Youth volunteers unloaded pumpkins for Davidson United Methodist Church's Pumpkin Patch fund-raiser Wednesday. More photos below. (David Boraks photo)

A couple of dozen youth volunteers helped unload hundreds of pumpkins Wednesday at the McKay Youth House at Davidson United Methodist Church, on South Main Street. The Pumpkin Patch is a fall tradition at the church, raising money for church missions. It opened Read the full story

World Habitat Day is Monday, focusing on housing worldwide. Above, the Kibera slum in Nairobi, Kenya. (Photo by Habitat for Humanity/Steffan Hacker)

A Giving Spirit Foundation presents its 2nd annual Autumn Family Fest this Saturday, Oct. 3, on the green at St. Alban’s Episcopal Church. Also below, details about the Davidson Housing Coalition’s Ride for Hope & Housing, also on Saturday. We also have news about upcoming events to raise money for Easter Seals, Barium Springs Home for Children, the Hole in the Wall Gang camps, United Family Services, and a NASCAR-related charity aimed at women in the automotive business. Also, info about Monday’s World Habitat Day 2009, and tomorrow’s (Wednesday, Sept. 30) dining fund-raiser for Cornelius Animal Shelter‘s wellness program.

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Ride for Hope & Housing planned Saturday in Davidson

Erik Thorsheim and his dad Peter plan to ride the 25-kilometer route in this Saturday's Ride for Hope and Housing.

SOURCE: Davidson Housing Coalition

Davidson Housing Coalition’s 5th annual Ride for Hope & Housing is Saturday, Oct. 3, in Davidson, and its youngest rider this year is also the first rider to add fund-raising to his preparations for the ride.

For the first time this year, the annual benefit ride is giving participants an opportunity to raise money in support of their rides. This personal fund-raising is encouraged, but not required. Read the full story

As Davidson-Cornelius Day Care Center fights for its life, the outpouring of support has been constant. Some long time supporters wonder what happened.

By MICHELE MILLER HOUCK
DavidsonNews.net

Flash back 12 years: Davidson-Cornelius Day Care Center had a waiting list — for every class.  State funding helped support two-thirds of the center’s students, making it available to a wide variety of kids. Children of college professors and blue collar workers flourished together. A six-figure endowment was growing with the stock market. Supporters say that the center barely missed four stars on its state certification. Read the full story

The women's half marathon top three, from left: Shenna Kevorkian (2nd), Kathy Rink (1st) and Michelle Hazelton (3rd).

Fifteen-year-old Tim Gruber of Huntersville ran away with the 2009 Run for Green half marathon Saturday on Davidson streets and  trails. Davidson’s Kathy Rink, 43, was the top woman for the second year in a row. The race was part of a daylong fund-raiser for Davidson Lands Conservancy.

Events included 10-k and 5-k races as well as a Green Day festival on the Town Green that featured live music, a Davidson Garden Club plant sale, and booths with information about everything from solar energy and portable power, to eco-friendly nutrition and food. (DavidsonNews.net was among the exhibitors.)

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By MICHELE MILLER HOUCK
DavidsonNews.net

Davidson-Cornelius Day Care Center, which has been facing a financial crisis in recent weeks, has raised enough short-term funding to stay open for now. Board member Eileen Keeley said the center is halfway to a $64,000 goal, and was able to meet payroll and continue operating past its original fund-raising deadline of Friday, Sept. 11. Read the full story

Davidson volunteer firefighters will be out on Main Street Saturday morning from 9 a.m. to noon collecting donations for muscular dystrophy research in their annual “Fill the Boot” drive. Read the full story

By MICHELE MILLER HOUCK
DavidsonNews.net

North Mecklenburg Senior Center Director Joanne Ahern’s signature was on the first $100 check in the bowl. Since then, Ms. Ahern has challenged all of the seniors – by her account 40-50 a day that attend the centers events – to give and give generously to a fund-drive aimed at saving the center from closing. Read the full story