"Building relationships to support our community with

collaboration, compassion and purpose."

Congratulations to Kelly Benson from Century Furniture, this week's car drawing finalist in the 2023 Catawba County United Way Car Giveaway.

The last drawing will be on Nov. 30, so there is still time if you want to be part of this year’s United Way campaign and have a chance at winning a car?

For the 12th year, the car will be donated by Paramount Automotive Group, and thank you to RLI – CPA, Certified Public Accountants for overseeing this year’s drawings.

Want to be part of this year’s United Way campaign and have a chance to win a new car?

Call 828-327-6851 or visit THIS LINK.

Thank You to everyone who supports the CCUW every year.

Past Car Giveaway winners:

• 2012 – Richard Jennings – Century
• 2013 – Barbara Cromer – The Salvation Army
• 2014 – Cody Myers – HSM
• 2015 – Marcie Boughman – DSS
• 2016 – Deborah Morel – DSS
• 2017 – Fred Roseberry – Century
• 2018 – Susan Estes – Conover School
• 2019 – Danny Miller – Shurtape
• 2020 – Amy Hedrick – Publix Lake Hickory Crossing
• 2021 – Meghan Stripling – Conover School
• 2022 – Margaret Bush – Conover School

“When you take a kid who’s had garbage dumped on them for years about their worth and their value, it’s tough for them to believe that they are capable, that their future can be different.”

• Jamie Brown, Sipe’s Orchard Home executive director



What does it look like for the 20,000+ Catawba County residents living in poverty?

• No home?
• No food?
• No transportation?
• No healthcare?
• Not enough income?
• Not enough hope?

It’s all of this and more.

And no single non-profit or public agency can tackle all these issues, but the Catawba County United Way addresses many of them through the support of its community partners.

This November, the CCUW is taking the time to talk to some of its partners and learn what poverty looks like for the individuals and families they help – what are the key issues their programs address and what areas of improvement are needed to address this concern in Catawba County.

This series will tell the story of poverty from the point of view of those working on the front lines of this issue every day.

Today – SIPE'S ORCHARD HOME – read more at THIS LINK.

Watch Sipe’s resident Jessica talk about how the program saved her life in 2020.

Thank You…Thank You

Through its Tools for Back to School campaign, Publix recently donated more than $2,500 to the Catawba County United Way’s School Supply Drive which was divided among the three public school districts in Catawba County.

Thank You again to Publix and Publix employees for helping to ensure local students have the supplies they need to succeed throughout the year.

In the photo: Angela Simmons Hickory Public Schools assistant superintendent, student support and operations; Mark Bumgarner Catawba County United Way executive director; Cody Wigley Publix at Lake Hickory Crossings store manager and Maria Ballard Catawba County Schools director of student services.

Not pictured in group photo: Kirsten Maynard Newton-Conover City Schools director of Community Schools.

(And...making cameo appearances: Duke and Roxie.)

More Photos at THIS LINK.

This is Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week and the Housing Visions group in Catawba County organized Resource Fairs hosted by the Hickory Soup Kitchen and The Corner Table in Newton.

It was an opportunity to help those in need learn about local resources and programs with nearly a dozen agencies setting up information tables at one or both locations.

The agencies who attended included: Eastern Catawba Cooperative Christian Ministry, Exodus Homes, Safe Harbor, Women's Resource Center, ALFA, The Corner Table - Backpack Program, The Hope Center - Hickory Soup Kitchen, The Salvation Army, Catawba Co. Public Health, Catawba Valley Healthcare, Partners Health Management, The Cognitive Connection, Catawba County United Way. Thank You to everyone who helped with this event.

More Photos at THIS LINK.

Ensure local public school students continue to have the classroom supplies they need through Christmas and into the new year by dropping off donations at The Green Room Community Theater during their performance of "Elf the Musical" in November and December.

Part of the Catawba County United Way’s annual School Supply Drive, this event benefits students in Catawba County, Hickory Public and Newton-Conover City School systems.

Questions? Call John Bailey at the United Way – 828-327-6851.

And Thank You to everyone who supports this drive and our local public school systems every year.

Performances: Nov. 17, 18, 19, 24, 25, 26. Dec. 1 - 3.

Ticket information - https://www.thegreenroomtheatre.org/

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 programs and 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 at the United Way office - 2760 Tate Blvd SE in Hickory.

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

TUNING INTO THE MULTITUDE OF NEEDS―beyond what the NC 211 caller initially thought she needed help with―gave our Community Resource Specialist great fulfillment.



From food resources, emergency financial assistance, housing, healthcare, transportation - NC 211 can help you find out which services are available in your community. Call 2-1-1 or 1-888-892-1162 or visit nc211.org.

Catawba County United Way is one of several community partners who help fund this program.