"Building relationships to support our community with

collaboration, compassion and purpose."

By John Bailey

Catawba County United Way

The Catawba County United Way (CCUW) is hosting a donation drive in support of this year’s Point-in-Time (PIT) count - a count of sheltered and unsheltered homeless persons on a single night in January (https://www.ncceh.org/datacenter/pitdata/).

This year in Catawba County it will be held on Jan. 30, organized by Housing Visions Continuum of Care Catawba.

The Point-in-Time (PIT) count is held at various locations throughout the county. The results affect the amount of funding granted to regions in each state to support outreach programs addressing homelessness.

The last official PIT count held in January 2024 showed 264 individuals experiencing homelessness in Catawba County.

You can drop off donations at the CCUW office through Jan. 28 – 2760 Tate Blvd SE, Hickory.

Those homeless individuals and families who participate in the count will have an opportunity to pick up items they need during the count.

What to Donate (new items only):

·        Winter Hats

·        Hand warmers

·        Gloves

·        Coats

·        Ponchos

·        Sleeping Bags

·        Backpacks

HUD requires that Continuums of Care (CoCs) conduct an annual count of homeless persons who are sheltered in emergency shelter, transitional housing and Safe Havens on a single night.

The Point-in-Time Count follows the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development definition of homeless: People who are living in a place not meant for human habitation, in emergency shelter, in transitional housing, or are exiting an institution where they temporarily resided. HUD publishes data 10-12 months after each PIT night. 

Learn more at - https://www.ncceh.org/datacenter/pitdata/

THE SALVATION ARMY OF GREATER HICKORY -

780 3rd Ave Pl SE, Hickory

The Salvation Army will be operating their White Flag nights like previous years.

In weather 35 degrees or below, it will allow those on the outside to come into the Shelter of Hope at 7 p.m. (after staff is able to turn the Dining Room around for them to go in there). The shelter will take anyone in, as long as they have not been banned for physical violence and/or on the sexual predator list. This is on a night-by-night basis.

If they are wanting to eat, they may come in at regular dinner time at 5 p.m. but must leave and then return at 7 p.m.

For information call - 828-322-8061 or visit THIS LINK.

STRONG LIFE MINISTRIES – 1209 Fairgrove Church Rd SE, Conover - https://www.stronglifenc.org/

Strong Life will have extended hours through this weekend to provide additional assistance to the unsheltered during the incoming winter storm.

Call 828-994-4321 for more information.

If you know of any other warming sites in Catawba County please share with the United Way - jbailey@ccunitedway.com or call 828-327-6851, and thank you to all those volunteers and agency staff who work to make sure these services are available for the most vulnerable in our community.

NCDHHS Low Income Household Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) began accepting applications from the general public for the Low Income Energy Assistance Program (LIEAP) on Jan. 2, 2025. For the 25 counties that were heavily impacted by Hurricane Helene, additional Disaster Energy Assistance funding has been appropriated by the NC General Assembly to assist households with heating costs and repairs during the colder winter months.

Learn more: ncdhhs.gov/news/press-releases

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El Programa de Asistencia de Energía para Hogares de Bajos Ingresos del Departamento de Salud y Servicios Humanos de Carolina del Norte (LIHEAP, por sus siglas en inglés) comenzó a aceptar solicitudes del público en general para el Programa de Asistencia de Energía para Bajos Ingresos (LIEAP) el 2 de enero de 2025. Para los 25 condados que se vieron muy afectados por el huracán Helene, la Asamblea General de Carolina del Norte ha asignado fondos adicionales de Asistencia de Energía para Desastres para ayudar a los hogares con los costos de calefacción y las reparaciones durante los meses más fríos del invierno.

Obtenga más información aquí: ncdhhs.gov/news/press-releases

Meals on Wheels of Catawba County has an immediate need for volunteers to deliver meals to homebound seniors in various locations throughout Catawba County. Volunteers are asked to commit to delivering meals once a month.

It takes approximately 60-90 minutes to deliver meals. Meals on Wheels volunteers deliver a nutritious meal and provide an important social connection to seniors in our community who are homebound.

A training for new volunteers is scheduled for Thursday, Jan. 23 from 1:30-3 pm at at 507 Boundary Street in Newton. A virtual training option is also available. To register for this training, please contact Kirstin Abernethy at 828-695-6598.

For more information about Catawba County Senior Nutrition Services, call 828-695-5610 or visit our website at mealsonwheelsofcatawbacounty.org.

For other local volunteer opportunities, see the previous list compiled in November by the Catawba County United Way.

The City of Hickory is now accepting applications for nonprofit Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds. The funds are used for grants for public services programs that benefit low and moderate income people in the City of Hickory in support of its housing and community development goals.

Previous recipients have received funding to support organizations that feed and shelter the homeless, support those with HIV/Aids, provide tutoring services for low to moderate income youth, and other public service activities.

Public meetings to learn more about the City’s Community Development Block Grant programs and the grant application requirements will be held on Thursday, Jan. 23, at 6 p.m. in the Z. Ann Hoyle Community Room at the Ridgeview Branch Library (706 1st St SW) and on Thursday, Feb. 6, at 6 p.m. in the Council Chambers at the Julian G. Whitener Municipal Building (76 N Center St).



Applications are available online at www.hickorync.gov/community-development

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 nonprofit 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.