Charities
Maybe it's our ties to the military.
Maybe it's just that folks in Fayetteville have a heart for helping others.
Whatever it is, ever since the Great Fire of 1831 burned most of the city down, Fayetteville has had a strong streak of helping others.
Most newcomers to the Cape Fear region are used to contributing money to worthy causes. Around here, we tend to take it a little more personally.
From medical professionals who offer their time for the CARE Clinic to retirees who find new opportunities in the Retired Seniors Volunteer Program to teens who mentor in the Find-A-Friend program, time is as valuable as money.
According to Volunteering in America, nearly half the people who volunteer do so through religious groups. In North Carolina, between 25 and 30 percent of all people volunteer for charitable causes, accounting for nearly 250 million hours in 2007.
The opportunities to volunteer in Fayetteville span all ages and abilities, from a few hours a week to full-time opportunities. If you aren't sure where to begin, here are some established community groups that can help get you started:
Arts Council of Fayetteville/Cumberland County: 323-1776 or www.theartscouncil.com
The ARC of Cumberland County: 867-2141 or www.thearcofcumberland.com
The Care Clinic: 485-0555 or www.thecareclinic.org
Cumberland Community Action Program: 485-6131 or www.ccap-inc.org
Cumberland County Coordinating Council on Older Adults: 484-0111
Cumberland Interfaith Hospitality Network: 426-0856 or members.aol.com/cihndg
Fayetteville Animal Protection Society: 864-9040 or 864-2077
Fayetteville Area Habitat for Humanity: 483-0952
Operation Inasmuch: 433-2161 or www.faoiam.org
Retired Seniors Volunteer Program (RSVP): 433-1136
Seniors Call to Action Team: 486-5580
The Salvation Army: 483-8119
Second Harvest Food Bank: 485-8809
United Way of Cumberland County: 483-1179 or www.unitedway-cc.org