Choosing a Charity

When we started Belle Terre, we decided from the beginning that we wanted to find ways to give back to our community.  One decision we made early on was to donate 5% of our profits to a local charity.  In 2010, we chose the Nature Conservancy's Adopt an Acre program and adopted 5 acres in the Appalachians.  We discussed quite a bit whether or not to continue the program and decided that we should choose a charity each year. For 2011, we are asking for your help.  We have narrowed the choices down to the two charities described for you below.  Please enter a comment to the post with your vote.  One of our voters will win a gift set of Belle Terre's new facial bars! Belle Terre thanks you for your help! ______________________________________________________________________ Choice #1 - Humane Society of Charlotte The Humane Society of Charlotte is proud to be a "No-Kill of Adoptable Animals” shelter. “No-kill of Adoptable Animals” means saving all cats and dogs that can be rehabilitated and are manageable.  Euthanasia is reserved only for those cases where an animal is suffering or poses a public safety concern.  They offer surrender services, adoption services, education, and a low cost spay and neuter program.   For each animal they are able to place in a loving home, they take another animal in.   Their web site includes photos of adoptable dogs and cats in every shape and size you can imagine. Those who know us know that rescued animals are near and dear to our hearts.  We, in fact, own four dogs that all came to us from less than positive histories, one by accident.  Our home has served as a temporary shelter for at least six dogs over the last few years. Choice #2 - United Family Services United Family Services mission is "to to provide hope and solutions for people in crisis."  The organization is a member of United Way of Central Carolinas.  Although most people think of their shelters in cases of domestic violence, United Family Services also offers assistance for those in need of financial and emotional help.  Their services include counseling and education including  couples counseling, anger management, rape crisis assistance, credit counseling among other offerings. After turning away more than 2,000 women and children from the battered women's shelter last year, United Family Services started a campaign to open a new shelter in Charlotte.  From their site: "United Family Services, a 100-year-old family counseling and crisis intervention umbrella agency, established Charlotte's Shelter for Battered Women in 1979. It had 25 beds for women and children victims of domestic violence. Since then, Charlotte's population has doubled, yet the shelter has added only four beds."  The much needed building project is underway and you can watch the progress on their website.