"Building relationships to support our community with

collaboration, compassion and purpose."

Every year, the Catawba County United Way (CCUW) partners with local nonprofits who are champions of improving the lives of youth and teens.

In a new weekly series, the CCUW will introduce the 2024 funded programs working in this impact area, highlighting how education is more than just grades and attendance.

This week – Patrick Beaver Learning Resources Center – tutoring program. 

By John Bailey

Catawba County United Way

Feeling lost in a classroom.

Afraid to try anything.

Carrying a stigma everywhere you go.

Not sure what the future means for someone like you.

These are sobering thoughts for an adult to have.

Now imagine if you’re a child in first or second grade, and you have no or very low reading skills.

This is exactly how you would feel every day in school, according to a group of Patrick Beaver LRC Augustine Literacy Project (ALP) tutors.

The ALP provides free, long-term, one-to-one instruction to improve the reading, writing and spelling abilities of struggling readers from low-income families. Volunteer tutors use a multi-sensory approach and research-based materials grounded in the science of reading.

“They can get lost in a classroom full of others, so there is something special about individualized attention,” third year Augustine tutor Aretha Taylor said. “That one-on-one relationship and knowing someone cares for them and that they have support has a great, long-lasting impact.” 

United Way agency Exodus Homes and Exodus Missionary Outreach United Church of Christ will host a Everything Free Community Outreach on April 20 from 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. at the Ridgeview Recreation Center, 115 7th Ave SW in Hickory 28602. This will be a lively family friendly event with great music and powerful testimonies of recovery from addiction and incarceration.

They will be giving away a large amount of new adult and children's clothes from Wal Mart and other free items including furniture, kitchen items, household accessories, haircuts, manicures, face painting, birthday cakes, NIV Larger Print Bibles, free at home COVID tests from the Health Department, and a free beef hot dog lunch for all who come. Voter registration will be provided by the League of Women Voters and the Hickory Branch NAACP.

They will also have a resource fair of local help agencies who will have many free SWAG items to give away as well. The free furniture is given away on a first come first serve basis so participants are encouraged to come early to tag the pieces they want. Doors will open at 10 a.m. although the program does not start until 11 a.m. Exodus Works will be on hand to deliver furniture in the Hickory area for $15 paid in advance. For more information, please contact the Rev Susan Smith, 828-962-8196 or revsusansmith@gmail.com.

Recognize our local heroes who help those in need every day.

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.

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, 365 days a year.

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