Your favorite Charlotte cause?

What's you favorite Charlotte cause? I asked on my Facebook page, and invited new friends to post theirs on my wall. I'm reprinting their shoutouts below. It might just look like a list, but if you read between the lines, you see what really matters to people: Helping people with multiple sclerosis, or mental health struggles, or stray animals.

Connecting with the causes you believe in is a big part of Mission Possible, the community effort The Observer's helping to organize. Social media has been a wonderful bridge between people challenged by hardship. On Facebook, there are 94,000 groups related to cancer.

If there's a Charlotte cause you believe in, post it on my Facebook page, check out Mission Possible, or just mention it in the notes below.

Thanks for caring.

Chris Hawkins

The Batten Disease Support and Research Association is a non profit dedicated to supporting families affected by Batten Disease, a fatal inherited disorder that strikes children.

Sandra Davis Shanklin

DEFINITELY, Battered Women's Shelter!!!

Bo Hussey

When someone is having a hard time finding a job because of lack of skills, experience or education, Goodwill is there to help.

Wanda S Horton

Union County Red Cross - Serves both Union & Anson Counties.

Doug Robinson Animal Adoption League. Non-profit all volunteer organization fostering dogs rescued from shelters in North and South Carolina.

Christine Weber The Friends of Charlotte-Mecklenburg Animal Care & Control (FCMACC) is the only not for profit organization dedicated to raising funds for the city's munincipal, open-door animal shelter, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Animal Care & Control (CMACC)

Jim Mitchem

CMPD Animal Care and Control.

Michael Sealy

my favorite is The Charlotte Rescue Mission.

Marsha Ford

I'm the Community Relations & Fundraising Director for the Women of AT&T. We work with various charities that contribute to the lives of women and girls.

Sherri Bain

Shelter for Battered Women, Shelter for Homeless Women, Crisis Pregnancy, Loaves and Fishes.

Lynn Johnson

The Jingle Bell Ball is Dec. 11th and the proceeds go to the Shelter for Battered Women. They are also sponsoring a fundraiser on Sept. 26 at Dilworth Neighborhood Grill. Live band - Underground Detour - $10 cover. Should be a lot of singles attending!!

Bill Maerkle

My favorite cause is the volunteer unit of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department. We are a group of about 600 volunteers who are allowed to work in many areas within the department.

Casey Shannon

Hoskins Park Ministries...amazing group of people...changing lives everyday.

Dianne Chase

Catholic Social Services...dealing with an overwhelming demand..they help anyone who asks... Fun and important wine tasting fundraiser- Vineyard of Hope- on Nov 13- Marriott SouthPark

Jodi Justen McLaughlin The USA is not commemorating the 100th Annivesary of the Boy Scouts of America! As a proud mom of an Eagle Scout I know this is an important program. Please join!

Alina MacNichol My Shoutout goes to Classroom Central! A marvelous resource for the teachers and students of CMS ...

Charlotte International-Cabinet

My shoutout goes to the Charlotte International Cabinet (CIC).The primary role of the Charlotte International Cabinet is to promote Charlotte as an international city and to serve as a resource to foster international relationships.

Amy Farrell

My shoutout goes to Kids Voting - prepares kids for a lifetime of active civic engagement, supports K-12 academic achievement and builds 21st century skills such as critical thinking, decision making and civic literacy.

Jeff Hartlage Catfish Hunter Chapter of The ALS Association - www.catfishchapter.org
serves all of North Carolina.

Charlotte Klopp

My shoutout goes to the World Affairs Council of Charlotte (WACC). We are a regional center for education and discussion of world affairs.

Mike McBride

My shoutout goes to Tiger World. We are an animal conservation and educational center dedicated to rescue, rehabilitation, and preservation of exotic animals.

Aldo Muccia Humane Society.

Shannon Hinson

My shoutout also goes to Thompson CFF! We embrace children who are at-risk for social and academic failure by providing intensive treatment, protection, specialized education, prevention and intervention services and stabilized family environments.

Kathy Catsinas Rowan

My shoutout goes to Thompson Child & Family Focus, a group that builds stronger,healthier families through prevention and treatment.

Alan Taylor I want to give a shout out to Hope Haven, a residential community that assists recovering addicts who would otherwise be homeless.

Video of the day:

I saw "The Hurt Locker" last night, a gritty, realistic, human movie about the war in Iraq. It reminded me of my time in Europe as an editor of The Stars & Stripes. When soldiers are overseas, they can feel very far away from everything they know and love. This is a moving video that reminded me that regardless of the politics of the war, the young people representing our country are an admirable, diverse and very human group.