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By John Bailey
Catawba County United Way
With the release of the United Way’s ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) data, the Catawba County United Way (CCUW) wanted to share the different ways several of this year’s CCUW funded partners address poverty through their work.
1. Catawba Valley Healthcare – Gail Henson – “We assist clients with obtaining medication or other needs that are impacting their life, assisting clients in connecting to benefits such as Medicaid or food etc. Having their healthcare needs managed allows a client to move forward in their life.”
2. Catawba County Partnership for Children - Kim Holden – “We provide diapers, baby wipes, and formula through Our Nest Diaper Pantry, free books through Imagination Library, parent support through Parents as Teachers and childcare scholarships. We know how important it is that young children have the quality early childhood experiences they need to be prepared for lifelong success.”
3. DSS Senior Nutrition Services – Michele Francois – “Approximately 28% of the clients served by Senior Nutrition Services are living below the poverty level. For these seniors, we are able to offer supplemental “weekend” meals, and our social workers connect them to other resources in the community.”
4. Exodus Homes – Carol Vandergrift – “Exodus Homes is a beacon of hope for individuals and families trapped in the cycle of poverty, addiction and crisis. Through our comprehensive, faith-based residential programs, we provide not just a place to stay, but the tools, support and structure needed to rebuild lives…strengthening families, reducing crime, and creating a safer, healthier community for all."
5. Sipe’s Orchard Home – Jamie Brown – “We typically have about 23 youth in our care. A little more than half of them are ages 18 and above. Most of them would be couch surfing or homeless absent our program. For the others, those 16 and 17, DSS would have to find another program for them. So, they would have a home but would most likely have difficulties when they turned 18.”
6. Adult Life Programs – Karin McDaniel – “The majority of our participants live at or below the poverty level and cannot afford the cost of our services out of pocket. Our caregivers often must work and therefore need our services to accommodate their working schedules, and it is our services that help them to maintain their employment. Our Conover Center is licensed as a Psychosocial Rehabilitation, we work alongside clients while they learn to live effectively and as independently as possible.”
7. Council on Adolescents – Jordan Ledford – The Council on Adolescents provides hope for individuals and families living in crisis due to poverty through education, support programs, and advocacy aimed at empowering young people and their families. We provide education and prevention programs that equip teens with knowledge to make informed decisions. We advocate for policy changes that benefit low-income families, improving access to education and healthcare.”
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