"Building relationships to support our community with

collaboration, compassion and purpose."

By John Bailey

Catawba County United Way

What is the value of a hot dog?

Is it a quick snack?

Is it the start to a lunch break?

Or is it a symbol of hope?

If you’re standing outside the Exodus

Dawgs 4 A Cause food truck, it’s definitely hope.

Part of the Exodus Homes vocational training program, Dawgs 4 A Cause offers the agency’s residents another opportunity for work experience – individuals transitioning back into society from treatment centers, institutions and jail.

“When you’re in recovery and somebody gives you a chance and somebody says here man, I’m going to trust you to do this, that helps with all that trauma that they’ve built up over the years being incarcerated, in drug rehabs…it’s like a hope mission,” Daniel Gregory, Exodus Homes Food truck director said.

Exodus Homes, a Catawba County United Way funded partner, has a comprehensive array of services to meet the physical, emotional and spiritual needs of its residents. Exodus Homes currently has 73 beds with 9 program locations, according to its website - https://www.exodushomes.org/. Its key programs include supervised independent living, prison ministry and post incarceration aftercare, family preservation and the Exodus Works vocational training program.

John Beckam, has been at Exodus Homes for nine months and is one of the first Dawgs 4 A Cause employees. His life had become unmanageable, and he knew he had to make a change, so he entered detox which is where he learned about Exodus Homes.

“Every chance I get I let everyone know how grateful I am for this program,” Beckam said. “They don’t shy away from anything as far as God, recovery, education, it’s all here, responsibility, accountability. Exodus brings all that to a person that’s lost their way.”

The Catawba County United Way's 2025 Request for Funding (RFP) Main grant cycle is now open for non-profits who meet critical needs of citizens in Catawba County.

The RFP grant applications are on the CCUW's web portal and are due by midnight March 24.

Applying organizations must either be incorporated as a not-for-profit, tax-exempt entity or have a 501-C3 legal status within Catawba County, who comply with applicable legal, federal state and local operating and reporting requirements (e.g. government approved accounting practices, annual audit, 990, nondiscrimination policy).

This allocation process is for grant requests of at least $10,000.

Questions? Email John Bailey at jbailey@ccunitedway.com.

Everyone deserves opportunities to have a good life: a quality education that leads to a meaningful career, enough income to support a family through retirement and access to all levels of healthcare. That’s why United Way’s work is focused on developing these building blocks for everyone in Catawba County.

Free county resources for brain health Wellbeing -

Catawba County now has a powerful, free tool for all county residents who want to improve their overall wellbeing.

CredibleMind, a new brain health platform, launched in Catawba County, offering personalized mental wellbeing resources and includes free assessments, things you can do at home, links to other local resources and more.

Mental health is vital to our overall wellbeing. Though when we hear "mental health" we tend to think of negative things like feeling anxious, depressed, or stressed. Mental health also includes emotional, psychological, and social wellbeing - things like our happiness, eating habits, and job or relationship satisfaction can all affect our mental health.

The platform offers:

• Thousands of evidence-based assessments and resources, all reviewed by both experts and users.
• Allows people to gain knowledge and skills to work independently on their brain health.
• Resources that allow users to find information to help them make positive improvements, no matter what their learning style may be. Resources include videos, apps, podcasts, books and more.

It is available 24/7 at https://catawbacountync.crediblemind.com/.

Catawba County Historical Museum - Living Wax Museum:

An interactive experience that brings the stories of influential African American figures to life at the County Museum in Newton.

This experience celebrates the achievements and legacies of Black individuals who have shaped history.

Feb. 22, 3 - 5 p.m.

We've all heard the phrase - "It takes a village," and in the non-profit world it's true. The Catawba County United Way enjoys building relationships with its community partners and sees how much greater our impact is because of our collective efforts every day.

Below are some upcoming non-profit events from just a few of those partners...please share, and if you're interested, the Catawba County Interagency Council meets the second Thursday every month (10:30 a.m.) at the United Way office - 2760 Tate Blvd SE in Hickory.

Call 828-327-6851 for more information or email jbailey@ccunitedway.com.

In the last month, more than 300 calls were from Catawba County to NC 211 for help, including 129 related to housing.



NC 211 is the United Way of North Carolina's health and human services information line.

For help - Call NC 211 by dialing 2-1-1 or (888) 892 1162 or visit THIS LINK. Open 24/7.

The Catawba County United Way is a proud to help fund NC 211 locally.