GivingTuesday, a global campaign that encourages individuals and businesses to support local nonprofits, kicked off its 12th anniversary globally and its fifth year in Cumberland County this week. Beginning in 2012 as a mission of generosity during the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, GivingTuesday was originally introduced to Fayetteville through the Cumberland Community Foundation in hopes of sustaining the city’s quality of life.
To mark the fundraising campaign, which started Nov. 25 and runs through Dec. 4, CityView is profiling four participating nonprofits. For an idea of where else to contribute and an example of the good your donation can do, visit the Cumberland Community Foundation’s Guide to Giving catalog.
Fayetteville Animal Protection Society
Fayetteville Animal Protection Society (FAPS) is the only no-kill, nonprofit shelter in Cumberland County. As FAPS receives zero government funding, Jackie Peery, executive director at FAPS, said it is solely the donations of others that keep the shelter running.
“Without support from our community, we can’t say yes to these animals in need,” Peery said.
According to Peery, the term “no-kill” means having an at least 90% save rate, but she said that FAPS’ rate is even higher. FAPS does not euthanize animals for reasons like limited space, appearance, any treatable or manageable condition or the amount of time an animal has been in the shelter.
The society has been a GivingTuesday participant since its first year in Cumberland County in 2020. Peery said the campaign has become one of their biggest fundraisers of the year.
“When people donate, yes, they’re giving money, but they’re also giving hope, they’re giving second chances,” Peery said.
Although pet adoptions come with a fee, Peery said the donations from GivingTuesday provide several free services to every animal the society cares for. These services include spaying and neutering, vaccines, microchips, deworming and an exam and warm bath for every animal that enters the shelter.
FAPS hosts several low-cost or free vaccine clinics for pets throughout the year, as well as a pet food pantry that distributes up to 40,000 pounds of food to pet parents in need. Without the support of donors, services like these would not be possible, Peery said.
To contribute to FAPS, visit the donate page on the Animal Protection Society website. FAPS is located at 3927 Bragg Blvd. in Fayetteville.
Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra
The Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra, founded in 1956, has participated in Cumberland County’s GivingTuesday campaign since 2020. The Fayetteville Symphony is a professional orchestra based in the southeastern region of North Carolina; its aims to provide education and entertainment to the community through local music programs.
Anna Meyer, executive director of the Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra, said the orchestra strives to make music accessible to all through low-priced — and even free — concerts. The orchestra’s musical catalog ranges from classical and jazz to bluegrass and pop, and shows are held at local breweries, churches and universities.
“We’re really trying to impact our entire community, not just the people who live in the city of Fayetteville,” Meyer said.
The Fayetteville Symphony also provides “robust education programs” to the community, according to Meyer. These programs include youth ensembles for musicians aged 7–21 years old and an in-school program providing music education and opportunities to over 4,000 students in Cumberland County.
Programs and concerts like these are made possible through donations from fundraisers like GivingTuesday, Meyer said. Individuals can also support the orchestra simply by attending their events, she added.
“We’re still trying to build our audience and we encourage anybody to take a look at our schedule, see what interests them, and come give us a try,” Meyer said.
To donate to the Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra, visit their website. You can donate to the symphony in a number of ways including a one-time payment, a corporate sponsorship or through an endowment.
Council on Older Adults
The Council on Older Adults is a nonprofit organization dedicated to assisting seniors of Cumberland County to “maintain their independence … with dignity” through home and community-based services, its website states.
Founded in 1968, the Council on Older Adults has been involved with GivingTuesday since 2020 and the organization provides a wide variety of services and programs for seniors, from its congregate lunch program to in-home aide services and Meals on Wheels, a meal delivery service for seniors who can’t provide meals for themselves.
The council has over 150 regular volunteers, and donor support makes the organization thrive, said Executive Director Lisa Hughes. Hughes expressed that as all people will eventually experience seniorhood or have a senior to care for at some point, it’s important to support care for seniors now.
“I think we’re helping them be able to do the same things that the rest of us would want,” Hughes said.
The donations from GivingTuesday go directly to an array of needs for the seniors they assist, explained Hughes.
“$100 would support four caregivers to attend a six-week Powerful Tools for Caregivers class. $250 will put two grab bars in two different older adult homes. $1,500 will provide Meals on Wheels for an entire year for one senior. $2,500 could build a ramp for a senior,” Hughes said.
To donate or volunteer year-round, stop by the office at 339 Devers St. or visit their website at ccccooa.org for more information.
ALMS HOUSE
ALMS HOUSE, or Associated Local Ministries in Service Helping Others in Unfortunate Situations and Experiences, has been a part of the Hope Mills community since 1984. The organization’s mission is “to help families reach their sufficiency goals to make the community a better place, one individual at a time,” according to its website.
Delores Schiebe, executive director of ALMS HOUSE, said this mission is made possible through services such as a food pantry, clothing closet, and meal program in which the organization provides one hot meal every day of the year for those in need.
Schiebe said in addition to supplying food, the pantry also provides hygiene and cleaning products to those in need. As the only outreach ministry in Hope Mills, Schiebe said donations and support from individuals are vital.
Right now, ALMS HOUSE is operated out of two separate buildings, which are “bursting from the seams,” Schiebe explained. She said as the only paid employee, volunteers and donations are essential in keeping the organization running in their small space.
“Part of what we are doing with our GivingTuesday funds, our long-range plan is to have a building that encompasses everything,” Schiebe said.
ALMS HOUSE also provides the Kids Assistance Program (KAP) to children in Hope Mills. This program, in coordination with Hope Mills area social workers, provides packs of food to children in need of meals throughout the weekend. Schiebe said the reason to give is simple.
“If we care about our neighbors, we need to reach out and assist where we can,” Schiebe said.
Schiebe said donations from this GivingTuesday season will go toward the Kids Assistance Program and being able to assist those in need, often single parents or seniors in the Hope Mills area. To donate to ALMS HOUSE, visit the organization’s website. You can also donate by phone, mail, or by donating food to the food pantry.
How to donate
GivingTuesday begins Nov. 25 and will continue through Dec. 4.
This year, 82 nonprofits in Cumberland County are participating in GivingTuesday. Donations made between Nov. 25 and Dec. 4 will be amplified by a $525,000 match made possible by 10 local donors. There are several ways to give, according to the Cumberland Community Foundation, including by credit card and check.
For additional information and to donate to these nonprofits and more, visit the Cumberland Community Foundation’s website for their 2024/2025 Guide to Giving catalog.
Editor’s note: A previous version of this story incorrectly stated that this would be GivingTuesday’s fourth year in Cumberland County. It is its fifth year. CityView apologizes for this error.
