Top Stories for Nov. 26, 2025

On Nov. 22, 2025, Mecklenburg County staff distributed 1,000 frozen turkeys and holiday food bags to SNAP recipients and residents facing food insecurity.

Mecklenburg County provides this weekly rundown of top stories from the Board of County Commissioners meetings and the Public Information Department’s newsroom. The Board met on Nov. 25. Its next budget and public policy meeting is scheduled for Nov. 25 at 2:30 p.m. The agenda will be available online and the meeting can be viewed on MeckTV. The Board’s next regular meeting is scheduled for Dec. 2 at 6 p.m.

1. What Veterans Want: Mecklenburg County is seeking to learn more about what our community’s veterans, their families, and supporters need from local service providers. The Mecklenburg County Veteran and Military Community Needs Survey is open for veterans, families, and caregivers to offer their insights on services. The goal is to understand their needs, improve engagement, and build a clearer picture of the services needed for the county’s military-connected community. The survey can be accessed at Veterans.MeckNC.gov and is open through Jan. 30, 2026.

2. Everybody Counts Charlotte: The Board has proclaimed November as Homelessness Awareness Month and preparations are underway for the 2026 Point in Time (PIT) Count. In the early morning hours of Jan. 22, 2026, volunteers will span out across Charlotte-Mecklenburg streets, shelters, and encampments to identify people who are living without homes. Mecklenburg County is now seeking volunteers to help ensure everybody counts. The Point in Time Count takes place on a single night in January each year and provides a snapshot of homelessness. During last year’s Point in Time Count, 2,101 people were identified experiencing homelessness. Among them were 152 families with minor children, 76 unaccompanied youth (ages 18–24), and 444 people sleeping outside.

3. ARPA at Work: Mecklenburg County joined The Salvation Army of Greater Charlotte on Nov. 19 to celebrate the groundbreaking of an expansion project at its Center of Hope shelter on Spratt Street. To address the Board of County Commissioners’ housing insecurity priority, Mecklenburg County allocated more than $3 million in COVID-19 relief funding from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) for the expansion. The Center of Hope provides critical services for women, children, and veterans experiencing homelessness, serving an average of 275 people on any given night. The expansion project includes a large multipurpose space for programming and inclement weather, several private rooms and an enlarged dining room. 

4. World AIDS Day: Since the beginning of the HIV/AIDS epidemic in 1981, more than 700,000 Americans have died from the virus. Mecklenburg County Public Health and its community partners will mark World AIDS Day with an event featuring speakers, art, and a vigil in honor of those lost to HIV/AIDS. The event will be held Monday, Dec. 1, 5 – 7:30 p.m., at the Valerie C. Woodard Conference Center, Entrance D, 3205 Freedom Drive in Charlotte. Health Director Dr. Raynard Washington will be available for remarks. Mecklenburg County Public Health offers free HIV/STI testing along with information and referrals for PrEP. Visit Health.MeckNC.gov to learn more.

5. Sign Up for Solarize: Community members have until Friday, Nov. 28, to sign up for a custom proposal to see how they can save with solar energy through the Solarize Charlotte-Mecklenburg campaign. Solarize Charlotte-Mecklenburg aims to make solar energy more affordable through group purchasing, and more accessible with predetermined, highly vetted materials, pricing and contractors selected through a competitive bid process. Environmental sustainability is a Mecklenburg County priority. Since launching in June, nearly 300 residents have signed up to get a free system proposal through the campaign.  

6. Turkey + Fixings: A thousand families will have a tastier Thanksgiving, thanks to Mecklenburg County and its partners. They distributed turkeys on Nov. 22 to residents whose SNAP benefits may have been affected by the federal government shutdown. Mecklenburg County partnered with Nourish Up and Food Lion to distribute 1,000 turkeys and other food items during a drive-thru event at the Ella B. Scarborough Community Resource Center. The turkey distribution is one of several ways Mecklenburg County is assisting residents with food resources. View photos of the event.

7. New Beginnings, New Families: Dozens of children and their families were recognized on Nov. 22 in celebration of National Adoption Day in Mecklenburg County. This year, 89 youth received decrees, all adopted through Mecklenburg County’s Youth and Family Services division. The celebration at the Mecklenburg County Courthouse featured families, judges, Court and County staff, superheroes, a carnival, and plenty of stories and tears. View photos from Adoption Day.

Mecklenburg County continues to need foster and adoptive parents who are willing to make a difference in a young person’s life. Residents can learn more by visiting MeckNC.gov/KIDS or calling 704-336-KIDS (5437)

8. American Indian Heritage Month: The Board has proclaimed November as American Indian Heritage Month in Mecklenburg County, celebrating indigenous people, their rich history, and tribal sovereignty. North Carolina is home to eight state-recognized tribes and four Urban Indian Organizations. There are more than 130,000 North Carolinians across all 100 counties who identify as American Indian, giving the state the second-largest American Indian population east of the Mississippi River.

9. Happy Thanksgiving! Most Mecklenburg County offices and services will be closed on Thursday, Nov. 27 and Friday, Nov. 28 for the Thanksgiving holiday.