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Triangle nonprofits doing on-the-ground work

Giving season is upon us, and requests for donations are filling up virtual and physical mailboxes. But with so many different organizations in need, it can be hard to figure out where your dollar will do the most good. 

For readers who want to give back, the INDY has compiled a list of local nonprofits whose work has a direct, immediate, and positive impact on people living in the Triangle and across North Carolina. 

We paid special attention to political causes and Hurricane Helene relief but also spotlighted organizations that tackle important local issues including housing, the environment, and animal care. 

Western NC Disaster Relief

Unlike many of the larger nonprofits responding to Hurricane Helene, Day One Relief focuses on long-term aid for people who are disproportionately affected by extreme weather events because of systemic issues like poverty or racism.

“There are people who started this storm with $5 in their bank account,” says president and CEO Jil Christensen. Low-income families, Black and Latino communities, and homebound elders are just a few of the populations who face the largest barriers to resources and the longest road to recovery.

Although it’s been about seven weeks since the storm, “this is the beginning of when things get really, really hard,” says Christensen. With a massive effort under way to deliver supplies to isolated and damaged areas, Day One Relief requests donations of brand-new coats and sleeping bags, long johns, wool socks, and many other items. For more information on what to give, visit their Facebook page

Immigration

With President-elect Donald Trump threatening mass deportations, many immigration advocates are preparing for the worst. 

“Immigrants are worried parents are gonna be separated from their children, that people who are here lawfully are gonna get swept up in these mass deportations,” says Carlene McNulty, interim director of the Immigrant and Refugee Rights Division at the NC Justice Center. “There’s just an enormous fear.”

In addition to providing representation in court, the Justice Center helps immigrants arrange power of attorney in case they need someone to deal with homes or cars left behind. The center educates on emergency preparedness, such as making contingency plans for children to be picked up from school if a parent is detained. “Know Your Rights” seminars are also in demand, McNulty says. 

Protesters gather on Raleigh’s Halifax Mall for the No Ban No Wall rally, a demonstration against President Trump’s immigration and refugee policies, including the travel ban enacted soon after Trump took office in 20216. Credit: Photo by Alex Boerner

Reproductive Rights and Abortion

Trump’s reelection also has advocates nationwide worried that access to reproductive health care, including abortion, could be limited even more severely. The Carolina Abortion Fund (CAF) helps people pay for abortion care and in some cases can help cover additional costs like transportation or lodging.

“The beauty of abortion funds is that we are solely dedicated to making it accessible on the ground,” says Alissa Lopez, former board member and current volunteer for CAF.

With abortion effectively banned in Tennessee, Alabama, and Mississippi, many are still traveling to North Carolina for abortions. That’s not to mention the state’s own residents who may need help navigating complex and time-consuming restrictions under the state’s 12-week abortion ban. Nonprofits like CAF need additional funds to ward off potential lawsuits and strengthen digital security to protect clients’ privacy, Lopez adds.

The Gaza Conflict

Despite calls for a ceasefire, death, destruction and displacement have persisted in Gaza more than a year after the attack last fall on Israel by Hamas-led militants. Earlier this month, Amnesty International accused Israel of committing genocide, a characterization that Voices for Justice in Palestine (VJP) has echoed.

“[The Biden administration] provided Israel with everything they wanted to wage a merciless, genocidal war on the extremely vulnerable population of Gaza,” stated an email from VJP. “Unimaginably, things are expected to get far worse under the Trump administration.”

Donations will help fund VJP’s mission of educating the community and advocating for national policy change. Over the past year, the nonprofit joined many other local advocacy groups in organizing pro-Palestinian protests across the Triangle, including in Raleigh, Durham, and Chapel Hill.

To help provide “critical direct services in Gaza,” VJP recommends donating to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees in the Near East, the Middle East Children’s Alliance, and the Palestinian American Medical Association.

Civil Rights

As a nonpartisan organization, Democracy NC is always fighting for voter rights, regardless of whether it’s an election year. In addition to helping people navigate voting laws, the nonprofit advocates for redistricting reform, increased funding for county boards of elections, and getting big money out of politics.

In 2025, Democracy NC will focus on educating people about who has the power to resolve problems they’re facing—everything from potholes to rent hikes, says development director Shannon Heck. The nonprofit also wants to encourage residents to engage with elected officials year-round, outside of just the voting booth: “It’s about holding [officials] accountable,” Heck says.

Racial Justice

Emancipate NC is one of the most impactful racial justice organizations at the local (and state) level. 

In the past year, the nonprofit has sued the Durham County Sheriff’s Office over redacted jail policies, advocated for change in the foster care system, and fought for compensation for people who have experienced unjust incarceration, police violence, and illegal searches and seizures. They have also lobbied for change in the Triangle police departments and continue to serve in a watchdog role.

Durham County jail Credit: Photo by Jeremy M. Lange

Housing

While many Triangle organizations—CASA, the Raleigh Area Land Trust, and One Wake, to name a few—are working to increase the supply of affordable housing, we wanted to highlight a nonprofit that provides significant assistance to Triangle renters.

Legal Aid of NC handles a wide range of cases, but one major focus is the “eviction crisis,” says Legal Aid of Raleigh’s managing attorney Elysia Prendergast-Jones. 

As new construction gentrifies low-income neighborhoods and the competitive housing market inflates rents, apartments are becoming unaffordable for many. And “in the places [residents] can afford, they’re dealing with mold issues or rodents,” says Prendergast-Jones. Legal Aid lawyers can help prevent illegal evictions, negotiate move-out dates, and get landlords to make critical housing repairs. 

Another major focus for Legal Aid is securing protective orders for domestic violence survivors, Prendergast-Jones adds. In both areas, the people in need of representation vastly outnumber the full-time staff Legal Aid can keep onboard.

The Environment

Plenty of state and local organizations are fighting to protect the environment, but Triangle Land Conservancy is a unique nonprofit focused on land-banking as a way to conserve green spaces. 

In a rapidly growing Triangle, undeveloped property is valuable. Triangle Land Conservancy raises money to buy land for permanent preservation. In 2023, the nonprofit protected 910 acres in Chatham County, the Marks Creek Watershed, and other areas. Their projects help protect drinking water, support local farms, and connect people with nature. 

Triangle Land Conservancy Credit: Photo by D.L. Anderson

Animals

The county animal shelters in Wake County, Orange County, and Durham County provide crucial services by sheltering strays, spaying and neutering animals, and adopting out pets. Their work is more important than ever as shelters have become overcrowded and local officials face tough decisions about whether to euthanize. 

Volunteers, adoptions, and donations are all critical to shelters’ operations. Fostering animals can also help alleviate the pressure, as can keeping your own pets out of shelters through microchipping or rehoming with friends or family. To find out what to donate, visit local animal shelters’ websites and wishlists.

Comment on this story at backtalk@indyweek.com.

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