Privacy Policy

1. Information We Collect

We collect only the information necessary to provide our services effectively and to communicate with you. This may include:

• Personal Information — When you apply for assistance, volunteer, or donate, we may collect your name, address, phone number, email address, household size, and information about the type of support you need.
• Usage Data — We automatically collect certain information when you visit our website, including your IP address, browser type, pages visited, and the time and date of your visit. This helps us understand how people use our site so we can improve it.
• Cookies — We use small text files called cookies to remember your preferences and to keep you logged in. You can disable cookies in your browser settings, though some features of our site may not work as intended.

2. How We Use Your Information

The information we collect serves three main purposes: delivering our services, improving your experience, and keeping in touch.

• To Provide Services — We use your application details to process assistance requests, match families with available resources, and coordinate pickups or deliveries of donated items.
• To Improve Your Experience — Usage data helps us identify which parts of our website are most helpful and where we can make improvements. We never use this data to build individual profiles.
• To Communicate — With your permission, we may send you updates about your application, upcoming community events, volunteer opportunities, or seasonal drives. You can opt out of non-essential communications at any time.

3. Information Sharing

We do not sell, rent, or trade your personal information to anyone — ever. Our commitment to the families we serve extends to protecting their data.

• Consent-Based Sharing — We will only share your information with third parties if you explicitly give us permission, for example to coordinate a referral to a partner organization.
• Service Providers — We work with a small number of trusted service providers (such as email and hosting platforms) who help us operate our website and deliver our services. These providers are contractually obligated to keep your information confidential.
• Legal Requirements — In rare cases, we may be required to disclose information to comply with a legal obligation, such as a court order or government regulation.

4. Data Security

Protecting your information is a responsibility we take seriously. While no system is completely immune to security risks, we implement reasonable safeguards to keep your data safe:

• Encryption — All data transmitted between your browser and our servers is encrypted using industry-standard SSL/TLS technology.
• Secure Storage — Personal information is stored on secure, access-controlled servers. We regularly review and update our storage practices.
• Access Controls — Only authorized staff members and volunteers with a legitimate need can access personal information. All team members are trained on data handling best practices.

5. Your Rights

You have the right to understand and control how your information is used. Specifically, you can:

• Access — Request a copy of the personal information we hold about you at any time.
• Correction — Ask us to update or correct any inaccurate or outdated information in your records.
• Deletion — Request that we delete your personal information, subject to certain legal retention requirements.
• Opt-Out — Unsubscribe from marketing and non-essential communications at any time by clicking the link in any email or contacting us directly.

To exercise any of these rights, please contact us at privacy@carterscommunity.org. We will respond to all requests within 30 days.

6. Children's Privacy

We understand the importance of protecting children's information online. Our website and services are not directed at children under the age of 13, and we do not knowingly collect personal information from children in that age group.

When a parent or guardian applies for assistance on behalf of a minor, we collect only the information necessary to provide services to that family. In accordance with the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA), we will promptly delete any personal information collected from a child under 13 if we become aware of it.

If you believe we have inadvertently collected information from a child, please contact us immediately and we will take appropriate action.

7. Third-Party Links

Our website may contain links to external websites, including partner organizations, government resources, and community services. We provide these links as a convenience and do not endorse or take responsibility for the content, privacy practices, or policies of any third-party site.

We encourage you to review the privacy policy of any website you visit through links on our site. Carters Community United is not liable for any damage or loss caused by your interaction with external websites.

8. Changes to This Policy

We may update this privacy policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, technology, or legal requirements. When we make changes, we will revise the “Last updated” date at the top of this page.

For significant changes that affect how we handle your personal information, we will make reasonable efforts to notify you — for example, by posting a notice on our website or sending an email to addresses we have on file.

We encourage you to review this policy periodically to stay informed about how we protect your information.

9. Contact Us

If you have any questions, concerns, or requests regarding this privacy policy or how we handle your personal information, please don't hesitate to reach out: