02/24/2016
For many, Hatteras Island is more than just a vacation destination. It is a home away from home, a place people come year after year, time and again. It is a place they, you, we love. With that comes a desire to get involved in the local issues and we are often asked how people can help out with this or that, so we have put together an open-ended list of island-wide charities/causes for you to get involved in.
Charities and Local Causes on Hatteras Island
OBPA (Outer Banks Preservation Association):
“Preserve and Protect, not Prohibit” is the basis behind OBPA, initially formed in the mid-1970’s as a public voice for concerned persons with a common interest in preserving the “traditional way of life prevalent on the Outer Banks”. With changing times and various governmental issues, their main cause is to fight for the public’s right to access the beaches of the Cape Hatteras National Seashore, as it was initially deemed a “Recreational Area”, now and in the future.
HICF (Hatteras Island Cancer Foundation):
Founded in 2000, HICF is an all-volunteer, non-profit organization that helps cancer patients and their families who live on Hatteras Island, rallying around them in their time of need. Their main objective is to raise funds to help offset the costs that aren’t covered by insurances. Additionally, they also provide community outreach through monthly support group meetings featuring educational and informational speakers.
Hatteras Village Medical Center:
Originally built in the mid-1960’s, Hatteras Village Medical Center provided medical service to Hatteras and Ocracoke Island’s residents and visitors for over half a century until it’s medical team was moved to a more central location in Avon by Vidant Medicine and the doors were closed. In November 2013, Hatteras Village Medical Center, backed by the devout dedication of it’s Board of Directors, celebrated its grand reopening and is currently offering primary care by Gail Covington, a nurse practitioner from Ocracoke. With the many costs involved in providing medical care, the Hatteras Village Medical Center is a cause worth supporting.
Hatteras Island Youth Education Fund:
A Hatteras Island resident, the late Mr. Kenneth Oden, created a trust in his will for the stated purpose of improving the lives of children on Hatteras Island, specifically, furthering the educational opportunities of our youth. After reviewing a considerable amount of grant applications from both Cape Hatteras Elementary School and Cape Hatteras Secondary School of Coastal Studies, it became obvious that additional fundraising would need to be done to make the projects happen without decreasing the overall amount of funds available, so that the fund could benefit generations of Hatteras Island youth. To learn more or to donate, click here.
United Methodist Men (Hatteras Island):
Spearheading the fight against hunger on Hatteras Island, the local chapter of the United Methodist Men started the Hatteras Island Food Pantry. They also offer short-term financial assistance to help various families in the community pay for medicines, rent, utilities and so on. In addition to financial donations, they also accept non-perishable food/grocery donations which can be dropped at any of our Midgett Realty offices year-round. To learn more or to donate, click here.
HIM (Hatteras Island Meals):
A non-profit organization, HIM is a local version of Meals on Wheels. After vigorous fundraising, they team up with local restaurants to provide meals, and then shuttle the meals to shut-ins up and down the island. These volunteer drivers are sometimes the only contact many of these folks see on a day-to-day basis. To learn more or to donate, click here.
FOFHI (Friends of Felines Hatteras Island):
Launched in 2006, FOFHI is a non-profit organization dedicated solely to improving the lives of feral cats. This service includes, but is not limited to, low-cost medical care and support for the caregivers who provide food and shelter. Their mission is to end the overpopulation of feral cats on Hatteras Island. To learn more or to donate, click here.
Lifeline Outreach OBX:
Originally the Lifeboat Community Food Pantry, Lifeline Outreach OBX now includes The Food Pantry and Food Pantry Thrift Store. As they have seen increasing numbers of food insecurity, they have doubled their space and opened the Food Pantry Thrift Store. Located next to Island Convenience in Rodanthe, this community organization functions solely on donations and volunteers. To learn more or to donate, click here.
