"Building relationships to support our community with

collaboration, compassion and purpose."

The North Carolina Commission on Volunteerism and Community Service has presented the 2025 Governor’s Volunteer Service Award to 10 recipients from Catawba County.

Their selection for the Governor’s award was based off their 2024 nomination for the Catawba County Giving From the Heart (GFH) Awards.

NC State Award recipients include:

• Jason Keating – Walk With Me Equine Therapy,
• Dana and Josia Florez – NC Cooperative Extension 4-H,
• Luke Wilkinson – The Corner Table,
• Amber Taylor – The Kindness Project Hickory,
• Betty Lynch – Ashure Ministry,
• Denise Bilhorn – Safe Harbor,
• Elizabeth Belvin – Greater Hickory Cooperative Christian Ministry,
• Nancy Lipe – Hickory Soup Kitchen,
• Robert Sand – Catawba County Meals on Wheels.



In addition, Darlene Sanders, Exodus Homes volunteer, was chosen as a recipient of the Governor’s Volunteer Medallion Award.

Annually, the Governor’s Volunteer Service Award honors people who have shown concern and compassion for their neighbors by making a significant contribution to their community through volunteer service. The award was created in the Office of the Governor in 1979.

The Catawba County United Way hosts the Giving From the Heart awards each year as a way to recognize the work local volunteers accomplish every day to help those in need.

Habitat for Humanity - Are you or someone you know a U.S. military veteran in need of critical home repairs?

As an official Veterans Build Affiliate with Habitat for Humanity International, Habitat Catawba Valley will open its first Veteran Repairs Application. The agency is committed to ensuring that veterans can live comfortably and securely in their own homes.

The Veteran Repairs Application will open from May 19 - May 30. You can download or pick up an application at the Habitat Catawba Valley's main office starting May 19. Completed applications will be due by June 13, 2025.

On May 19, the downloadable application will go live on the website at:

www.habitatcatawbavalley.org/our-programs/habitat-repairs/

Forum on food insecurity - Connect Catawba is back. Join the group on Thursday, June 5, for an event focused on Supporting Families Facing Food Insecurity. Connect Catawba Forums are always free.

Light Refreshments • Keynote Presentation • Agency Presentations • Networking.

RSVP by June 4: https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/ev/reg/ujb5uuy

Questions? Contact Sara Thompson at sthompson@catawbacountync.gov

The Catawba County United Way will host a luncheon Meet and Greet with local public school teachers and social workers on June 5, 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the CCUW office (2760 Tate Blvd SE in Hickory).

For those interested in being collection partners during the CCUW's annual County-wide School Supply Drive, this will be an opportunity to learn directly from local public school representatives from Catawba County, Hickory City and Newton-Conover districts about the needs and the impact of the drive on local families.

Register for the Luncheon through the Link Below.

And Thank You…Thank You for your support last year. We were able to collect more than 9,000 items for our three public school districts.

This year the drive will run July 1 to July 31. Collection bins and promotional materials are available.

Questions? Email John Bailey at the United Way - jbailey@ccunitedway.com.

In March, Catawba County United Way Executive Director Mark Bumgarner introduced the new United Way tool to track poverty levels called ALICE - Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed. FULL VIDEO at THIS LINK

The United Way recently released updated A.L.I.C.E. data, reflection numbers up to 2023.

According to this data, more than 28,126 households in Catawba County were below the ALICE level of poverty out of a total of 68,126 households in the county.

These are households that earn more than the Federal Poverty Level, but less than the basic cost of living for their county. Households below the ALICE Threshold — ALICE households plus those in poverty — can’t afford the essentials. Data is drawn from the American Community Survey (ACS) through the U.S. Census Bureau.

According to the United Way’s recent ALICE report, in North Carolina there was a total of 269,896 single female with children head of household units.

Of that number, 213,033 (79%) were below the ALICE threshold.

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.

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.