The Relatives Family Update
Please ensure you scroll down to read all of the recent stories in this newsletter.
Today may be St. Patrick’s Day, but there’s another cause for celebration at The Relatives. And instead of wearing the traditional green, we’re sporting yellow.
The Relatives is participating in an annual, national celebration of Safe Place starting today. National Safe Place Week recognizes the community locations creating a crucial safety net for our youth and reflects on the countless young people served by this life-saving program.
Since 1988, The Relatives has managed Mecklenburg County’s Safe Place program and, in doing so, has extended the doors of our Youth Crisis Center to every corner of our community. You may recognize the yellow Safe Place sign from QuikTrips, Bojangles, and CATs buses. Local businesses of all shapes and sizes, along with CMS schools, churches, and libraries make up the over 1,000 community locations serving as designated Safe Places for youth and adolescents.
The yellow Safe Place sign is a beacon of hope for youth in crisis and provides the most vulnerable members of our community with immediate access to safety, shelter, and stability.
In honor of The Relatives’ 50th Anniversary, we are launching a Safe Place Week campaign designed to share stories, raise awareness, and invite our community to support this important initiative. Every day next week, you will receive an email from The Relatives featuring a different Safe Place story.
I am looking forward to celebrating Safe Place Week with you. Check out the yellow lights illuminating the Uptown Charlotte skyline on Tuesday, March 19th and see below for additional ways you can participate.
Thanks for being a Relative and for sharing our vision of a community where all young people are safe.
Trish Hobson
Executive Director
Here are three important ways you can let our community’s youth know help is available and no crisis need ever be faced alone during National Safe Place Week:
Safe Places In Unexpected Spaces
For Dr. Masako Mori, the word ‘Aloha’ is more than a greeting, it’s an extension of warmth and caring. This welcoming spirit of affection is the driving force behind Aloha Veterinary Hospital, a designated Safe Place partner location.
Dr. Mori realized a life-long dream when she opened Aloha Veterinary Hospital in June of 2020. A family-owned, community-focused veterinary hospital, Aloha was built to be different.
The building itself resembles a home, there’s a community lending library outside, and they see a wide variety of patients; everything from dogs and pigs to exotic pets!
Like many community members, Dr. Mori learned about the Safe Place program by noticing the yellow sign at a local QuikTrip. After going online and learning about Safe Place and The Relatives, Dr. Mori wanted Aloha Veterinary Hospital to offer youth in crisis immediate access to safety, shelter, and stability.
“Everyone at Aloha works to create a caring, helpful environment,” says Dr. Mori. “Almost everyone on our staff has kids and we spend everyday caring for those who don’t have a voice. So, being a Safe Place and benefitting our community’s youth was a natural fit.”
Learn how your business/organization can become a Safe Place, by clicking here.
Spring Break Needs at The Relatives
Spring Break is right around the corner for students enrolled in Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, including the children staying at The Relatives Youth Crisis Center.
The Relatives has a need for Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner the week of April 1st. Homemade, store-bought, or Uber Eats – you can make a tremendous difference by providing a meal for our youth! Please click here to register as a volunteer, provide a meal for our youth, and browse our real-time volunteer needs.
ICYMI: The Relatives among area nonprofits supported by QuikTrip’s $4.5M in grants
Last month, QuikTrip announced $4.5 million in grants awarded to local nonprofit organizations, including The Relatives, who are working to “help combat homelessness and make communities across the Charlotte metropolitan area safe, stronger, and more stable.”
In addition to their corporate philanthropy, QuikTrip is a foundational Safe Place partner in the Charlotte-Mecklenburg community providing a critical safety net for youth in crisis.
#WalkAMileForRobert with The Charlotte Knights
Celebrate National Safe Place Week with The Relatives and the Charlotte Knights by joining us on Thursday March 21st at 10:30 a.m. at Truist Field (324 S Mint St.) for Robert’s Walk.
Truist Field is the first arena in the country to become a designated Safe Place partner location. Every year, the Charlotte Knights join The Relatives in honoring Robert’s courage and reflecting on the help he received through Safe Place.
Keep an eye on your inbox throughout the week to hear Robert’s story and learn more about how Safe Place provides youth in crisis with immediate access to safety, shelter, and stability.
Join Us For a Family Meal!
The Relatives is hosting it’s first-ever Family Meal on Tuesday March 26th from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
You are invited to join the young people at The Relatives On-Ramp Resource Center (2219 Freedom Dr.) for a meal provided by Chef Sam Hart of Counter-.
The Family Meal is an opportunity for you to:
• Connect with other community members who support The Relatives
• Hear inspiring stories from The Relatives
• Enjoy a meal with the young people served by The Relatives
This event has limited capacity, so RSVP today to reserve your space!
Sponsorship Opportunities with The Relatives
The Relatives is grateful to the 16 corporate partners who have signed on as Breakfast with The Relatives 2024 sponsors.
Their generous support helps make The Relatives’ work possible.
If your company is interested in joining these organizations and being a part of this impactful event, then click here to view available sponsorship opportunities.
Questions? Please contact Director of Philanthropy, Caitlin Donley, or Major Gifts Officer, Casey Field.
