"Building relationships to support our community with

collaboration, compassion and purpose."

Final Finalist - Congratulations to Codey Stevenson from Paramount Kia, this week's finalist for the 2023 Catawba County United Way Car Giveaway. He was the last finalist for 2023.

The winner will be announced on Dec. 14 at Paramount Automotive in Hickory.

Thank you to Paramount Automotive Group for donating the car and partnering with the United Way for the 12th year.

And thank you to RLI – CPA, Certified Public Accountants for overseeing this year’s drawings.

Learn more about the United Way's impact - call 828-327-6851 or visit THIS LINK.

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

“I’ve been amazed by the number of senior citizens who’ve called us for help. They can’t live off the income their getting at all. We require a crisis to help and for people on a fixed income, the crisis is inflation.” 

• Maj. Angela Repass, The Salvation Army of Greater Hickory



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

• Not enough food?
• Not enough income?
• Not enough hope?

It’s all of this and more.

And no single non-profit or public agency can address 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.



The Salvation Army of Greater Hickory

Defining what living in poverty means depends on who you talk to and the situation they’re in at the time they answer the question.

“We have a wide range of people who come into our shelter looking for help,” Sindy Connell, director of social services at The Salvation Army in Hickory said. “It’s not always any one thing they did. Sometimes life just happens to them.”

Read more 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 final performances of "Elf the Musical" i.

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: Dec. 1 - 3.

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

Together we have greater impact - The Catawba County United Way currently helps support 14 local non-profits to address the needs of individuals and families in crisis.

Their outreach includes programs focused on health, financial stability and education.

THIS WEEK - we learn about Catawba County Partnership for Children - Parents as Teachers program, which provides parenting support for families with children ages birth to 5-years-old.

Learn more about other CCUW partners at ccunitedway.com.

Watch Video at THIS LINK.

The Duke Energy, Marshall Steam Station Community Service team – (from left: Jeff Flanagan, plant manager, Barbara Bell and Tim Coeburn) – recently presented a $2,500 donation to Catawba County United Way staff (Mark Bumgarner, executive director; Sylvia Long, dir. of resource development and Kelle Love, dir. of operations).

The CCUW thanks everyone at Duke Energy Marshall Steam Station for their support through the years. Their donation contributes to the United Way’s mission of helping local non-profits continue to impact individuals and families in need in the areas of health, education and financial stability.

Learn more at 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 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.

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 every year.