By John Bailey
jbailey@ccunitedway.com
HICKORY – Last year, more than 9,600 calls were placed to the United Way’s 2-1-1 community help line asking for information about low-cost housing while more than 14,000 calls were made about shelters, according to nc.211counts.org.
Housing Visions Continuum of Care volunteers help organize donations and pack backpacks to hand out during 2020’s Point in Time homeless count.
In Catawba County, 603…
News
By John Bailey
jbailey@ccunitedway.com
After 20 years of serving those in need, the Catawba County United Way Executive Director Jennie Connor announced her retirement during the CCUW’s December board meeting.
Jennie Connor
Her last day with the United Way will be March 31 of this year.
“My heart is full. I retire to spend time loving on my family and laughing with friends, having complete conviction that there are caring people who will…
By John Bailey
jbailey@ccunitedway.com
Considering the challenges our community faced last year, the Catawba County United Way reached out to its 2020 funded partners to get their thoughts on the year that was and the year ahead.
Together, these agencies and their programs served thousands of individuals and families in need.
Below are thoughts from eight of the CCUW’s 14 funded partners.
Mark Bumgarner – Adult Life Programs
We’ve charted a…
By John Bailey
jbailey@ccunitedway.com
HICKORY – Because of the pandemic, it may have looked a little different, and it may have run a little different, but the Catawba County Christmas Bureau continued its mission in 2020 of helping families in need during the holidays.
Distribution at this year’s Catawba County Christmas Bureau was done as a drive thru service to insure social distancing at the Hickory Metro Convention Center.
This year…
If you ever wondered what Santa's workshop must be like before Christmas, all you need to do is look at all the work that went into this year’s Teen Christmas and their efforts to help 398 teens.
2020 Teen Christmas volunteers
The Catawba County United Way program is part of the annual Catawba County Christmas Bureau (Dec. 14-15), which is a collaborative effort by dozens of local organizations to provide clothing, coats, food cards and toys…
By John Bailey
jbailey@ccunitedway.com
HICKORY – This year’s Catawba County United Way Fair Share Donor Car Giveaway winner was decided with the turn of a key.
Amy Hedrick is this year’s winner of the Catawba County United Way’s Fair Share Donor Car Giveaway. She gets to pick from either a Kia Forte, Hyundai Elantra or Volkswagen Jetta donated by Paramount Automotive Group in Hickory.
In fact, it was the only key turned at this year’s event…
The Catawba County United Way recently helped D&L Parts Company adopt two families from Hickory Public Schools, for Thanksgiving.
The company's Hickory employees wanted to once again pool their resources and provide a complete Thanksgiving meal for the families.
This has become an annual event for the company and a way for them to give back to their community. Thank You to D&L Parts and their Hickory employees.
Pictured: D&L…
By John Bailey
jbailey@ccunitedway.com
They log in hundreds of work hours every week.
They help save hundreds of thousands of dollars every year.
They are the backbone of every local non-profit agency.
The Catawba County United Way Volunteer Center recently celebrated these heroes during the annual Giving From the Heart Volunteer Awards.
Click on image above to Watch the event recorded on the Catawba County United Way's Facebook Page.…
By John Bailey
jbailey@ccunitedway.com
While the numbers were down, the spirit of giving was still strong from those involved in this year’s Catawba County United Way’s annual Stuff the Bus School Supply Drive.
The Catawba County United Way (CCUW) works every year to ensure every child has the tools they need to succeed, and the highlight of this effort is the annual Stuff the Bus Schools Supply Drive.
Nicola Hershberger and Margarete Bush,…
By John Bailey
jbailey@ccunitedway.com
While the pandemic has changed how we gather and meet, it didn’t stop the Catawba County United Way (CCUW) from hosting its annual Spirit of Giving Awards on Sept. 30.
The CCUW staff decided to go virtual and recognized the top company and school community giving campaigns in the county for 2019. The event is a way to celebrate the generosity of neighbors helping neighbors.
Last year, United Way donors…