OUR IMPACT
HOMELESS OUTREACH EFFORTS
Homeless Outreach Program: Making a Lasting Impact
At HUG CLT, our Homeless Outreach Support program works in partnership with Hearts for The Invisible, Mecklenburg County Street Outreach, and other service organizations to provide essential resources and support. Our HUG Offices serve as a community resource hub, ensuring that individuals experiencing homelessness have access to the items they need most.
Our Impact in 2024:
❤️ $24,000+ in in-kind donations distributed
🥪 2,300+ snack packs provided
🧦 300+ pairs of socks distributed
🛏️ 150+ sleeping bags & blankets supplied
👕 400+ shirts & sweatshirts given
💧 1,100+ bottles of water & juice distributed
🧥 110+ warm jackets provided
🐾 2,200 lbs. of dog food supplied to pet owners experiencing homelessness
Our collaborative approach ensures that resources are distributed effectively, reducing duplication of services while maximizing impact for those who need it most.
FREE FOOD PANTRY
Free Food Pantry: Fighting Food Insecurity
Food insecurity remains one of the fastest-growing challenges in our community. At HUG CLT, we are committed to ensuring that families and individuals in need have reliable access to nutritious food.
Since January 2021, we have operated a low-barrier, COVID-safe, drive-through Free Food Pantry—providing families with a full week’s worth of groceries every Wednesday night.
Our Impact:
🥫 29,000+ full bags of groceries, diapers, & hygiene products distributed since launch
🥕 13,000+ bags of free groceries provided in 2024 alone
🍎 Over 105,000 lbs. of food distributed in 2024 to families in need
Through this initiative, we continue to serve struggling households across Mecklenburg County, ensuring that no one in our community goes hungry.
If you or someone you know needs assistance—or if you’d like to support our efforts—learn more here!
holiday giving
Holiday Giving: Spreading Joy & Support
At HUG CLT, we believe that every family deserves to experience the joy of the holiday season, no matter their circumstances. Through our Holiday Giving Program, we provide essential resources, meals, and gifts to families facing economic hardship—ensuring that no one is left behind during this special time of year.
Our Impact:
Christmas 2020: In the wake of COVID-19’s economic challenges, we hosted a Christmas giveaway event, distributing groceries and toys to 600+ families in a single unforgettable night.
Thanksgiving 2024: In partnership with the LaMelo Ball Foundation, our HUG Food Pantry assembled and distributed full Thanksgiving feasts for 510+ families (4+ members each). Each meal package included:
- 1 large turkey or ham
- Stuffing, gravy, mashed potatoes, & mac & cheese
- Assorted canned vegetables & cranberry sauce
- Dinner rolls & a family-sized pie
To date, our Free Food Pantry program has provided over 3,100+ COMPLETE HOLIDAY MEALS to families and individuals in need throughout Thanksgiving and Christmas of 2024.
To us at HUG, the holidays are about more than just giving—they’re about bringing people together and ensuring every family feels seen, supported, and celebrated!
EMERGING NEEDS
Emerging Needs Initiative: Rapid Response & Relief
When disaster strikes, Hearts United for Good takes immediate action. In the wake of Hurricane Helene's devastation in Western NC, we swiftly mobilized to bring together local nonprofits, volunteers, and businesses to support those hit the hardest—especially those receiving the least assistance.
Through a partnership with a local moving company, our volunteers made multiple trips to deliver over 10,000 lbs. of critical supplies, including:
👢 New work boots
🔥 Propane & heaters
🧹 Cleanup supplies
...and much more!
How to Stay Involved
📌 Click for a full list of the supplies we provided.
📲 Follow us on social media to stay updated on our continued relief efforts in Western NC as communities work to rebuild.
At HUG CLT, we remain committed to responding swiftly and effectively—because in times of crisis, every act of support matters.
EDUCATION & DEVELOPMENT
Education & Development: Empowering the Next Generation
At HUG CLT, we believe every child deserves the opportunity to shine—regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, race, or ability. Through our Education & Development Program, we provide vital support to students and educators in underserved communities, ensuring access to resources, mentorship, and enrichment opportunities
.
Our Impact & Initiatives
📚 Delivering ethnically & culturally relevant books to local schools
💰 Financial literacy programs to equip students with real-world money management skills
🍎 Providing snacks & home-cooked meals to students in need
📝 Test proctoring & academic support
🎉 Teacher appreciation events to uplift & support educators
We currently work with multiple elementary and high schools, where 99% of students are minorities and 97% come from economically disadvantaged backgrounds—ensuring both students and teachers receive the resources they need to succeed.
Coming Fall 2025: HUG Changemakers Program
We are excited to launch the HUG Changemakers Program, a first-of-its-kind initiative that will bring together high school students from all backgrounds to create and run a student-led nonprofit—mentored by 501(c)(3) leaders from Charlotte and beyond.
At HUG, we’re more than an organization—we’re a movement dedicated to empowering future leaders.
