Jo Ann Car ter Harrelson Center
Community
E-NEWS
Sept. 2026
Coastal BUDS Founded in 2016 by a group of mothers of children with Down syndrome, Coastal BUDS serves individuals with Down syndrome of all ages and their families throughout the Cape Fear region. Their mission is to support, connect & provide resources for people with Down syndrome and their families in SENC, offering family support, awareness & outreach, and social & recreational opportunities. Among the programs Coastal BUDS provides are iCan Swim, iCan Dance, iCan Bike, Down to Move, Down to Cook, and other informal gatherings that bring individuals with Down syndrome and their families together throughout the year. Cape Fear Buddy Walk® helps sustain Coastal BUDS’s programs throughout the year.
Buddy Walk® promotes the value, acceptance & inclusion of people with Down syndrome. It is a day of celebration as the community gathers to raise awareness & funds supporting people with Down syndrome both locally & nationally. Registration & Sponsor Signup
Vendor Registration
Sponsor by Sept. 12 to be on the t-shirt
presented by
Last chance! Play with purpose!
Sept. 14 Magnolia Greens
10th Annual
18 Holes to support 42 Nonprofits! We’re ready for a day on the links! This captain’s choice golf tournament has been a well-loved day to gather for a round of golf supporting our nonprofit partners for a decade. As we gear up for Monday, September 14, we have carts for just 16 more golfers. Take a chance on our Teeing Off Raffle! Buy raffle tickets! $5 each or 5 for $20
Monday, Sept. 14 8:30 Registration 10:00 Shotgun Start
Last Chance! Register Now
Sneak Peek at the Raffle Lineup: 1mo at Wilmington Yoga Center 2-nights at Topsail Family Fun Bundle Round of golf at Muni Date Night Package Island Greens 1mo pass
Presented by
Shawn & Katie Evans
Claude & Odette Arnold
Gina & Herb McKim
Golf not your thing?
We’re sure breakfast or lunch is!
📅Breakfast Thursday, Nov. 19 | FBC Activity Center Program 8:00-9:00 Lunch Program 12:00-1:00
Celebrate the 42 humanitarian organizations powered by the Harrelson Center! Join us for food, fellowship, and collective community impact.
Nov. 19
📲 onDetails & Registration coming soon our website’s Events page.
9/11: National Day of Service & Remembrance On September 11, Americans across the country will honor the lives lost and heroes who emerged from one of our nation's darkest days by participating in the National Day of Service and Remembrance. We invite ILM residents to transform remembrance into action by volunteering, or signing up to volunteer, through the newly launched ILM Volunteer Hub. Launched in July, the ILM Volunteer Hub is a free online platform connecting residents with meaningful, local volunteer opportunities. Volunteer Leadership Lab & Harrelson Center teamed up to provide community a single platform to discover opportunities that match their interests, skills, availability, or neighborhood. Whether looking for a one-time service project, family volunteer opportunity, corporate team activity, or an ongoing commitment, the platform makes it easy to get connected.
How does this work? 1.Click to sign up 2.Create your account 3.Become a fan 4.Volunteer! Volunteer Leadership Lab will be in the HC Welcome Center from 11am-3pm on tour days for ILM Volunteer Hub Q&A.
Campus Tours 1st Tu. & 3rd Th. 12-1:00pm Meet in Welcome Center
September 1 & 17 October 6 & 15
9/22: Voter Registration Event League of Women Voters (of Lower Cape Fear) is joining us for a Voter Registration Event! Tuesday. Sept. 22 10:00-12noon First Floor Outside Help Hub
Help Hub We welcomed 910 local residents in the second quarter of 2026! Nearly 50% were new visitors. Read the full quarter report here.
HC’s Housing Navigation works to keep residents housed and has kept 90% of our clients housed in the first year of the case management program.
Help Hub is an accessible, trusted place to address the basic needs of our community members, through financial assistance, healthcare navigation, and housing navigation.
County profiles are published annually by the NC Housing Coalition. These profiles include pertinent data about housing costs, eviction rates, and wages needed to afford housing in each county
Volunteers greet, advise, or enter data for about 25 visitors per morning, during our walk-in hours.
NHC housing trends are troubling and the overwhelming need is beyond our capacity; however, we had positive outcomes for 70 households in our first year.
