May 1 (Wednesday) 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Awareness booth at the Greater Raleigh Chamber of Commerce Expo located at the NC State Fairgrounds Jim Graham Building. Free admission. We are booth #327. 

BACKPACK SUPPLY DRIVE ! 

June 11 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at The Raleigh Chamber of Commerce  held in the lower level parking lot located at 800 S. Saunders Street for convenient drop-off where volunteers will be standing by to assist you. The supplies will be used for children in care who attend year-round schools that start back on July 8. If there are additional supplies, we will donate for traditional students. Click here for list of items needed. 

Friends of Wake GAL Projects

The Back to School with Pride Project: We provide book bags filled with school supplies so each child is ready for success.

The Friends Special Needs Grant: We provide one-time assistance to families and children in order to meet specific needs.

Guardian Angel Holiday Project: We provide holiday gifts to hundreds of children in care. In 2012, more than 1,000 benefited from this special project that was made possible through $140,000 worth of in-kind donations from donors and sponsors.

Computers for Kids:  Friends of Wake GAL partners with local IT professionals including Teaming for Technology (T4T) and and the United Way of the Greater Triangle to bring computers to children in need across the county.  The Friends Computer Donation program was established to provide school-aged children in need with a computer, a printer and computer programs to provide them with the digital tools that have become so widely used by school children today.  The Friends organization purchases refurbished computer systems from Teaming for Technology, an organization within the United Way of the Greater Triangle.  This system consists of a computer with Microsoft Windows and Microsoft Office installed, a monitor, a keyboard and a mouse.  To this package we add a printer and a flash drive, as well as anti-virus and anti-malware software, Microsoft Student with Encarta and Microsoft Math, as well as a variety of software utilities.     

The computer systems are provided for the use of children identified to the Friends by their Guardian ad Litem and/or Social Worker, or some other appropriate source, with the specific intent and understanding that it will remain in the physical possession of the children.  It is to remain with them should their physical or legal guardianship change.   Ownership of this computer system is specifically not granted or transferred to any individual or facility with whom the children might reside.   Should the children undergo a permanent change of residence the computer should accompany them when they move.  If circumstances prevent this from happening the system may not remain in their former residence; it should be removed into the temporary custody of the Social Worker or Guardian ad Litem for safekeeping until it can be returned to the children.  

If you are working with a child whom you believe is an appropriate candidate for this program, send an email to computersforkids@FriendsofWakeGAL.org stating your relationship to the child (GAL, social worker, other) and a brief statement describing the child’s current situation and the difference this grant would make in their life.  You will receive a response containing a Friends of the Wake County Guardian ad Litem Grant Application form, and instructions for completing the form and forwarding the request for consideration.