Give OUT Day

This Give OUT Day, Time Out Youth (TOY) is aiming to raise $10,000 to serve Charlotte's LGBTQ+ youth, changing the lives of many of the over 1,800 youth we provide support and resources to annually. TOY provides important programs and services that focus on strengthening mental health outcomes, supporting individuals in securing stable housing, and safe support groups. 

Your incredibly important contribution can make life easier for so many LGBTQ+ youth.

1. Your $25 gift will go toward removing barriers for young people who need help with transportation to and from work and housing appointments.
2. Your $50 gift will go toward supporting our Life Essential Closet, a program that provides short-term relief and supports them in gaining their independence.
3. Your $100 gift will help us give our youth access to meals and food support, fighitng the effects of food insecurity.
4. Your $250 gift will go toward one of our welcome home baskets that are filled with move-in ready items to help youth transition into their new home.
5. Your $500 gift will provide gift cards and direct aid to youth in need of emergency funds.
6. Your $1000 gift will go toward helping move youth into housing after experiencing long-term homelessness.

You cannot wait a moment longer because your gift will help give life-changing assistance to more individuals like Patrick. 

Patrick is a Black, trans masculine young person who has been struggling with mental health challenges and has not been accepted or supported by his family. With nowhere to go after his car was impounded and having just lost his service dog, he went to the housing department at TOY for help. Earnest and endearing, we all fell in love with his spirit and wanted to do everything we could to support him.

Because of Patrick’s unique needs, he was put on a waiting list for permanent housing but because of turnover at the housing agency, the holidays, and his own personal setbacks he was not able to move in until over six months after his original request. TOY’s housing department got him emergency shelter and in his darkest times, gave him resources to get on disability and Medicaid, encouraging him to keep going every step of the way. When life got hard, Patrick could lean on our counseling team for free mental health sessions. He started working and stayed active in our online virtual spaces, where he could find a sense of connectedness in groups like Melanin and MagiQ, Space Aces, and Tea Time. 

Patrick could turn to TOY to get help with showers, laundry, and food. He was given access to our Life Essentials Closet, a place to get hygiene products and goods provided by donation and community members like you. These small items made a difference in helping Patrick feel refreshed and taken care of. He prepared meals from our Second Harvest pantry. He used our kitchen space to stay nourished and enjoyed laughs with friends. Patrick visited his old high school and discovered that TOY had gone there to provide one-on-one training for faculty and a GSA had opened. He began to see how things were changing for the better in the community and held on to hope.

The programming that TOY provided, along with therapy, community, opportunities for leadership, and meaningful connection gave him something to look forward to and to hold on to until he was finally placed in housing last month. While he was waiting, he had something to wait for - he went to the Blumenthal Performing Arts Theater to see shows with TOY, participated in movie and game nights, joined us on a trip to Carowinds during our CampOut summer camp, painted with community artists, and joined us for many community meals making friends and memories along the way. Patrick’s story is not unique. Many LGBTQ youth of all races, nationalities, and genders struggle every year to survive but interventions with housing, therapy, and programming make a huge difference. 

Now Patrick has transitioned out of Time Out Youth’s system. He is successfully living on his own and making the most of all the lessons that he has learned. We are grateful to our youth for choosing to grow up with us. They make our work worthwhile. We invest in the future of LGBTQ youth by providing support, community, and unconditional acceptance. 

On behalf of Time Out Youth's staff, Board of Directors and, of course, the youth that we serve, thank you for your gift. Your impact helped make this a successful Give OUT Day.