We need more volunteers to join the rotation!
How do I get involved? 1. Sign up on ILM Volunteer Hub 2. Tour the Harrelson Center 3. Schedule to Shadow in Help Hub 4. Attend Volunteer Training 5. Sign up to Volunteer! 11:00-12:00 | Volunteer Training 12:00-12:30 | Lunch
Your donations go directly to provide emergency financial assistance to families in crisis.
12:30-1:00 | Short Advisory Council Meeting
Healthcare Navigation 348 people have received guidance with health related questions by our Healthcare Navigator since January 1. Who is visiting our Healthcare Navigator? 34% Medicaid Beneficiaries 22% Uninsured 21% Complex Medicaid Beneficiaries 12% Privately Insured 11% Medicare Beneficiaries
Open to everyone!
The Undercurrent:
Commentary from and about the nonprofit sector
Homelessness Prevention Matters Many of our Help Hub clients were just one unforeseen circumstance away from losing their housing. -Nikki McLaurin, HC Housing Navigator The Harrelson Center’s Housing Navigation program completed year one with a 95% success rate, helping 69 of 73 participating households avoid eviction or foreclosure, remain in their homes, or secure more affordable housing. Housing Navigation is a homelessness prevention initiative providing personalized, 90-day case management to local residents at risk of losing their housing.
Housing Security by the numbers: Housing Stabilization
16 Eviction Prevented 19 Remained in Rental
The program was developed in response to data from our Help Hub, which provides short-term emergency financial assistance to help neighbors address urgent expenses and avoid utility disconnection or eviction. First-year results underscore the impact that targeted homelessness prevention can have in a community facing a growing housing crisis.
2 Foreclosures Prevented
Housing Identification
Evicted
Housing Navigation allows us to go beyond addressing the immediate crisis, working to identify resources, develop a plan, maintain weekly check-ins & personalized guidance. While the number of households served may appear modest, the program is currently operated by one full-time housing navigator, and demand significantly exceeds the program’s capacity. The need for prevention services is particularly urgent as eviction rates continue to rise. In 2025, NHC ranked 36th among NC’s 100 counties for the number of evictions. In 2026, its ranking rose to 21st, further highlighting the growing need for homelessness prevention services & sustainable funding.
Want to learn more about our Housing Navigation program?
Read (or listen) on The Undercurrent.
1 Remained in O…
4
27 Found More Affordable Rental
Discharged
4
Housing Navigation Program Eligibility: NH, Brunswick, or Pender County resident for at least 1 year Stable income Currently housed Non-HOP participant Referrals are made through Help Hub
Stronger organizations. Healthier leaders. Better Outcomes.
It may not be polite to discuss salaries, but where is all that etiquette getting us? The Harrelson Center has purchased Candid’s 2026 Nonprofit Compensation Report with 2024 IRS data, and we are ready to discuss it with you. It was apparent that a local salary survey of the nonprofit sector is past due. Candid’s report shared valuable data from Raleigh & Charlotte areas as compared to other metro areas throughout the US. Such data could inform you & your board, grant requests, budgets & donor/funder relationships. Let’s talk about what conducting our own anonymous survey would look like. Mark your calendars: Thurs. Oct. 22, 4:00-5:00 followed by walk to Ponysaurus. We will send more info to our NMB listserv; to be added, email communications@harrelsoncenter.org.
No more is the (mis)understanding acceptable: that if you work for a nonprofit, you work for passion, not for pay. The work is too important.
