June 16, 2026
BY JOHN BAILEY
So, what is the value of a nonprofit volunteer?
Is it the hundreds or thousands of dollars they represent every week?
Is it additional services provided every day because of their presence?
Is it the technical, life and work experience they bring to a nonprofit?
Along with all of these reasons, the value of a Catawba County volunteer is also measured in every smile, handshake, hug and life changed because of the work they do for others.
On June 10, the Catawba County United Way (CCUW) hosted the annual Giving From the Heart (GFH) Volunteer Awards at Conover Station as a way to thank and recognize some of these local nonprofit heroes. Lunch was provided by Hickory Soup Kitchen.
This year’s group of 31 nominees was equally amazing as in the past with individuals who have donated their time for decades, to groups who never say no when presented a task and to youth who are setting a new standard for community outreach.
And once again, the winner of each nomination category received $500 from Piedmont Natural Gas to be paid to the non-profit organization of their choice.
The 2026 GFH winners
Youth Category: Banks Collins - The Corner Table
Group Category: Patrick Beaver Learning Resource Center – Augustine Tutors: Jim and Linda Nanney
Individual Category: Leslie Hulbert – Malorie’s Place
INDIVIDUAL NOMINEES
Ashley VanStry – The Kindness Project
Barbara Curtis – Women's Resource Center
Billy Howell, Jr. - Carolina Caring
Chris Oram – Safe Harbor Administration
Cynthia Martin – Sipe's Orchard Home
Dr. David Bost – Greater Hickory Cooperative Christian Ministry
Diane Crooks – Ashure Ministry
Glenda Verbos – Safe Harbor
Janet Key – Greater Hickory Cooperative Christian Ministry – Dental Clinic
Jody Eckard – The Hickory Soup Kitchen
Karen Barkley – Walk With Me Healing Steps
Lauren Hall – United Way Catawba County
Leslie Hulbert – Malorie’s Place
Linda Church – Safe Harbor GreenLeaf Program
Melissa Truesdale – Catawba Co. Long term Recovery Group
Phyllis Smith – Patric Beaver Learning Resource Center, Augustine Literacy Tutor
Randy Kauffman – Council on Adolescents of Catawba Co., Mentoring Program
Sally Throckmorton – Safe Harbor ReSource Warehouse
Susan Underwood – Safe Harbor, Whole Woman program
Teresa Slaughter – Catawba Co. Senior Nutrition Services, Meals on Wheels/ Seniors Morning Out
Teri Peppers – The Corner Table Community Kitchen
GROUP NOMINEES
Patrick Beaver Learning Resource Center – Augustine Tutors: Jim and Linda Nanney
Ashure Ministry – Authentic Church Volunteers: Too many to list.
The Corner Table Backpack Program – Warehouse Volunteers: Frances Reese, Debbie Isenhour, Michele Ferber, Jim Dancoff and Dee Cook.
Safe Harbor – Bley Family: Lizzy Bley, Katie Bley and Rachel Bley.
Ashure Ministry – Food Lion Volunteers: Too many to list.
The Kindness Project – Sunday Kitchen Volunteers: Madison Wright, Cindy Meadows, Art Meadows, Bruce McLeod and Linda Huffman.
Walk With Me Healing Steps – Operation Battle Horse volunteers: Joe Nash and Jake Bandy.
YOUTH NOMINEES
Banks Collins - The Corner Table
Mary Doughty – Ashure Ministry
Nariyah “Sissy” Dula – The Kindness Project
(Learn more about these nominees at THIS LINK.)
This year's NC Governor's Awardees, who were GFH nominees last year, were also recognized during the luncheon.
Zaira Mendoza – Catawba County Juntos 4-H Program
Sarah Huffman – Catawba Science Center
Robin Martin – Fostering Hope Catawba Valley
Marc St. Germain – Guardian ad Litem
The Kindness Project Leadership Team: Brittany Dula, Amber Taylor, Ashley Dellinger, Linda Huffman and Natalie Auton.
Learn more about the Giving From the Heart Awards, this year’s nominees and see photos from the event at - https://www.ccunitedway.com/giving-heart-volunteer-awards.