Thank you for your interest in helping others during the holiday season. This is a brief overview of the programs available through our offices.

Thanksgiving Sponsorship:

• The Thanksgiving Sponsorship program, begins in early October.  An individual or group agrees to provide the ingredients necessary for a holiday meal for a family. The sponsor also delivers to the client home. The sponsor chooses a family based on the number of people in the home, etc. Our office then matches the sponsor with that family. The sponsor works through the human services professional that referred the family for assistance, in order to work out details such as special dietary needs, delivery date/time, etc.
• Sponsors Can Call In Early October To Get On The List To Be Matched With A Family.
• All Matches Are Generally Completed By Mid-November With All Deliveries Completed By The Monday Prior To Thanksgiving Thursday.  The sponsorship form should be turned in by early mid-October.  

  Please click here to review our Holiday-Sponsorship-Form.

Christmas Sponsorship:

• Christmas sponsorship is very similar to the Thanksgiving program. In addition to the holiday meal, the sponsor also agrees to provide a minimum of one new article of clothing for each child under age 18 living in the home, and one new age-appropriate toy or gift for each person in the home. The sponsor again works with the referring worker to coordinate details once the match has been made.
• Interested Sponsors Can Begin To Call In Mid-October And The Majority Of Matches Are Completed By The Second Week Of December. The sponsorship form should be turned in by mid-November.  We welcome donations of new toys, clothing and gift cards for all ages, infant through teen, with a concentration on teen gifts and clothing. These are used to meet emergency holiday needs. 
  
  Please click here to review our Holiday-Sponsorship-Form.

Giving Trees Sponsorship:

• Running concurrently with other holiday programs, Giving Trees are another option to be of assistance. Groups wanting to make contributions of new clothing and toys for children can call in and request a list. The group determines the number of items on the list. Lists are available for children and/or adult (frail elderly or handicapped) clients of DSS who have no one to remember them at the holidays.
• Children and youth deliveries are made to our designated Youth and Family Services Toy Shop. All items are distributed by social workers to foster children or others whose circumstances put them out of the range of existing assistance programs. The toys and gifts they receive through this effort are often the only remembrances they get for Christmas. Call Cindy Brady (704-336-7348) or call our Community Resources Office for more information and the Toy Shop delivery site.
• Gifts for the frail elderly and handicapped will be delivered to: DSS, 301 Billingsley Road, 28211. Call Ginny Harper (704-336-7969) for information on the frail/elderly and handicapped.
• Groups interested in Giving Trees need to begin in Mid-October to have sufficient time to shop prior to delivery of donations to our office by mid-November. 

  Please click here to review our Holiday-Sponsorship-Form.

Easter Basket Sponsorship:

• Individual Easter baskets are purchased (or created) by groups and individuals.  These filled baskets are delivered to the Community Resources Office at Social Services two weeks prior to the holiday. The baskets will be distributed to the children living in public housing areas served by our social workers.  Interested parties should telephone in a commitment 4 to 6 weeks prior to Easter. All donations need to be delivered to the Community Resources Office before the Monday of Good Friday Week. 

  Call our office at 704-336-4809 to participate in the Easter Basket Sponsorship.

The Community Resources Office coordinates many year round and seasonal events.  We invite you to participate with us as a volunteer or a sponsor. Go to our Volunteeer or Contribute Today page.

To learn more about the Community Resources Office, please visit "About Us."