LUNCH IS ON US
Lunch Is On Us Initiative: Fighting Childhood Hunger
When COVID-19 shut down North Carolina schools, it didn’t just disrupt education—it also cut off access to daily school lunches for thousands of children in marginalized, lower-income districts. For many, this was the only hot, balanced meal they would receive all day.
HUG CLT immediately mobilized, partnering with local catering companies to distribute free hot lunches in the seven most at-risk locations across the region.
Our Impact:
🥪 55,000+ free lunches provided to children in need
🏫 Served the top 7 highest-need communities
🤝 Funded through generous donors & sponsors
It's our dream and purpose that no child should ever go hungry—no matter the circumstances, and we are committed to growing and changing to fit the needs of our community.
TENT CITY SUPPORT
Tent City Support: Meeting Urgent Needs Head-On
What started as a simple mission to deliver hot meals and cold water quickly grew into a lifeline of critical resourcesfor Charlotte’s shelterless community. As we spent more time in Tent City, we witnessed firsthand the overwhelming need for basic survival essentials—and we mobilized daily to meet it.
Our Impact in Summer 2020:
❄️ 92,000+ lbs. of ice distributed for heat relief & food preservation
⛺ 200+ tents & 250+ tarps provided for shelter
🛏️ 500+ blankets distributed for warmth
🔋 Thousands of batteries supplied for safety & communication
🦟 Bug spray, hand warmers, reading glasses, flashlights, first aid kits, & more
With Hearts United for Good, we don’t just show up—we stay, we listen, and we respond.
Our commitment to Charlotte’s shelterless neighbors remains unwavering, and we will continue to bridge the gaps for those in need.
SHELTER STAFFING
Shelter Staffing: Providing Stability in Crisis
In February 2021, Mecklenburg County issued an eviction order for residents of Tent City due to public health concerns, specifically a severe rodent infestation. With just 72 hours to gather their belongings, residents faced uncertainty and displacement.
HUG CLT, alongside other grassroots organizations, was on-site throughout the process—ensuring that individuals had support, guidance, and familiar faces during this overwhelming transition.
Our Role in Shelter Support
- After 52 hours without sleep, HUG took on the responsibility of staffing the county-funded transitional hotel for the entire duration of the program.
- For 219 consecutive days, we provided assistance, comfort, and stability to those in need—helping individuals navigate resources and adjust to their new living situation
.
Our team truly believes that no one should have to face displacement alone. Our commitment remains strong in supporting, advocating, and providing compassionate care to those experiencing homelessness and housing insecurity.
COVID SUPPORT
COVID-19 Relief: Mobilizing Support in a Time of Crisis
When the world shut down in 2020, HUG CLT got moving. We immediately mobilized resources to provide essential support to those hit hardest by the pandemic—ensuring that food, hygiene, and critical supplies were accessible in a low-barrier, COVID-safe format
.
Our Impact:
🥪 Free Lunch Program for those facing food insecurity
🏠 Homeless Support Services, including meal distribution & resource access
🧼 PPE Distribution, providing masks, gloves, & sanitizer to individuals unable to afford or access them
🩺 Free COVID-19 Testing Station at our headquarters, ensuring accessible healthcare for all
At HUG, our commitment to community care never wavers—especially in times of crisis.
"In a gentle way, you can shake the world"
- Mahatma Ghandi
AWARDS
proclamation
In October of 2021, Hearts United for Good was one of nine non-profits recognized for our work in Tent City during the 72 hour eviction order in February of 2021.
"NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Mecklenburg Board pf County Commissioners does hereby express our deepest thanks and gratitude and recognize the Herculean and tireless efforts of the aforementioned groups and their volunteers to help accomplish a massive and seemingly impossible feat"
VIEW THE OFFICIAL PROCLAMATION HERE
LGBTQ+ COMMUNITY
ICON AWARD
In 2022, HUG Executive Director Bethany McDonald was one of 5 individuals
honored by the Carolinas LGBTQ+ Chamber of Commerce as a "Community Icon" for her years of non-profit work in Mecklenburg County.
Volunteering with such organizations promoting diversity, equity, and inclusivity as HRC, R.A.I.N., Time Out Youth, Twirl to the World Foundation, Special Olympics, Homeless Services Network, and many more, Bethany has dedicated herself to serving our community; a goal that is exhibited daily as she consistently strives to further the growth and impact of Hearts United for Good.
HRC DAN MAUNEY AWARD
This year, the NC chapter of HRC announced the creation of the "Dan Mauney Equality Award" to recognize exceptional leadership in the local LGBTQ+ community. The Board and Volunteers of HUGCLT were beyond proud and honored to receive this distinction and inaugural recognition.
Dan was a pioneer in the field of Human Rights in North Carolina, championing many movements focused on both awareness and changed. We were blessed to have such a fierce advocate of equality fighting for basic human rights regardless of age, race, gender identity, religion, and more. Our goal at Hearts United for Good is to follow in Dan’s footsteps, and continue our endless efforts to better this world for all.