"Building relationships to support our community with

collaboration, compassion and purpose."

What is the best thing about Sipe’s Orchard Home?

Learning that your opinion and needs matter.

How would life be different without Sipe’s Orchard Home?

Living in a group home until 18 and then leaving, not sure about your future.

Every year, the Catawba County United Way (CCUW) partners with local non-profits 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 – Sipe’s Orchard Home - Transitional Living Program in Conover

By John Bailey

Catawba County United Way

Destiny Grogan, 17, has been in foster care since 2020 after her father died. She was one-of-seven children.

“I bounced around a lot of homes. I’ve been in 28 foster homes in three different states and that setting just wasn’t good for me,” Grogan said. “There were a lot kids with a lot of different needs. I needed to focus on me and get me where I could fight for myself and advocate for myself.”

She ended up finding Sipe’s through social media and called the agency’s Executive Director Jaime Brown directly to talk about entering the program.

The Transitional Living Program at Sipe’s offers a residential setting for both male and female youth ages 16-21 who do not have the financial, academic, emotional, or behavioral skills necessary for independent living, according to sipesorchardhome.org. This program is designed to provide residents with the tools and practice needed to gain successful independence.

"These are youth who are removed from their home, due to abuse, neglect or addiction or sometimes youth who have already been out couch surfing or in some kind of homeless situation," Brown said. 

"Sadly, it's still one of the most underserved populations that can fall through the cracks."

Read more on the CCUW website at THIS LINK.

This is Publix Appreciation Week and the Catawba County United Way wanted to send out a special Thank You to our local Publix stores in Sherrills Ford and Hickory for supporting so many outreach efforts in our county every year. From support of the CCUW’s annual school supply drive, annual campaign and volunteering with local non-profits, Publix has proven why it is United Way Worldwide’s No. 1 Global Corporate Leader.

Thank You…Thank You Publix Super Markets, Inc.

By Samantha Gambill

Catawba County United Way

How does one define the word community?

Is it the people you work with, the people you live close to, the people you relate to?

Or is it the people who help you in your time of need?

According to Dictionary.com a community is, “a group of people living in the same place or having a particular characteristic in common,” or is, “a feeling of fellowship with others, as a result of sharing common attitudes, interests or goals.”

Meals on Wheels of Catawba County, a United Way funded program, fits both these descriptions. It’s a nutritional program for seniors, offering everything from warm daily meals to monthly frozen meals. It even offers dog and cat food for those who have pets.

And then there is the interaction with others.

One Tuesday a month, the Catawba County United Way staff joins the family of volunteers who deliver meals throughout the week. For CCUW Executive Director Mark Bumgarner, that Tuesday is just a great opportunity to talk to seniors and offer them a smile if they are having a bad day.

“I enjoy being able to go out in the community and helping those who need it,” Kelle Love, CCUW Director of Operations said.

This program is available to all individuals who are over 60 and who are currently living in Catawba County. Recipients must be homebound, and not have any other family members who can provide them with the food they need. It is completely free of charge and does not have any income requirements.

Providing food to the elderly is only one of the ways Meals on Wheels has formed a community among its participants. They have also formed a community through the connections the volunteers have built with the local senior population.

The traditional Meals on Wheels program brings warm meals to individuals four days a week. The meals are dropped off by volunteers around lunch time. These volunteers tend to deliver food to the same people, allowing them to build connections and form relationships with the individuals they are helping.

This is the definition of a community. Helping those around you when they are in need. Meals on Wheels has provided this sense of community to both their volunteers, and the individuals they deliver food to.



For more information about Meals on Wheels or to learn how you can volunteer, go to Catawba County Meals on Wheels. Or call 828-695-5600. 

To learn about other Catawba County United Way partners visit THIS LINK.

Are you a small business looking to make a big difference in our community?

Join the Catawba County United Way’s Small Businesses Love Big initiative.

This is an opportunity for small companies in Catawba County (50 employees or less) to contribute $365 each as an investment back into the community, supporting local non-profit programs.

2023 SBLB funded Agencies:

• The Corner Table,
• Catawba County Council on Aging, Family Care Center,
• Hart Square Foundation Inc.,
• Catawba County Juntos 4-H,
• Neigbors Network Inc.,
• OUTright Youth,
• Rising Hope Farms Inc.,
• Serving Our Seniors,
• Volunteer Outreach in Community Efforts.



The CCUW is currently recruiting more small business partners to help with this year’s grant cycle, which runs from August through September.

Learn how your company can be part of this initiative at https://www.ccunitedway.com/small-businesses-love-big or call 828-327-6851.

In total, 28 local small businesses joined SBLB in its first year:

MyFreeTaxes helps individuals file their federal and state taxes for free, and it’s brought to you by United Way.

The Catawba County United Way’s Large RFP Grant cycle recently opened.

These grants are for Catawba County non-profits or not for profit agencies focused on helping individuals and families in the areas of health, education and income stability.

Applications due by midnight March 25.

Basic requirements for a grant:



• Requesting at least $10,000,
• Have a volunteer board of directors who meet at least quarterly,
• Focus on health, income stability or education,
• Agree to provide mid-year/end of year reports,
• Provide demographic information,
• Provide outcome measurements,
• Copy of 501 C-3,
• Copy of Most recent 990,
• Copy of Most recent audit,
• Copy of Current solicitation license.

 Apply online at - THS LINK.

The Council on Adolescents is accepting nominations for the JoAnn Spees Youth Advocacy Award.

The nomination process calls for applicants whose generosity and compassion have positively impacted the lives of youth in Catawba County. The award was created to reflect the commitment JoAnn Spees, Founder of the Council, has demonstrated with her charitable works and community efforts.

The annual award presentation will take place during the Council’s Wake-Up Call Breakfast Event on May 10 at the Catawba Country Club.

The Council honors passionate volunteers who work tirelessly to make a difference in the life of young people, no matter the challenges they face.

Family, friends and colleagues may nominate an outstanding volunteer by visiting the website www.coacatawba.org and completing the nomination form and returning it to Jordan Ledford at jledford@coacatawba.org by April 5.

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.