Special to Iredell Free News
Love United Iredell is a two-week initiative of the United Way of Iredell County to raise more than $100,000 to fund small but meaningful projects for 27 nonprofit agencies throughout the county.
This campaign is scheduled for February 10-24.
Over the next two days, we’ll provide details of these nonprofits and what they will accomplish with their share of the funds.
Here is a look at 14 of the agencies:
Aftershock Youth Empowerment
♦ Organization Mission: Our mission is to create stress-free zones in the classroom for bullied youth, by fueling purpose, and extinguishing defeat.
♦ Project: To purchase a metal frame building that will provide space for bully prevention/intervention, mediation and literacy/tutoring services.
♦ More information on organization: https://www.facebook.com/AfterShock429/
Boys & Girls Clubs of the Piedmont
♦ Organization Mission: To enable all young people, especially those who need us most, to reach their full potential as productive, caring, responsible citizens.
♦ Project: Purchase tables, chairs, marker-boards and other supplies to continue the growth and academic success of their afterschool attendees.
♦ More information on organization: http://www.piedmontbgc.org/
Chestnut Grove Community Center
♦ Organization Mission: To improve the quality of life for youth and families in the community by providing services that promote community prosperity, physical health and by offering programs and cultural events which preserve the African American heritage.
♦ Project: To preserve an important and pivotal building in the African-American history in Statesville, the Chestnut Grove Community Center.
♦ More information on organization: https://www.facebook.com/chestnutgrovecenter/
Iredell County Crosby Scholars
♦ Organization Mission: Inspiring success…together.
♦ Project: Expand the “Try It Tuesday” program for 12th graders to allow students to try out film making as a career path.
♦ More information on organization: https://www.crosbyscholarsiredell.org/
Dove House
♦ Organization Mission: The mission of Dove House is to minimize trauma to child victims of sexual abuse and their non-offending family members by providing a centralized, safe and child-friendly facility from which a multidisciplinary team (MDT) conducts investigation and intervention activities; to advocate for and support child victims and non-offending family members by representing their interest throughout the process, promoting appropriate therapies and making referrals to community resources as needed; and to enhance the process for optimal case resolution.
♦ Project: To support and reinforce the Safety First program, presented to all first- and fifth-grade students in Iredell and Alexander Counties in order to promote body safety, and educate children on abuse prevention strategies. The program also covers internet safety for the fifth-grade students.
♦ More information on organization: https://www.dovehousecac.org/
Drug & Alcohol Coalition of Iredell
♦ Organization Mission: The Drug-Alcohol Coalition of Iredell is committed to the reduction and prevention of alcohol and substance misuse, overdose, and overdose deaths in Iredell County.
♦ Project: County-wide education and prevention of drug and alcohol related issues
♦ More information on organization: http://daciredell.org/
First Responders Support Services
♦ Organization Mission: To support all Iredell County first responders by providing assistance during a personal financial crisis, full debriefings, individual or group crisis management and critical incident stress management through chaplaincy and counseling services. The mission is fulfilled by trained and certified chaplains and support staff who provide specialized guidance and support.
♦ Project: Providing basic needs, such as food, for first responders as they are on-shift, ensuring their health and safety during the times when they are most likely to ignore it themselves.
♦ More information on organization: https://firstresponderssupportservices.org/
G4G Ministries
♦ Organization Mission: G4G (Grill 4 God) Ministries is a faith based, non-profit ministry committed to glorifying our awesome God by serving a hot meal and ministering to the homeless and those who face hunger every day. G4G reaches into low income communities physically and spiritually with our mobile grilling and ministry impact teams. We seek opportunities to make a difference in someone’s life by loving them and providing for their critical needs of food, hope and encouragement.
♦ Project: G4G Ministries will host two “Love Your Community” projects. The “Love Our Community” outreach events will serve food, love, hope and encouragement in low-income communities across Iredell County. These events will unite community agencies, churches and more than 50 volunteers of all ages.
♦ More information on organization: https://g4gministries.com/
Girl Scouts
♦ Organization Mission: Girl Scouts builds girls of courage, confidence and character who make the world a better place.
♦ Project: To secure funding to train adult volunteer leaders and make Girl Scout membership available to all girls and adults who are interested, regardless of their socio-economic background
♦ More information on organization: www.girlscoutsp2p.org
GreenCamps
♦ Organization Mission: Green Camps supports the youth organizations in modeling sustainability to inspire green behavior change in the millions of youth and adults impacted by the camp experience each year.
♦ Project: Host a series of educational workshops to help community members better define, understand and take action to access the benefits of going green.
♦ More information on organization: https://www.greencamps.org/
HealthReach Community Clinic
♦ Organization Mission: To make a significant contribution to the health and wellness of our Iredell County neighbors in need. As the only free medical clinic in Iredell County, HealthReach provides free medical care and medications to patients who have no health insurance and limited means to pay for care.
♦ Project: To purchase badly needed medical equipment to support patients with chronic illnesses.
♦ More information on organization: http://healthreachclinic.org/
Iredell County Partnership for Young Children
♦ Organization Mission: Lifting children to better beginnings by providing services that strengthen families, raise the quality of early care and education, promote health and safety, and expand literacy.
♦ Project: A Kindergarten Readiness Camp will be started so that children can learn the critical skills which have the ability to transform an individual throughout life.
♦ More information on organization: https://www.iredellsmartstart.org/
Iredell Friends of the Library
♦ Organization Mission: Lifelong literacy and learning for residents of Iredell County
♦ Project: Increase awareness for the Summer Reading Program so more residents can be influenced positively by library programming.
♦ More information on this organization: https://iredell.lib.nc.us/298/Friends-of-the-Library
Lowes YMCA
♦ Organization Mission: The YMCA’s mission is to put Christian principles into practice through programs that build healthy spirit, mind and body for all.
♦ Project: Construct an outdoor area for individuals of all ages, ethnicities and income levels to access fitness equipment as it suits their schedule.
♦ More information on organization: https://www.ymcacharlotte.org/branches/lowes