Dec. 20, 2024
BY JOHN BAILEY
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 we had (at Design Foundry in Hickory). It made the process much smoother,” Perez said. “And it was great to see all the organizations come together to make it happen.”
This year the Christmas Bureau served 914 families with 2,742 youth from the Angel Tree program, including 584 teens (ages 13-17).
The Catawba County Christmas Bureau is a collaborative effort among many Catawba County agencies and organizations to provide toys, clothing, coats and food to children and teenagers in need of assistance during the Christmas season.
Planning starts with meetings in January leading up to distribution days in December.
Toys are gathered through The Salvation Army’s Angel Tree program and from Marine Toys for Tots and other donations from local businesses. The Hickory Soup Kitchen makes sure every family receives a Food Lion gift card as well.
The Hickory Fire Department helps provide bikes for the event while Century Furniture helps purchase tricycles.
The Catawba County United Way Teen Christmas program provides $50 in gift cards for ages 13-17 and partners with Shurtape Technologies to support the outreach.
The staff at Newton-Conover City Schools said receiving gift cards offers more than just practical assistance, it offers teens choice and empowerment.
They can purchase necessities such as food, clothing or hygiene products, and also gives them the freedom to select something personal that brings a sense of normalcy and individuality.
The primary committee partners for the Christmas Bureau included: Catawba Co. Sheriff's Dept., Catawba Co. Partnership for Children, Catawba Co. Dept. of Social Services, Catawba County United Way, Catawba County School district, City of Hickory Fire Dept., Catawba County United Way Teen Christmas, Ashure Ministry, Greater Hickory Cooperative Christian Ministry, Hickory Soup Kitchen, Hickory Public School district, Marine Toys for Tots, Newton-Conover City School district, The Salvation Army of Greater Hickory Angel Tree Program and Safe Kids Catawba Co.
This annual holiday outreach helped a record number of families in 2024, according to Catawba County United Way Executive Director Mark Bumgarner.
“It's this collaborative spirit from all the partners that is the foundation of the Christmas Bureau’s success each year, helping to provide presents for children of local families in need and putting food on their tables,” Bumgarner said. “It’s the best reminder of what Christmas should be, and the families I met were so grateful and overwhelmed by the generosity of our community.”
(In the photo - CCUW executive director Mark Bumgarner helps pass out the Teen Christmas gift cards along side of volunteers from the Hickory Soup Kitchen who gave families Food Lion gift cards.)
- Photos courtesy of Robert C. Reed
