The Relatives Family Update

On a cold night in November, the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD) received a call about a teenager loitering in the park after hours. I, Officer Ryan Botzenmayer, was dispatched to the park and upon my arrival I located a teenaged girl named Delilah. Deliah had run away after enduring verbal and emotional abuse in her home. With nowhere else to go, she had been sleeping in the park every night.

Thanks to CMPD’s partnership with The Relatives, I was able to take Deliah to the Youth Crisis Center. Deliah had a safe place to stay while she and her family were provided with counseling services and connected with The Relatives Runaway Prevention Specialist. The Runaway Prevention Specialists at The Relatives work with CMPD Missing Person Detectives and young people, like Deliah, to offer safe alternatives to being on the streets.

While November is National Runaway Prevention Month, please take this time to remember CMPD officers encounter young people in crisis, like Deliah, often. There are thousands of young people experiencing some form of homelessness in our community which is why I am grateful for our partnership with The Relatives.

I am also grateful you have chosen to be a Relative to the most vulnerable members of our community.

Thank you for being a Relative!

The Relatives Board Member

Light The Darkness Surrounding Youth In Crisis

You have a special opportunity to be a Beacon of Hope for the most vulnerable members of our community this holiday season.Join us in lighting the darkness this holiday season by clicking below. There are so many ways you, your family, and your friends can be a Relative this holiday season.

Holidays at The Relatives

Trish’s Corner

Love and food are best when shared, which is why Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday. There’s something special about sharing a meal with friends and family. For the young people at The Relatives, meals provide more than just nourishment. They help provide comfort during a difficult time.

As we enter the holiday season, you can share the love and help provide comfort to our youth. Sign-up to serve a meal or participate in our Average Chef volunteer activity.

Did You Know?

A donation of stock allows you to generously support The Relatives in a tax-efficient way.

To donate stock, simply tell your broker how many shares you would like to donate and give them the information below:

Note with Gift: For The Relatives

Have questions? Contact Director of Philanthropy, Caitlin Donley at cdonley@therelatives.org or click here to tell us more about your stock gift.

For a list of additional non-cash giving options, such as Donor Advised Funds and Qualified Charitable Distributions, please visit our website.

Forming Family Over Breakfast

Our 2024 Breakfast With The Relatives event helped form family for the most vulnerable members of our community. Thank you to the new family members and old friends who joined us at Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church for this special event. Breakfast With The Relatives’ success would not have been possible without the generous support of our wonderful sponsors:

• QuikTrip