK CONTAINS FULL-SIZE PORTIONS OF PROTEIN, VEGETABLES, FRUIT AND CALCIUM PRODUCTS TO SUPPLEMENT THE STUDENT'S AND HIS/HER FAMILY'S WEEKEND MEALS; (2) SPONSORING AND OPERATING 16 MOBILE PANTRIES AT 4 HIGH-NEED SCHOOLS; (3) SUPPLYING METRO SCHOOL, A SPECIAL NEEDS SCHOOL OF 250 STUDENTS, SNACKS FOR ALL STUDENTS AND JARS OF APPLESAUCE TO ASSIST WITH ADMINISTRATION OF MEDICATION; (4) PROVIDING SMALL ELECTRICAL APPLIANCES AND OTHER KITCHEN ITEMS, INCLUDING FOOD STAPLES, TO 30 FAMILIES MOVING INTO PERMANENT HOUSING THROUGH HABITAT FOR HUMANITY. IN 2024-2025, 420 ELEMENTARY SCHOOL CHILDREN WERE PROVIDED WITH WEEKEND PACKPACKS. TOTAL BACKPACKS PROVIDED FOR THE SCHOOL YEAR WERE 16,000. CHECK HUNGER FUNDED AND STAFFED 16 MOBILE PANTRIES AT 4 SCHOOLS, SERVING 2,642 FAMILY UNITS. PROTEIN DONATIONS TO SECOND HARVEST FOOD BANK AND LOAVES AND FISHES THROUGH OUTSIDE SOURCES PROVIDED MORE THAN 34,700 POUNDS OF PROTEIN-RICH FOOD TO SUPPLEMENT DIES OF FAMILIES IN NEED.