News

July 7, 2023   BY JOHN BAILEY jbailey@ccunitedway.com It has been a busy year for the Catawba County United Way (CCUW) staff, who recently wrapped up three concurrent grant cycles along with administering the local FEMA grant. "It was a lot of work but incredibly exciting," CCUW Executive Director Mark Bumgarner said. Along with the traditional Catawba County Youth Council and large community grants, the CCUW added the new Small Businesses Love…
July 6, 2023   SUBMITTED Exodus Homes, a faith based Catawba County United Way agency that provides 73 beds of supportive housing to homeless recovering people in Hickory, has purchased two late model moving trucks for their revenue generating vocational training program called Exodus Works with the help of four local foundations. Exodus Works gives the residents of Exodus Homes volunteer work opportunities, and the net profit of Exodus Works is…
June 30, 2023   Kids don't have to think about school until August, but be like Duke, everyone’s favorite United Way Boxer dog rep., and start thinking about what it'll take to help families get the supplies they need to be ready when that first school bell rings.  Become a United Way School Supply Drive collection partner or drop of donations at the Catawba County United Way in July – 2760 Tate Blvd SE in Hickory. We had a phenomenal 2022,…
June 29, 2023   BY JOHN BAILEY jbailey@ccunitedway.com Serving the homeless, youth, senior citizens and marginalized communities.  These were the goals of the local non-profits who applied for the Catawba County United Way’s inaugural Small Businesses Love Big (SBLB) grant cycle, which concluded earlier this month. “Being able to support organizations in our county who give back to people of all ages and learning about their work was important…
June 23, 2023   BY JOHN BAILEY jbailey@ccunitedway.com   Together we rise.  Be thankful for diversity. Celebrate emancipation. Empower the future. Strive for peace and love. Nobody is free until everybody is free. These were the words on signs and minds of those who gathered at the Juneteenth March and Celebration last Saturday, June 17, in downtown Newton. The Catawba County United Way participated and helped sponsor this annual event to…
June 7, 2023   The Catawba County United Way is excited to welcome Homefield Athletics in Maiden to the CCUW’s Small Businesses Love Big initiative.  This is an opportunity for small companies in Catawba County (50 employees or less) to invest back into their communities by supporting local non-profit programs. The first grant cycle for Small Businesses Love Big is now open with applications due by June 12. To learn more visit - https://www.…
June 7, 2023   BY JOHN BAILEY jbailey@ccunitedway.com Walk in to or contact any non-profit and more than likely the first person you’ll meet is a volunteer. These are selfless individuals who believe in the value of serving others and aren’t concerned with receiving anything in return. But every year, the Catawba County Volunteer Center takes a moment to say thank you, accepting nominations for the Giving From the Heart (GFH) Volunteer Awards…
May 30, 2023   Welcome aboard - the Catawba County United Way is excited to have Emerald Health Direct Primary Care in Hickory join the CCUW’s Small Businesses Love Big initiative.  This is an opportunity for small companies in Catawba County (50 employees or less) to invest back into their communities by supporting local non-profit programs. The first grant cycle for Small Businesses Love Big is now open with applications due by June 12. Each…
May 30, 2023   BY JOHN BAILEY jbailey@ccunitedway.com For David Stowell, New Hope Ministries is more than a Blue Bus delivering food and other items to those in need.    It’s a labor of love and faith meant to bring hope to those who might otherwise suffer in silence. In 2020, Stowell founded New Hope Ministries to bring food and essential supplies to those who were homebound, living in poverty or homeless - meeting the need where it was in…
May 15, 2023   Thank You to Countryside Pet Hospital - they recently raised more than $900 to help keep the Catawba County United Way’s Blessing Box filled with food and other essential items for those in need. It was the first time the staff at Countryside Pet Hospital participated in this kind of outreach, but they’ve already decided it will not be the last. “It was very inspiring and with everyone knowing it was to help the homeless…