Sept. 19, 2023
BY JOHN BAILEY
The Catawba County United Way (CCUW) jump-started its 2023 campaign with another big night of free racing on Sept. 16.
In partnership with the Hickory Motor Speedway, the CCUW hosted its third annual Race United event with more than 3,300 in attendance. It was also the championship night for the speedway.
“What a fantastic way to kick off our campaign,” Catawba County United Way Executive Director Mark Bumgarner said. “Gathering the community together to celebrate and support each other is what we do best. United, can you imagine what we are going to do this year? I can’t wait.”
Along with being a free night of racing and fireworks, it was also an opportunity for community outreach. There were 24 local non-profits at the event’s Resource Fair, providing information about their services prior to the races.
Those agencies included: Exodus Homes, Catawba Co. Public Health, Catawba Valley Healthcare, Greater Hickory Cooperative Christian Ministry, Partnership for Children, Family Guidance Center, Catawba Alliance for Recovery, Council on Adolescence, The Salvation Army, The Corner Table Soup Kitchen, Carolina Caring, American Red Cross, Adult Life Programs, DSS Senior Nutrition Services, Neighbors Network, Hickory Soup Kitchen, Habitat for Humanity, Guardian Ad Litem, AIDS Leadership Foothills Area Alliance, Women’s Resource Center, Sipes Orchard Home, Patrick Beaver Learning Resources Center, Just Serve, and Pace at Home.
The CCUW also hosted a food drive at the event to benefit the food pantries at The Salvation Army, Eastern Catawba Cooperative Christian Ministry, The Hickory Soup Kitchen and The Corner Table Soup Kitchen in Newton.
“Community led food drives are important because they bring awareness of the need,” Kristal Manning, ECCCM executive director said.
Comparing the first eight months of 2022 to 2023, the agency has seen a 118 percent increase in the number of households receiving food assistance through their program. So far this year they have served 2,359 households.
“Community support is critical, and we could not continue doing what we do without the support of our donors, volunteers, and partner agencies,” Manning said.
The United Way also wants to thank this year’s sponsors of the race: Shuford Yarns, Shurtape Technologies, Vanguard Furniture, Pepsi Cola Bottling Co., Corning Incorporated Foundation, Cargo Transporters, Healthy Blue NC, Century Furniture LLC, NextEra Energy Constructors LLC, Truist Bank, Paramount Automotive Group and Publix.
For more information and photos visit www.ccunitedway.com/ready-race-united.