Thompson Child and Family Focus’ has partnered with the national nonprofit Friends of the Children to form Friends of the Children Charlotte. The program provides Charlotte’s most vulnerable children with a long-term, salaried, professional mentor, who we call a Friend, for 12 ½ years – no matter what. They select children who, by age of four or five, have experienced compounding childhood adversities and trauma, including intergenerational poverty, neglect, abuse, parental substance addiction, mental health challenges, hunger and homelessness. Mentors support these children in the classroom and the community. Thompson is a leading provider of clinical and prevention services for children and families across the Carolinas. The Charlotte, NC-based, nationally accredited nonprofit agency empowers children and families through therapy, education and prevention-based care. Volunteers serve by planning and supporting special events and enrichment activities.
Junior League Involvement
The Junior League of Charlotte, Inc. (JLC) focuses on supporting after-school programming with activities aligned with Fr1ends of the Ch1ldren themes. From June 2021 to May 2022, the JLC hosted 7 volunteer sessions with the help of 80 JLC volunteers. Those volunteers contributed 155 hours of service to help more than 335 people.
This past August, the JLC assembled 60 backpacks with school supplies and festive handwritten cards to help the kids start their school year on the right foot. Pictured are some of the kids as part of the Friends of the Children program with their backpacks and hygiene activities. In October, the JLC decorated the center and put together Halloween bags with supplies for each child to make their own pumpkin. Next month, we are very excited to host a Friendsgiving for the children and their families with a full meal and a food drive.
