"Building relationships to support our community with

collaboration, compassion and purpose."

By John Bailey

Catawba County United Way

“It’s so hard to be who I am.”

This was what OUTright Youth of Catawba Valley Executive Director Kim Bost recently heard from a local student interested in learning more about the agency, and it’s a message she hears often.

OUTright Youth is dedicated to creating safer communities for LGBTQ+ youth and is committed to fostering a supportive environment where LGBTQ+ youth can thrive and be their authentic selves, according to the agency’s website.

It was the desire to help foster this sense of belonging that inspired the Catawba County Youth Council to support OUTright Youth’s community garden project through the council’s annual grant cycle, which is underwritten by the Catawba County United Way.

“We’re taking the opportunity to have a lot of life lessons with the garden, about caring for things, nurturing things, working together, responsibility,” Bost said.

“We want this to be a safe space for the kids, but we want them to know they belong in the middle of things too. We’ll be working on the garden with other members of the community. This is a collaborative effort.”

The Women's Resource Center July Grant Cycle - Womenade applications are due by July 22 at 4 p.m.

Womenade provides financial assistance through one-time grants of up to $500. Womenade works to help individuals who are otherwise self-sufficient and are experiencing a temporary set-back or economic hardship. Womenade is not a long-term solution. The Grant fulfills short-term needs that may can make a difference in the quality of someone’s life, in the interest of building stronger community.

The grant CAN be used for childcare, car repairs, school books, tuition, and more.

The grant CANNOT go towards rent, utilities, or fines.

If you have not been to Women's Resource Center before, please complete the intake link below before going to the link for the Womenade application. Intake at THIS LINK.

Womenade application (for existing clients) at THIS LINK.

Critical Need: A sufficient blood supply is essential to being able to provide timely care for patients in need of lifesaving blood transfusions. It's the blood on the shelves that helps in times of emergency. Your donation makes a difference – schedule an appointment now.

More information at THIS LINK.

The Catawba County United Way wants to say Thank You...Thank You to all of this year's collection partners and everyone who has made a donation. Your efforts will help provide classroom supplies to local families with children in Catawba County, Hickory Public and Newton-Conover school districts. And there is still time to help. The drive runs through the end of July. Find out how you can be part of this community outreach at THIS LINK.

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.

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.