Dear Relatives,
Many of you are probably already familiar with how The Relatives came by its name. In 1974 Dilworth United Methodist Church began serving as a shelter to many of the homeless young people their parishioners saw sleeping on benches along East Blvd and in Freedom Park. The children staying at the church preferred to tell their friends at school that they were staying with relatives.
It’s a name we take seriously as The Relatives serves as an extended family and support system for youth and young adults in crisis. If you’ve volunteered with The Relatives, then you’re an important part of our extended family.
Volunteers give kids at the Crisis Center nourishment and comfort by delivering meals. They ensure the young adults at On Ramp have daily essentials such as food and clothing. The tutors, workshop leaders, and mentors offering their time and expertise help young people make the transition to independent adult.
In short, volunteers help make it possible for The Relatives to serve youth in crisis. Thank you!
April 18th-24th is National Volunteer Appreciation Week. While The Relatives is grateful for our superstar volunteers all year long, we’re happy for the opportunity to recognize your contributions and celebrate your commitment to our community’s youth.
Thank you for being a part of The Relatives family.
Trish Hobson
Executive Director
Volunteer Spotlight
Volunteers are the lifeblood of our organization. Whether it’s an individual dropping off a hot meal, or an office team sharing their expertise over Zoom, we are so grateful for those have supported our youth!
Mary Quinn, the Director of Financial Education at Common Wealth Charlotte, has been hosting financial literacy workshops for the young adults at On Ramp since 2018. Mary is always ready to help – she makes sure everyone has access to this important material (her workshop is offered 4 times a week!), and takes the time to work one-on-one with some of our young adults who need extra guidance.
Alston & Bird have been donating to The Relatives since 2008, and volunteering since 2019. In addition to providing meals and hosting workshops, they have also worked with our young adults on learning more about how to get criminal records expunged. The attorneys at Alston & Bird have seen firsthand how a small infraction on a young adults’ record can hold them back from getting a job or housing, and they have stepped in and provided services that are normally out of budget.
Celebrating National Volunteer Week
“Seeing the pure joy when a client passes a test, learns to drive, or gets their driver’s license gives me an ‘ROI’ like nothing I ever experienced in my 40 year working career.”
– Steve Hindman, volunteer
Steve, Mary, and Alston + Bird are just a few examples of the many volunteers who keep our family running. We are so excited to highlight dedicated Relatives on our social media for National Volunteer Appreciation Week. For more inspiring stories throughout the week, please visit our Facebook page!
You Can Be A Relative to our Youth!
Our youth and young adults benefit deeply from the personal connections that develop from working with a diverse group of volunteers. As we continue to grow, we are always looking for volunteers to help make our programs a success. Here are some ways you can make a difference:
– Meals and activities for the youth crisis center
– Mentors for our young adults
– Workshop leaders
– Administrative assistance
– And more!
Contact Christina Nunez for more information on how you can get involved!
