News
Dec. 20, 2024
BY JOHN BAILEY
jbailey@ccunitedway.com
The Salvation Army of Greater Hickory’s Maj. Karla Perez thought her first time participating in the Catawba County Christmas Bureau was great.
She and her husband Maj. Enrique Perez transferred to Hickory this past summer and while this was their 20th year organizing an Angel Tree program, it was their first time experiencing the local Christmas Bureau.
“It was exciting to have the space…
Dec. 12, 2024
BY JOHN BAILEY
jbailey@ccunitedway.com
Tanya Miller from Shurtape Technologies is the 2024 Catawba County United Way’s Car Giveaway winner.
She was one of 10 finalists drawn each week since September by Martin Starnes & Associates, CPAs, P.A. for a chance to win a new car donated by Paramount Automotive Group in Hickory. Each finalist had a chance to start the car with a key pulled at random and it was Miller’s that…
Dec. 2, 2024
BY JOHN BAILEY
jbailey@ccunitedway.com
Last year, nearly 100,000 individuals in North Carolina requested help with housing/shelter from NC 211- https://nc211.org/.
During the months with extreme temperature ranges those needs become even more crucial which is why local organizations work together to help make sure there is some place for those in need to go.
“I think the impact of the warming stations is pretty profound,”…
Nov. 22, 2024
BY JOHN BAILEY
jbailey@ccunitedway.com
Life can throw a roadblock up in front of anyone at any time.
For many of us, this untimely crisis can be traumatic but not insurmountable. We have family, friends, financial resources, the knowledge needed to recover from this downturn in our life.
But for others with less, a life crisis could mean the end of having transportation, employment, a home, hope.
Every year, the Catawba…
Nov. 15, 2024
BY JOHN BAILEY
jbailey@ccunitedway.com
In the last year, more than 4,000 requests for help with transportation in North Carolina were made to the United Way’s NC 211 community resource and referral service - https://nc.211counts.org/.
The Hickory Soup Kitchen’s H.O.P.E. (Helping Opportunities for People and Employers) Center is one program designed to address this issue in Catawba County.
In 2018, the Hickory Soup Kitchen did…
Nov. 7, 2024
BY JOHN BAILEY
jbailey@ccunitedway.com
Of the more than 300 families with children who are homeless in North Carolina, 22 of them are in Catawba County. This is according to the 2023 NC Balance of State Continuum of Care Point in Time count in 79 of the state’s counties.
Whether these numbers seem off in either direction, no one wants to think about what it means for every parent and child on this list.
“As a mom, I can’t…
Nov. 7, 2024
BY JOHN BAILEY
jbailey@ccunitedway.com
Nobody wants to think of a child without a gift on Christmas morning, or a warm meal to sit down to later that day.
That’s why every year, the Catawba County United Way (CCUW) joins other local non-profits and agencies to organize the Catawba County Christmas Bureau.
This is a collaborative effort to provide toys, clothing, coats and a holiday meal to families with children and teenagers …
Nov. 1, 2024
BY JOHN BAILEY
jbailey@ccunitedway.com
It started last December with an invitation to cook meals for the homeless at a local church.
This led to questions about what else could be done to help the unsheltered.
“What is it going to take to get you out of the woods?”
“Do you need insurance?”
“Do you need regular food assistance?”
“Do you need help to apply for a job?”
It was from simply taking the time to ask these questions…
The Art of Compassion (TAOC) is thrilled to announce the tremendous success of the recent Lauren Daigle benefit concert, which is raising over $100,000 for Hurricane Helene relief efforts across Western North Carolina.
Held at the Crawdads/LP Frans Stadium in Hickory on Oct. 26, the event brought together a sold-out crowd of 5,000 attendees, who braved stormy weather to show their unwavering support. Every dollar raised will be distributed…
Oct. 24, 2024
BY JOHN BAILEY
jbailey@ccunitedway.com
Tracey Paul, Mentoring Program Coordinator for the Council on Adolescents (COA), recently attended the Carolina’s Youth Mentoring Symposium in Durham, and the Catawba County United Way (CCUW) thought this would be a good time to talk to her about the experience there and about the current needs for mentors locally.
Every year education is one of the CCUW’s Impact Areas of interest,…