"Building relationships to support our community with

collaboration, compassion and purpose."

For Jason Keating, a 2024 Giving From the Heart Volunteer Awards winner, volunteering is about fulfilling a need by helping others.

"Hands down, a hundred percent, everyone should do it."

Watch his Video at THIS LINK.

And It's not too late.

Giving From the Heart Volunteer Award Nominations are due by May 16.



The GFH nominees are also considered for nomination for the annual NC Governor’s Volunteer Service Awards.

During this special event, all nominees will be recognized with a certificate. Three winners, one in each category – Youth, Individual, and Group – will be named. The winners of the Giving from the Heart award will receive an award and $500 from Piedmont Natural Gas paid to the non-profit organization of their choice.

The GFH awards will be held June 11, starting at 11:30 a.m. at Conover Station.

Eligibility requirements include:

• Nominee’s volunteer organization must serve the community in Catawba County.
• Volunteer nominated by a non-profit (501 C3) or a governmental agency to receive the award.
• Volunteer has served at least a year at nominating non-profit.
• Youth award - Individual 18 years or younger. Youth groups are eligible for the Group Award.
• An adult, youth or group is eligible in one category only.
• Group Award is for groups of 2 or more individuals.
• Applications due by May 16.

Questions? Contact John Bailey at the Catawba County United way - 828-327-6851, or jbailey@ccunitedway.com.

The Catawba County United Way is thankful for the opportunity to be part of Tuesday’s Substance Use and Impact Summit hosted by the Catawba Alliance for Recovery.



The event focused on substance use and its impact on individuals and communities.

From sharing lived experience, to explaining the mechanics of addiction, its relationship to trauma, its affect on the developing brains of adolescents, to current legislation addressing the sale and use of marijuana, the summit's speakers provided multiple perspectives on this issue.

Guest Speakers included: Delton Russell - Region 4 Tobacco Control Manager, Mecklenburg Co.; Amber DelVecchio - founder of the White Butterfly Mission; Kaycee Deen - JD Legal Consultant, NC DHHS and Jamie Todd - MSHA, Opiod SUD Program Coordinator, Catawba County.

For more information email Renee Neal at carinfo@ccunitedway.com.

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services’ Division of Aging is partnering with North Carolina area agencies on aging and local service providers to distribute fans statewide to eligible recipients through the Operation Fan Heat Relief program from May 1 – Oct. 31, 2025.

People aged 60 and older, as well as adults with disabilities, are eligible to sign up for assistance from May 1 – Oct. 31, 2025, with local service providers across the state. 

Donations from Duke Energy Carolinas, Duke Energy Progress and Dominion allow regional area agencies on aging and local provider agencies to purchase fans for eligible individuals. Local provider agencies can also purchase a limited number of air conditioners for individuals with specific health conditions.

Operation Fan Heat Relief helps vulnerable adults at risk for heat-related illnesses stay safe

Individuals may contact their area agency on aging or the NCDHHS Division of Aging at 919-855-3400 for additional details.

Read more at THIS LINK.

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.

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.

Looking for food assistance?

MyFriendBen can help! Take 5 minutes to fill out the myfriendben screener and find potential resources in your area.

Visit bennc.org/ to begin.

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.