This year was a great year for giving back to the community by our Chapter. Our Chapter performed three service project’s during the year including one at the Center of Hope Home & family shelter at the Salvation Army. The Center of Hope is the first stop in the process of requesting assistance. The room we donated our services to is used for completing necessary paperwork and getting information on the various services available from the Salvation Army. The Center’s intake room was in desperate need of new furniture and freshening up. We spent the first day washing walls and floors and hanging newly purchased inspirational pictures as well as a new bulletin board. The following day a new children’s table and chairs, as well as, a new conference table were brought in to add color and an updated style to the room. Finally, a new bookshelf, toys and books were added for the final touch. Stacey Bergeron, Director of the Operations at the Center of Hope, as well as many other staff members stopped by the room to express their gratitude and appreciation for our efforts.
Our second project was the Thompson’s Child Develpment Center. This is a new center that was built in 2009. The center serves 150 infants, toddlers and preschoolers. A majority of the children served here have high-risk factors challenging their social, emotional and academic development. Thompson’s asked for our assistance this year in providing a space that would be peaceful and comfortable for the teachers. The teacher’s needed a space that they could eat lunch, relax and watch television. Our group provided them with a variety of new furniture and accessories including; a sofa, side tables and lamps and decorative accessories including custom made drapes for their windows. These teachers work very hard everyday improving and creating a loving, nurturing environment for these children, it was very fulfilling giving them a space to call their own.
Our chapter also participated in the Charlotte Regional Realtor Association Realtors Care day donating time and food for the event. Finally, at our year end meeting our Chapter had a vendor fair and a food drive which collected over 100 pounds of food and paper products for the Angel’s and Sparrow’s soup kitchen located in Huntersville, NC. Angel’s and Sparrows provides food to individuals and families in the Northern Charlotte Region.
The food drive capped the chapter members’ community service projects for 2010. We look forward to another very successful year of giving back to the community with all of our talents and resources.