September 28 2:00-4:00pm Plaza on Princess
What’s happening at Galas for up to 300, intimate team trainings, or major corporate community events like GE Hitachi’s Girls in Tech Summit, Plaza on Princess accommodates it all. Our flexible space scales to empower your unique mission. Plaza on Princess (PoP) is set for a busy month, hosting everything from cultural gatherings to vital community gatherings:
Visit our website to learn more & to request your reservation
Community & Celebrations: Education & Support: Sept. 10 - Catholic Charities Rise & Dine Breakfast Sept. 2 - NHCRTF Community Resiliency Model Training Sept. 12 - India Day Sept. 23 - Dollars & Sense Lunch & Learn Sept. 16 - Wilma event Sept. 28 - QPR Training, Help Hub Training Sept. 19 - UNCW Wings Up Wilmington Weekly Wellness: Sept. 20 - NICU Family Collective Every Tuesday - Yoga village offers trauma-informed Sept. 25 - OPT One Gala yoga, open to everyone
Disaster Coalition Command Center New Hanover Disaster Coalition (NHDC) has brought together city & county government, nonprofits & faith communities to strengthen disaster response. Informed by lessons from Hurricanes Florence & Helene, the group identified gaps & developed new ways to quickly connect resources with neighborhoods, businesses, families & individuals after a disaster. The result is the Disaster Coalition Command Center, believed to be the first emergency operations center of its kind in NC built through a nonprofit and faith-based partnership. Located at the Harrelson Center’s Plaza on Princess, the Command Center will have a dedicated seat in New Hanover County’s Emergency Operations Center, creating a direct link to emergency management officials and a channel for communicating urgent community needs. The Coalition will then coordinate onthe-ground response among nonprofits, faith communities & volunteers, connecting needs with resources.
Harrelson Center Executive Director Meade Van Pelt said, “When disaster strikes, government knows what is happening from an emergency-management perspective, while nonprofits and faith communities are often closest to the people experiencing the immediate impact. This Command Center creates a mechanism to connect those two realities in real time.” If you would like to be involved with NHDC, the next monthly meeting is Tuesday, September 15 at 1:00 at SEAHEC on Delaney Ave.
Voter Registration Event at HC
Help Hub Training
partner news Community Justice Center
Community Care LCF Our Director of Community Programs, Sarah Ridout, recently sat for an interview with WHQR about renewed funding for the Healthy Opportunities Pilot (HOP) & the development of CCLCF’s Care Hub.
NH & Brunswick Counties are 2 of 10 NC counties in Safe Babies Court (SBC), a pilot program that connects babies, toddlers & their families involved in the child welfare system with intensive support & services designed to promote healthy child development while working to ensure a safe & timely exit from foster care. Celebrating year 2! Thank you to Judges Corpening & Hankins’ courtrooms, DHHS & nonprofits!
Family Promise of LCF
The renewed state funding will help connect members with essential resources such as food, transportation, housing & other supports. With ongoing support, CCLCF and our community partners are building a stronger, sustainable system of care for the region. Read WHQR’s coverage to learn more about HOP’s renewed funding & CCLCF’s Care Hub.
Family Support Network Save the date for a morning of fellowship, inspiration & gratitude as we celebrate 30 years of Family Promise!
Home Sweet Hope is a fundraising breakfast built around a simple idea: Helping a family through a housing crisis is about more than meeting an immediate need. It's about creating the stability that lasts long after that moment has passed. Hear stories from families & community members about what stability can do over time & what it takes to make it possible for more families. That need is especially urgent today, with over 100 families currently waiting for support. Join us to help more families move beyond a moment of crisis while building a community. Interested in sponsoring? Contact Elizabeth: development@familypromiselcf.org
Online @6pm
Sept. 2
Sept. 16
Email to join: Register.fsn@gmail.com
Parent Mentor Orientation Sept. 29 Become a parent mentor at this hybrid session where participants complete some of the work ahead of time, followed by a virtual meeting on the 29th.
Feast Down East
BUY YOUR CSA BOX Get your locally grown food at our Mobile Market! View Mobile Market schedule
Foster Pantry
GHA Autism Supports
Tuesdays with Voices Together bring the joy! Voices Together is a unique musical therapy model that empowers individuals to find their voice & create their own path in life.
LINC
We are collecting men's interview & professional attire to support young men preparing for job interviews & entering the workforce. Donation bin is in HC’s Welcome Center!
New board members! from top left: Dorian Cromartie Lynn Fulton Miriam Thompson Cindy Pershia
Legal Aid of NC (LANC)
Operation Pretty Things
www.legalaidnc.org/events Legal Aid of NC regularly offers free webinars on various topics. Other upcoming opportunities: 9/8 at 2:30pm - Child Custody 9/15 at 2:30pm - Tenant Rights 9/17 at 2:30pm - Simple Divorce 9/24 at 2:30pm - SNAP 101 9/25 at 12:00pm - Medicaid Rights & Eligibility 10/1 at 2:30pm - Social Security Disability 10/6 at 2:30 - Criminal Record Expungement Moving into our new space at the HC in October!
