Holiday Giving 2019January 17, 2020

Each year the holiday season brings about a spirit of giving. Throughout the month of December, each market of Mungo Homes works to continue the legacy of founder Michael J. Mungo in giving back to the communities they are in by choosing a charitable cause to support. While Mungo Homes strives to keep the spirit of giving alive throughout the year, this gives a special opportunity to provide to those in need during a time of year that can be especially difficult for many. 

In Columbia, the team chose to support both Families Helping Families and Happy Wheels. Families Helping Families provides assistance to families in need during the holiday season, and Mungo Homes, in partnership with the Michael J. Mungo Foundation, was able to provide gifts for 200 people that may not otherwise have had them. The team took time to donate funds, shop for gifts, and wrap gifts. When several adopted families were suddenly returned to Families Helping Families, the Michael J. Mungo Foundation stepped up to adopt the families in addition to those that Mungo already adopted to ensure no one would be left out. Happy Wheels provides toys to hospitalized children throughout South Carolina. Their mission is “to put smiles on the faces of hospitalized children in South Carolina,” and they are able to provide a bright spot during an otherwise dark time.

The Charleston team supported both the Lowcountry Orphan Relief and Lowcountry Food Bank. Lowcountry Orphan Relief is a non-profit organization established to help children who have been abused or neglected. They work with other organizations as well as schools, foster parents, and government agencies to identify the needs of children in these situations. Lowcountry Food Bank is a non-profit organization that provides education and nutritious options to partner agencies and schools that serve the community’s most vulnerable. Additionally, the Charleston team participated in Lowcountry Orphan Relief’s Stocking Tree, which is used to make Care Kits for foster children in the Charleston tri-county area.

The Raleigh team decided to not only donate a $5,000 check to InterAct, they will also be donating their own time in February 2020. InterAct is a local women’s shelter in Raleigh that is dedicated to ending domestic and sexual violence.  They offer a safe haven for women and children fleeing from harmful situations and helps them rebuild their lives. 

The Savannah-Beaufort team split their donation between Family Promise of Effingham and Family Promise of Beaufort. The mission of Family Promise is “to help homeless and low-income families achieve sustainable independence through a community-based response.” The organization provides food, shelter, and support services for homeless families. They currently work throughout 42 states, community-by-community, guided by those who know the community best. 

The Wilmington team chose to support Mother Hubbard’s Cupboard, a local organization in the Wilmington area that serves those who are hungry through the distribution of emergency food. Once a month, any person or family in need may stop by Mother Hubbard’s Cupboard to receive a 3-5 day supply of groceries. If a person or family doesn’t have a stove, they can receive a smaller bag and are served weekly. The Wilmington team took time out to get together and go shopping for items off of the organization’s wish list. 

The Greenville-Spartanburg team chose to support Miracle Hill Ministries, South Carolina’s largest and most comprehensive provider of homeless services for children and adults. Miracle Hill operates four adult rescue missions across Upstate South Carolina, a Children’s Home, Boys’ Shelter, Foster Care Program, as well as providing addiction recovery services.

The Myrtle Beach team chose to support Back Pack Buddies, an organization that is part of Help 4 Kids. Back Pack Buddies is a volunteer organization that helps children in Horry County. They provide snacks to over 2800 children who might otherwise not have them when they are not receiving free breakfast or lunch at school. They also provide back-to-school items such as clothes, shoes, and backpacks, hygiene items, and books.

Shugart Homes collected toys for Toys for Tots and set up a Sock Tree in the office. Toys for Tots is an organization that collects toys, books, and other gifts to donate to less fortunate children. In 2019, the Winston-Salem chapter of Toys for Tots distributed over 15,000 toys and supported over 7,000 children. The Sock Tree was set up in the lobby of the office for employees to place new, unwrapped socks on to be donated to families in need.