Charlotte Mecklenburg Dream Center celebrates a decade serving the Queen City

The local nonprofit is hoping to raise $100,000 to sustain its outreach efforts.

A Dream Center volunteer hugs a child near a picnic table where kids are playing with legos.

The Charlotte Mecklenburg Dream Center is an outreach of Restoring Place Church.

Photo via Charlotte Mecklenburg Dream Center

You’ve probably heard the phrase, “it takes a village to raise a child.” It’s a philosophy The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Dream Center — a local faith-based nonprofit — lives by each day. And you have the chance to help.

The Dream Center is raising $100,000 during Dream Week, running now through Monday, Nov. 10, to celebrate 10 years of serving the Queen City.

“We hope to use this week to let all of Charlotte know what we do – and what they can do – to help our neighbors in need of assistance, whether it’s in the form of food, housing, emotional, and spiritual support,” says Victor Nicholson, executive director of Charlotte-Mecklenburg Dream Center.

A chef guides a kid to chop beef on a cutting board under a tent.

Anyone eating out at one of Noble Food & Pursuits’ restaurants this weekend has the chance to donate to the Charlotte Mecklenburg Dream Center.

Photo via Charlotte Mecklenburg Dream Center

The center is teaming up with Noble Food & Pursuits to achieve this mission. Anyone who visits one of the company’s restaurants this weekend can add a donation to the Dream Center on their check. These restaurants include Rooster’s (SouthPark and Uptown), The Jimmy, Noble Smoke, and The King’s Kitchen.

Editor’s note: An anonymous donor has agreed to match all donations up to $25,000.

Dream Center staff mingle with kids on bikes in the neighborhood street.

The Dream Center aims to use funds raised during its 10th anniversary to expand services in Charlotte’s communities.

Photo via The Charlotte Mecklenburg Dream Center

The funds will help continue to provide both necessary essentials for people in need and community fellowship in underserved areas of Charlotte.

“Now in our tenth year, the need for this work in Charlotte is only growing,” added Nicholson. “For our next ten years, we have some exciting plans to help even more people with a large campus that will provide services we haven’t been able to offer. And every little bit of financial support helps us get closer to that goal.”

The Dream Center is always looking for volunteers or, if you’re able, consider donating to help this “dream” become a reality.

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