My New Blog

As some of you may know, I make a concerted effort throughout the year to donate items and time to various charitable organizations.  Some of my friends and clients have been calling me this month wanting to know if I had any suggestions about donation and volunteer oppurtunities in the Jacksonville area, so I decided to compile some information and share it with anyone who's interested in spreading a little extra Christmas Cheer.

Here are a few organizations that could use your help:

• Onslow Christmas Cheer - Christmas Cheer is a program ran by Onslow Community Ministries.  One way to help Christmas Cheer is to sponsor a needy family or elderly person.  A sponsor coordinator can help to match a potential sponsor with an available case.  If you wish to consider sponsorship, call the US Cellular Sponsor Line at 910-340-1567.  Christmas Cheer is also looking for volunteers to help distribute gifts and food to the families that aren't sponsored this year.  For more information about volunteering with Christmas Cheer, call 910-938-HELP.  For more information online visit the Onslow Community Ministries Website or view the article in the Jacksonville Daily News.
• Soup Kitchen - This program is also ran by Onslow Community Ministries.  They are looking for long term volunteers to assist with preparing 500 lunches and then going out on the soup truck to deliver the lunches.  They are taking volunteers Monday thru Friday from 8am-Noon.  For more information, contact Remy Stitt at 910-347-3227, or visit the Onslow Community Ministries Website.
• Thrift Store Volunteer - The Thrift Store, Finders Keepers, is looking for volunteers to clean/organize the store, sort donations, put merchandise out etc.  Proceeds from the Thrift Store go to benefit the Onslow County Women's Center.  Volunteer days are Tuesday thru Sunday, in the morning or afternoon.  They are also looking for donations.  Donated used items will go to the Thrift Store to be sold, and new items may go to the Women's Shelter.  They are actively seeking donations of robes, socks, slippers, personal care products, and more.  For more information call 910-347-4000 or visit the Onslow Women's Center Website.

    These are just a few of your volunteering options!  If you like animals, you can volunteer at Possumwood Acres Wildlife Sanctuary, or if you like construction and housing, you can volunteer for Habitat for Humanity.  For more information about volunteering in Jacksonville, I recommend visiting www.1-800-Volunteer.org.  They connect eager volunteers with various nonprofit organizations that are looking for help. 

If you want to make a quick donation, don't forget about Toys for Tots and The Salvation Army Angel Tree, and the Homeless Shelter is always accepting donations of food and personal hygiene items. 

I hope that you found this helpful and I hope that you can find a way to give this year!  Maybe I'll see you there!