Whether you need a little extra help to get through the holidays, or you want to lend a helping hand for your neighbors in need, here are some resources to get you started.

How to Help

We know the holidays can be tough. A number of people across our community don’t have the means to pay their bills, let alone put gifts under their trees.
If you want to help those in need this holiday season – here are some ways to get involved:

Green Chair Project
This group reuses donated household furnishings to renew lives of participants referred from area programs who are recovering after homelessness, crisis or disaster.

They accept all sorts of donations but are in urgent need of these items:

• Shower rings, curtains and liners.
• New bed pillows in original plastic
• Couches, love seats, and sectionals
• Storage Bins & Laundry Baskets
• Light bulbs
• Dining tables & chairs
• Pot holders, salt and pepper shakers, and silverware trays.
• Can openers, colanders, large spoons and slotted spoons, measuring cups and spoons, vegetable peelers, and whisks.
• Bedding for children, such as twin sets with popular characters or fun colors, as part of the group’s program to provide beds for children in Wake County schools who don’t have one.

Note in the Pocket
This group provides clothing to impoverished and homeless schoolchildren in Wake County with dignity and love. Note in the Pocket believes that it is unacceptable that children are limited in their educational and social development because they do not have appropriate clothes for school.

They need:

• High quality used or new school clothes and shoes.
• Adult clothes that are appropriate for older students. Many teens wear adult sizes.
• New socks and underwear.
• Storage and organization supplies

Book Harvest
The Durham-based group provides books to children in central North Carolina and engages families and communities to promote children’s lifelong literacy and academic success.

They need new or gently used children’s books.

Diaper Bank of North Carolina
Diaper Bank of North Carolina believes every family in North Carolina will have access to basic necessities to support their dignity, health, and quality of life.
Public programs such as SNAP and WIC don’t cover the cost of diapers. This growing nonprofit distributes diapers to agencies in large parts of North Carolina to help families in need.

They need:

• Diapers in all sizes, including opened packages of diapers that your child has outgrown.
• Sanitary supplies
• Feminine hygiene products

Inter-Faith Food Shuttle
The Food Shuttle saves 6 million pounds of healthy food from being thrown away and re-routes it to these people in need. Almost 35% of what they distribute is fresh produce. They feed people through programs such as BackPack Buddies, Mobile Markets, Grocery Bags for Seniors, School Pantries, their Mobile Tastiness Machine, and by partnering with over 80 local agencies in neighborhoods throughout the service area to reach people at their point of need.

They need:

• Proteins such as beans, tuna, soup, meat pasta
• Packaged noodles such as Ramen or Easy Mac macaroni and cheese.
• Breakfast items such as cereal, oatmeal, grits
• Healthy snacks such as raisins, pretzels or granola bars.
• Canned fruits and vegetables.
• Boxes of 100% juice or milk.

Raleigh Rescue Mission
This group transforms lives of homeless men, women and children by ministering to their physical, emotional and spiritual needs.

They need:

• Men’s, Women’s + Children’s Clothing and Shoes
• Name Brands
• Furniture
• Home Appliances
• Bicycles
• Sporting Goods
• Baby Furniture and Gear
• Diapers and Incidentals
• Toys

Salvation Army
The Salvation Army operates Family Stores where they sell donated items at a greatly reduced cost. These stores help in several ways. First, each sale is used to fund life-giving programs in the very communities where the stores are found. Secondly, the stores provide an opportunity for many families to purchase the items that they need at an affordable price.

They need: All clothing for men, women, infants and children. They also accept recordings, compact discs, jewelry, shoes, purses and accessories.

The Salvation Army’s Angel Tree

In October, The Salvation Army registered over 7,200 children from Wake County to be a part of the Christmas Cheer Program where they will receive new clothing, toys, and stockings. The Angel Tree specifically focuses on fulfilling the biggest need: new clothing. Be a part of making children’s Christmas wishes come true by being involved with Angel Tree! Adopt an angel and purchase new clothes and toys for a child or for a whole family.

Touchstone Residential Services

Touchstone Residential Services (TRS) serves children 0 – 21 years old but their primary age group is between 6 and 17. There are many children in care who require a loving home. Frequently older children and adolescence in foster care are often over looked. Their Primary Goal is to provide a safe and temporary place for children to live until they can be in a permanent placement whether that may be with birth family, relatives or pre-adoptive family. If you are interested in becoming a foster parent please call 1-888-294-5201.

Want to help spread some Christmas Cheer for these children? Pick up a Christmas gift and drop it off at the Raleigh office: 10940 Raven Ridge Rd, Ste 201, Raleigh. Their greatest need is for gifts for teenage boys and girls ages 13- 18.

If You Need of Help

If you need a little extra help to get through the holidays, here are some resources:

• Wrenn House: Raleigh. Wrenn House provides a safe, legal, and responsible environment for youth who run away from home, who are homeless, or are otherwise in a crisis situation. Wrenn House is available to any youth age 10 – 17.
• Raleigh Rescue Mission: Raleigh. Transforming lives through loving care, job training & placement, transportation, financial coaching and permanent housing.
• Meet Me at the Bridge: Durham. Serving a hot meal, give clothing, shoes, blankets, sleeping bags, etc. and share Christ with those in need in a loving and respectful way.
• Durham Rescue Mission: Durham. A faith-based nonprofit organization & shelter helping the addicted & homeless men, women & children
• Urban Ministries of Durham Inc. – Durham. They connect poor and homeless neighbors to food, shelter and a future.
• Durham Rescue Mission Shelter For Women – Good Samaritan Inn; Durham. Helping hundreds of broken men, women and children of Durham, Chapel Hill and Raleigh, offering a solution to homelessness and addiction that goes beyond just meeting basic needs.
• Families Moving Forward; Durham. They help provide families with children a stable, safe and loving environment while they are in the temporary crisis of homelessness.
• Smithfield Rescue Mission: Smithfield.
• The End Zone’s Thanksgiving Celebration for the Less Fortunate: Raleigh. If you need a box of food please call 919-773-4862 and leave your name and number.
• Salvation Army Shelter for Women with Children: Raleigh.