On MLK Day, here are six ways families can give back to support local people in need

As the COVID-19 pandemic has created historic challenges for people across the country and the Triangle, it's also forcing some big changes for the volunteer opportunities and activities that often drew dozens of people to nonprofits on MLK Day to sort through children's books, create hygiene packs for the homeless and help out with other needs.

Posted 2:00 a.m. Jan 13, 2021 — Updated 3:08 p.m. Jan 18, 2021

Sarah Lindenfeld Hall

, Go Ask Mom editor

Each year on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, communities pull together during a National Day of Service to give back to those in need.

But, as the COVID-19 pandemic has created historic challenges for people across the country and the Triangle, it's also forcing some big changes for the volunteer opportunities and activities that often drew dozens of people to nonprofits on MLK Day to sort through children's books, create hygiene packs for the homeless and help out with other needs.

But there are still ways to give back. Activate Good, a clearinghouse of local volunteer activities, has organized Dignity Week and has highlighted both in-person and remote opportunities to give back this month. The list includes opportunities for kids and families to help out.

Update: The United Way of the Greater Triangle also is offering some socially distanced opportunities to give back. From 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Jan. 18, they'll be collecting supplies for several local nonprofits at a location in Raleigh and another in Durham. Check the website to find out what the specific needs are for the groups—Meals on Wheels Wake County, Urban Ministries of Durham, Inter-Faith Council for Social Services and Johnston Lee Harnett Community Action.

And, for families who are looking for other ways to give, holding a drive to collect needed items is another great way to support those in need during these especially trying times.

Here are six ways families can reach out within their own networks to collect and donate the essentials that so many are going without right now.

Food Drive

Food banks across the country are responding to unprecedented needs, and the Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina is no different. Since March, it's seen a 38% increase in requests for food. To help, families can host a food and fund drive. The food bank has more information on its website about creating a virtual food drive page and how to get the food you gather to the right place.

The Inter-Faith Food Shuttle, which supports thousands of kids through its Backpack Buddies program, also could use some help. Its website has more information about how to host a food drive or drop off donations.

Book Drive

As I wrote earlier this week, Book Harvest in Durham will hold its annual Dream Big Book Drive from noon to 4 p.m., Jan. 18, at the Durham Central Park. It's a drive-through, contactless event where you can donate new or gently used children's books and get to see some children's book characters too. Book Harvest distributes books to children in need in Durham. You can organize a book drive now to drop books off on Jan. 18. Or you can host a book drive at any time of the year. Book Harvest has tips on its website for how to run a book drive.

Diaper Drive

The pandemic has also created incredible hardships for moms, women and older adults as they seek to provide basic needs for their children and themselves. The cost of diapers, period products and adult incontinence products are not covered by government programs, and that means many people go without these essential products.

The Diaper Bank of North Carolina, which is based in Durham, has been doing incredible work distributing these supplies. But the need is always there. The nonprofit could especially use unopened diapers size 4, 5, 6, 4T-5T pull-ups; menstrual pads (not liners or tampons); and 2XL & 3XL pull up adult Incontinence products.

More information about how to donate the items or money is on the diaper bank's website.

Clothing Drive

In 2020, Note in the Pocket served more than 5,000 children and family members, getting needed clothes to growing children from families who can't afford to just head to Target when the pants get too short. Their goal is to cloth children with both dignity and love, and seriously, this is what every child deserves.

The nonprofit in Raleigh needs new and gently used clothing in all sizes (because tweens and teens often wear adult sizes). They also take new, unopened packages of underwear and socks.

Note in the Pocket's website has more information about how you can donate the clothing your kids have grown out of and host a clothing drive.

Bedding Drive

Did you know that more than 6,000 kids in Wake County are sleeping on floors or in crowded beds? The Green Chair Project's Sweeter Dreams Beds program is designed to get the beds and bedding to kids who need them. In 2020, more than 1,000 kids got new beds thanks to Sweeter Dreams. Green Chair accepts donations of cash and of new pillows and twin-size gender neutral sheet sets and comforters. (Emphasis on new.) Green Chair has more information on its website about how to donate to the program, including a link to an Amazon Wish List that makes it easy to help out.

Toy Drive

Zach's Toy Chest is a local group that's been distributing new toys to sick children at local hospitals. It does wonderful work putting a smile on kid's faces at especially difficult times. It's always looking for donations of new, unwrapped toys for babies to teens. It has suggestions for how to help on its website and where to drop the toys off.

Get kids involved in your collection of needed items by letting them help make posters to hang in your neighborhood, write an email to friends and family or share a quick video of them on your own social media accounts about why they want to collect food or diapers or other items and how people can help.

No, you may not raise hundreds of thousands of dollars or feed multiple families for a year. But all of our efforts, together, can make a big difference. And a difference is what so many people in our community need right now.

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