Summer Newsletter July 2022
2021-2022 President's Message
Meeting the Challenges in an Exceptional Year
2021-2022 was another transitional year for Assistance League of Charlotte. We persisted through the continued challenges of the pandemic to successfully operate our Thrift Shop, the primary source of our philanthropic programs’ revenue. Despite reduced hours and occupancy limits on our customers, we were able to achieve the second highest annual earnings in the shop’s 20+ year history. Our Grants and Donor Development committees were also outstanding in obtaining additional funding as our community believes in the benefit of our philanthropic programs to the children and families that we serve. 
 
In addition to our usual operations, Assistance League of Charlotte embarked on what we hope will be a transformational experience for our chapter and community. We entered into a sale agreement for our current property at 3405 S. Tryon and purchased a new property to relocate our Thrift Shop and Center to 5426 Old Pineville Rd. While the sale on the S. Tryon property will close in July, the new location will not be open until the fall, when we will enthusiastically welcome the return of all our wonderful donors and customers. In the meantime, the planning and implementation continues for the uninterrupted provision of our philanthropic program services: school clothing for children in need; mobile food pantries and weekend food backpacks for underserved families; hearings for juvenile offenders through our Mecklenburg County Teen Court program; and college scholarships. I thank our member volunteers who make all this possible because of their dedication and belief in our mission of service to the Charlotte-Mecklenburg community.

Kathleen Reardon, President 2021-2022
Operation Check Hunger Plans Future Mobile Pantries
In 2022-2023, Operation Check Hunger will sponsor and operate 14 mobile pantries at four high-need schools. These are one-night events when families drive through a school parking lot to pick up bags and boxes of canned items, fresh produce, bread, meat and eggs, assembled by members. Families typically leave with 40-50 pounds of food. Member volunteers assist at this ongoing effort to fight hunger by packing and loading food for up to 200 participating school families at each event.
The most recent mobile pantry was held at Merry Oaks Elementary School. Assistance League appreciates the grant support from Uwharrie Bank for this event. Enthusiastic employees from the bank joined our member volunteers and helped distribute food at this well-attended evening pantry.

Assistance League of Charlotte, through Operation Check Hunger, feeds at-risk school children in the Charlotte-Mecklenburg community in several ways. The purpose of the program is to relieve hunger among students as they strive to improve academically. There are four components to the program. In addition to mobile pantries, take home backpacks of food for families are distributed, snacks are given to a special needs school and new Habitat for Humanity homes are outfitted with small electrical appliances and kitchen items. Nearly 7,500 children and adults benefitted from these four initiatives in 2021-2022.
Introducing the 2022 Assistance League of Charlotte Scholarship Recipients
Assistance League of Charlotte awards college scholarships to graduating seniors attending a high school located in Mecklenburg County and to Previous Assistance League of Charlotte Scholarship recipients for their continuing education. Scholarship awards are based on community service, academic performance, and financial need. Recipients must attend one of the 17 public University of North Carolina system schools. This year, 13 college scholarships were awarded, totaling $78,100. More than $612,700 in scholarship monies has been awarded since the program’s inception in 2002.
Taylar Davis was awarded Assistance League of Charlotte’s top scholarship award. In the fall she will be attending North Carolina Agricultural & Technical State University studying psychology in the honors program. At North Mecklenburg High School, Taylar was a cheerleader and was involved in National Honor Society, National Technical Honor Society, Connection Club, Peer Mediation Club, and Progressive Women’s Club. She volunteers in her community through her clubs, and has created her own community service project by the name of “One Hand At a Time.” She values her education and loves to serve her community.
Olivia Putman, graduate of Lake Norman Charter School, will be attending NC State University with a double major in Public Policy and Drama. She aspires to work in the Executive Office of the President.

Rachel Kershner, graduate of South Mecklenburg High School will be attending NC State University to study business.

Sarah Gonzalez, graduate of Independence High School, will be attending the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in the fall studying Computer Science, with the hopes of becoming a software developer.

Logan Sterling, graduate of Providence High School, will be attending University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill majoring in Business Administration. She was a volunteer with Assistance League of Charlotte’s Mecklenburg County Teen Court Program for six years.

2022 Previous Recipient Scholarships

  • Tate Blackburn, rising junior at UNC Chapel Hill
  • Isha Hawkins, rising senior at UNC Chapel Hill
  • Nishitha Karumuri, rising senior at UNC Chapel Hill
  • Mimi Tra, rising senior at UNC Chapel Hill
  • Arsema Temesgen, rising sophomore at UNC Chapel Hill
  • Faith Moore, rising junior at UNC Greensboro
  • Jaela Agee, rising junior at UNC Greensboro
  • Paola Adams, rising senior at UNC Charlotte
Community Culinary School of Charlotte Welcomes Assistance League of Charlotte Scholarship Student

Pebbles is from Kansas City, Missouri, and she has five kids, ranging from 13 years old to 28 years old. She moved to Charlotte two years ago and currently works at the Charlotte Airport driving the shuttle. Pebbles has always been cooking—for churches, social functions, and the neighborhood. She loves making ox tails, rice, and beans. She has already obtained an LLC in NC, so after she graduates, she would like to start with a smoker, and then open her own food truck. She is ecstatic to be attending CCSC, and she is looking forward to all her new endeavors, experiences, and adventures.

In addition to CCSC scholarships for adults, Assistance League Community Scholarships support children in several ways. This initiative enables hundreds of children with limited means to enrich their lives with music lessons, art classes and group performance experiences through Arts+. It also funds activities and educational experiences including literacy, reading and math at YMCA Day Camp.
 Foundations and Grantors 2021-2022
Assistance League of Charlotte gratefully acknowledges the confidence and generosity of the foundations, corporations and grantors who provided support in 2021–2022. Thank you also to the hundreds of businesses, organizations and individuals who contributed both monetarily and in-kind for the benefit of our programs.

Amazon Smile
Blumenthal Foundation
Coca-Cola Consolidated
David R. Krug Fund
DePalo Foods
Elevation Church
Food Lion Foundation
George W. and Ruth R. Baxter Foundation
La-Z-Boy Southeast Furniture Galleries
Lyon Foundation
The Merancas Foundation
Publix Super Markets Charities
Sports Med Properties
St. Matthew Catholic Church
St. Peter Catholic Church
William D. and Nancy Barnhart Thomas Fund
Uwharrie Bank
Transforming Lives • Strengthening Community
Assistance League of Charlotte | 704-525-5228
info@charlotte.assistanceleague.org | assistanceleague.org/charlotte