|
By John Bailey
Catawba County United Way
Life can throw a roadblock up in front of anyone at any time.
For many of us, this untimely crisis can be traumatic but not insurmountable. We have family, friends, financial resources, the knowledge needed to recover from this downturn in our life.
But for others with less, a life crisis could mean the end of having transportation, employment, a home, hope.
Every year, the Catawba County United Way (CCUW) partners with local non-profits focused on helping individuals and families navigate past these moments.
The Women’s Resource Center (WRC) recently joined this group of CCUW partners through the Small Businesses Love Big grant initiative, supporting the Womenade Program.
“The goal of the Womenade Program is to address critical, immediate needs that can prevent a woman from experiencing a downward spiral,” Women’s Resource Center’s Executive Director Michelle Morgan said.
The most common requests the Women’s Resource Center receives are for car repairs, tires, laptops for work or school and assistance with daycare balances.
Needs that are not covered: rent or utilities, housing/rental deposits, past due credit and/or medical bills, car insurance coverages.
The Womenade Program was created in 2020 as a direct response to the disproportionate impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on women. The pandemic highlighted and exacerbated existing gender disparities in areas like employment, caregiving responsibilities and access to resources, which left many women facing unprecedented challenges, the WRC director said.
“Women, particularly those in lower income brackets, were more likely to work in industries severely affected by the pandemic, such as retail, hospitality and healthcare support roles,” Morgan said. “Many faced job loss or reduced hours, making it harder to meet basic needs.”
Recently the program helped a single mother of five children whose husband left the family without notice. The stay-at-home mother relied on her husband’s income and had to become the breadwinner.
The mother’s car required repairs and new tires, and with only food stamps for financial support, she reached out for assistance. After receiving the Womenade grant, she was able to get the repairs needed and is pursuing jobs to support her family.
“While other organizations focus on rent and utility assistance, we sought to create a unique program that bridges short-term gaps with long-term impact,” Morgan said. “Womenade aims to offer a lifeline that not only addresses urgent challenges but also helps pave the way for greater stability and resilience in the future.”
(Photo: WRC staff - Dir. of Programs and services Abby Selig, Executive Dir. Michelle Morgan and Account Manager Belinda Crane-Isenhower.)
| 