Philippians 3 Ministries
Our spectacular annual black tie gala is sponsored by Woodmen Life Insurance, White Birch Rentals & Perry’s Emporium. Enjoy a cocktail hour, dinner, silent and live auctions, music and dancing, and special presentations! Together we will celebrate all that has been accomplished so far, and share how we can continue to actively pursue the fight against abuse. Get Tickets Today!
The Kairos Center Help us restock inventory - call 910.399.2343 to make appointment for deliveries. Men: Women: Steel toe boots Slip resistant shoes Pants: <34" Pants: up to size 12 Suits: size 62+ Suit bags Accessories: Watch batteries Men’s watches Large reusable bags Cuff links
Soaring As Eagles
Pre-K Jumpstart provided six weeks of hands-on, play-based learning focused on kindergarten readiness, early literacy and math, socialemotional development, and building confidence and independence. Families were also engaged through Family Ready workshops and community partnerships, with the summer concluding in a joyful graduation celebration recognizing our students’ growth and accomplishments.
A Bike for Every Child
The Salvation Army
We are thrilled to announce that 29 single adults & 10 families have now successfully transitioned from the Center of Hope into permanent housing since January 2026! We aim to provide resources for each resident, including a holistic Life Skills program, intensive case management & targeted workforce development partnerships that allow each resident the opportunity to break the cycle of homelessness.
Bike donations can be dropped at the HC in the lower parking deck, M-F 8:30-3:00.
We are excited to continue our growing partnership with the NHCS for each school-aged child within our shelter in the form of weekly youth tutoring, provided school materials, and access to curriculum books if needed. Our Food Pantry is open on the 2nd floor of HC Tuesdays & Thursdays 9-11:30. Financial Assistance is at 223 S. 3rd St., Tuesday-Thursday, 1:00-3:00pm.
Christmas applications will be open at buildhope.news from October 1 - 31.
Cape Fear Latinos
Catholic Charities
Plaza on Princess
Help make an impact. Filling empty cupboards. Cleaning dirty clothes. Rebuilding a home after disaster. These are vital steps Catholic Charities takes to serve our neighbors in need. Join us for the Rise & Dine fundraising breakfast to support & celebrate the CF Region as we provide help & create hope in our communities. Get ready for a day of culture, music, dance, food & community! Come celebrate with us as we bring together the vibrant traditions of Latin America! Vendor Registration | Nonprofit Registration Food Vendor Registration | Parade Registration
Cape Fear Housing Coalition
Not a member? Join now! View flyer or learn more on our website!
associate partner news Cape Fear Collective
Cape Fear HealthNet
State of Nonprofits is now in the analysis & data pairing stage. 7 repeated themes came up by the nonprofit sector. Nonprofits are: 1.Forced to React - Living grant to grant makes it hard to keep staff & to plan. 2.Caught in the Middle - Nonprofits are taking on work that government used to do without the funding to pay for it. 3.Stuck in Crisis Mode - The strain shows up as burnout, staff turnover & more demand than they can meet. 4.Hard to Coordinate - The sector needs shared tools & systems to work together well. 5.Asked to Prove Impact - Funders want to see the impact of their grants, but do not always fund the groups to track & measure it. 6.A Sector That Wants to Be Counted - The sector wants its value to the economy & the community to be seen & counted. 7.Funders Want Better Tools, Too - Funders want tools that show where steady, long-term funding would do the most good. Follow the Project
Thank you to CFHC for spotlighting the work we do to connect the uninsured in our community to healthcare, which includes housing.
Caridad
Church World Service
Child Development Center
How we feel about school starting! Communities in Schools
Financial Protection Law Center We’ve started 2027 property tax relief outreach!
CDC Wilmington builds the independence of exceptional children through high quality early education and therapeutic services.
Eden Village
REV is officially open, and we are working on moving the first client in soon! All referrals will be coming from Novant Hospital. REV is a free 30 day stay for men who need to be discharged from the hospital but cannot return to homelessness. We are partnering with Novant and the Salvation Army to see this through. Visit our website or email Sonny to volunteer.
