Lift Up Carolinas

Check hunger was established in 1992 and is designed to alleviate children's hunger by distributing food in these ways: (1) providing weekly take home backpacks to children at risk in charlotte mecklenburg schools - each backpack contains full-size portions of protein, vegetables, fruit and calcium products to supplement the student's and his/her family's weekend meals; (2) sponsoring and operating 16 mobile pantries at 4 high-need schools; (3) supplying metro school, a special needs school of 250 students, snacks for all students and jars of applesauce to assist with administration of medication; (4) providing small electrical appliances and other kitchen items, including food staples, to 30 families moving into permanent housing through habitat for humanity. In 2024-2025, 420 elementary school children were provided with weekend packpacks. Total backpacks provided for the school year were 16,000. Check hunger funded and staffed 16 mobile pantries at 4 schools, serving 2,642 family units. Protein donations to second harvest food bank and loaves and fishes through outside sources provided more than 34,700 pounds of protein-rich food to supplement dies of families in need.

Mecklenburg county teen court is an alternative justice system for youthful offenders aged 12 through 17 years old. It is designed to provide juveniles a second chance when they accept responsibility for their actions and agree to participate in the lift up carolinas program. Offender referrals come from school resource officers, department of juvenile justice, and local law enforcement agencies, with successful program completion allowing the juvenile to avoid a permanent criminal record. Volunteer teens are recruited and trained in the legal process, serving as jurors, clerks,bailiffs, jury foremen and attorneys for the hearings. This juvenile- based justice system places strong emphasis on accountability, positive peer influence, and youth empowerment to effect change. This program assisted 170 youth offenders and 160 volunteer teens to provide 3,779 hours of community service in fiscal year 2024-2025, with adult volunteers providing 3,779 service hours. The recidivism rate consistently remains below five percent. Scholarships with a total value of 18,000 were awarded to 4 outstanding mctc volunteers.

Other program services include: (1) the assistance league scholarship fund which awarded the following in 2024-2025: (a) more than 26 college scholarships to charlotte-mecklenburg graduating seniors and previous scholarship recipients, (b) 312 children received scholarships to attend summer camp, after-school programs and private lessons focused on music, art and literacy, (c) two adults received scholarships to attend community culinary school of charlotte, and (d) funds provided for materials at 20 alp tutoring sites/schools including 100 bags of books - and (2) outreach programs which provided goods for short-term needs to the community via collaboration with other 501(c)(3) agencies.