CHARLOTTE – Since 2005, Bright Blessings has been proudly serving our community. The initiative started with a monthly program that supplied children that were staying at the Salvation Army Center with gifts. The idea of the program was to brighten the day of the child while they are in situations that are often very tough. It also instilled in them the love and commitment that our community has for youth members. Over the years, Bright Blessings has developed into a huge service project that is able to provide programs to our local youth. In 2020 they were able to service 100,000 children, and this year that are hoping to serve even more.

Bright Blessings is a completely volunteer-led program that serves impoverished and homeless children all over our area. Currently, they are serving 6 counties including Mecklenburg, Union, Cabarrus, Gaston, Iredell, and York along with partnering with over 30 local agencies to provide services to children living in shelters. They also serve local school districts with supplies to directly help children that are in need of essential items. 

Their wonderful programs are able to provide for children that are in need. Children living in impoverished and homeless conditions typically experience poor living conditions, inadequate health and hygiene care, and poor nutrition. Together these elements can cause physical, emotional, and academic struggles. Bright Blessings has created four service programs that work together to combat the effects of their environment. These programs promote self-esteem, provide hygiene and essential items, and literacy items to children that are in need. Each program is designed to work with other programs along with stand-alone services that serve the child’s specific needs.

Bless A Birthday is a program designed to help struggling families with a day that they can remember. The program provides children at shelters that have a birthday in that month with a party. All children in the hosting shelter along with the birthday month children are invited. All of the decorations, games, snacks, and food are provided by local agencies and individuals. Volunteers have the opportunity to join in and share in the celebration creating a wonderful and exciting experience for all. The program also makes sure that each child with a birthday that month receives a gift along with providing an experience for all the children in the shelter to enjoy together with crafts, snacks, and more.

Bless A Baby helps families that are expecting a baby with essential items for newborns. The program provides a Blessing Bag for the expecting mother that includes all new items that meet the basic needs of a newborn along with a few tailored gifts to tailor to their situation. Each of these gifts is provided to newborns with love and support from Bright Blessings. A positive start to life is what each baby deserves, and these wonderful volunteers are providing that experience one bag at a time. 

Gift Of Care is designed to provide children currently experiencing poverty and homelessness with basic essential items. Good hygiene and health are huge factors in the emotional and physical development of children. This program was designed to be able to provide children with full-sized hygiene products, snacks, and stuffed animals. These kits are provided to local schools and agencies to be able to provide the child with the kit when needed. If a teacher or caregiver sees the need, they are able to provide the child with the kit to take home that day.

Gift Of Literacy program provides children with two new books. Each of the programs above also includes the Gift Of Literacy, ensuring that each child in need is provided with the gift of reading. This program also provides books to pre-k programs in the surrounding area. They have been able to serve our county and the surrounding counties with books for over 10,000 children. 

In October of 2020 Bright Blessings proudly celebrated that they were able to serve over 100,000 children in the local area with their amazing programs. This would not have been possible without volunteers, partnerships, local school districts, and agencies. They look forward to making that number even higher this year. Their growth and service agencies are growing every day and they will continue to take pride in delivering care and joy to children that are experiencing homelessness and poverty in our area.

For more information on their programs or how you can help please visit https://www.brightblessingsusa.org/.