Three Tax saving programs for Permanent Residences: 1.Disabled Veteran Exclusion 2.Elderly or Disabled Exclusion 3.Circuit Breaker Tax Deferment If you know of an individual who would benefit from this program, please share this PDF with more info. If you know of an organization that may be interested in hostign a presentation, contact Michael. Our focus is helping homeowners stay in their homes.
CF Guardian Ad Litem Assoc.
Habitat for Humanity
IndependentWorks We a safe, supportive community that promotes interdependent living for adults with Autism & other developmental and intellectual disabilities. Regular game nights, movie nights, parent connection groups, a gardening program & special events like our upcoming morning at The 13th Hole allow opportunities to build intentional community.
Sept. 19th at 9am
Immigrant Allies Forum
NAMI Wilmington
Register here
Follow IAF on Facebook or sign up for our Newsletter for more details.
Family support groups, Peer Run support groups, Senior Mental Health Talks and more are hosted regularly. See dates and times at namiwilmington.org/calendar.
Rescue Mission of CF Join us for an evening of music, dinner, dancing & fellowship featuring a 1940s themed menu & mocktails, live music by Retrospective, dance music by Danamare Productions, and special dance performances by Patricia Carver Garcia, Azalea Coast Social Dance, and Social Dancers of the Carolinas. All proceeds support the Rescue Mission of Cape Fear as we continue to provide hope to the hurting in our community. Order Tickets Free Veterinary Care for Pets of those experiencing homelessness Saturday, Sept. 5, 7:00-10:30 (Check in by 9:30) Rescue Mission, 502 Castle St. In partnership with the Street Dog Coalition & collaboration with Capeside Animal Hospital, Paws Pantry & Vigilant Hope, we will host a free pop-up veterinary clinic for pets of people experiencing homelessness. First come, first serve; limited to 2 pets per family. Dogs must be on a leash and cats in a carrier. Email: wilmington@thestreetdogcoalition.org
Smart Start of NHC
Bring the kids (ages 0–8) for a FREE day of fun! Families will enjoy hands-on activities, live entertainment by the Broccoli Brothers Circus, raffle prizes, and more! Discover local resources and enjoy quality time together in a festive, family-friendly setting. Questions about participating or sponsoring? Email Jennifer or call her at 910.815.3731 x1028.
StepUp Wilmington
United Way CF Area
Yoga Village
Since the Community Chest was established in the 1940s, our organization has been supported by the kindness & generosity of those who would give the time, talent & treasure. Event Highlights: Raffle baskets with goods from small businesses. Guest speakers & video highlighting our partners. Dinner included with each ticket. Enjoy a complimentary drink with your ticket. Register here or on HC’s Events page
It’s Fall Battleship Yoga season! Experience an unforgettable all-levels yoga practice on the deck of the USS North Carolina. This unique outdoor class, led by experienced yoga teachers from studios across ILM, offers a serene yet powerful way to connect with your practice in a one-of-a-kind setting. Mark your calendars & get tickets!
Tu. 9/22 Tu. 10/6
Th. 10/15 Wed. 10/21
Wed. 10/28
YMCA of SENC Anthony’s Way Our 4th Annual Ride for Kindness is Oct. 24! Come out for a day of: Dice Rolling Raffles Prizes Fun for all ages Celebration of Kindness!
A Safe Place All vehicles are welcome! Whether you’re riding a motorcycle, driving a car, or bringing your favorite ride — everyone is invited to join us. No matter what you’re driving, come be part of the fun and help us spread kindness. Thank you so much to Parker from T234 for volunteering his time for an Eagle Scout Project at the farm! Parker built beautiful benches, laid pine straw & installed bluebird houses to create a peaceful space on the property where our members can relax, unwind, and enjoy nature.
resiliency
TIME FOR A
Notice how you feel when thinking about your answers
pause
Who or what
Who or what
upliftsyou?
gives you strength? Who or what
Sept.14
Nov. 19
Apr. 22
helps you get through hard times?
Join us at Magnolia Greens for golf and a ladies’ division— supporting 40+ HC nonprofits!
Thankful Hearts Day is a day of celebration & gratitude, welcoming in the spirit of the season.
A day of outdoor activities, food & live music on 850 acres, 20 minutes from downtown ILM.
The Harrelson Center advances, connects & empowers an integrated humanitarian nonprofit community.