Aug. 25, 2026
BY JOHN BAILEY
Public school students are back in the classroom and thanks to the generosity of everyone who supported this year’s Catawba County United Way School Supply Drive, more than 20,000 items were collected.
These donations mean hundreds if not thousands of local students head back into the classroom with the tools they need to succeed.
But this drive is about more than a box of crayons or a bookbag.
“We had a senior (last) year and his behavior was questionable,” Hickory City Schools Assistant Superintendent Angela Simmons said during the pre-drive luncheon in June. “Well, he’s living in a hotel, his dad just passed. His mom is somewhere, and he just needed some colored pencils to be able to finish this project.
“So, we gave him multiple packs of colored pencils and he was tickled. His behavior changed. He graduated and is now going to community college. It’s just those tiny things we don’t think of that can make a huge impact on these students.”
According to 2025 data from the NC Department of Public Instruction, all three local, public school districts (Catawba County, Hickory City and Newton-Conover) have more than 50% of their students classified as economically disadvantaged.
Catawba County Schools Social Worker, Nichole Silver said homeless families are heavily impacted by the United Way School Supply Drive each year as well.
She remembers one elementary school student from last year who came to Catawba County from out of state. Her mother had basically disappeared, so the young girl moved in with a father who she never knew existed.
“She was enrolled into school and all she cared about was a pink bookbag,” Silver said.
The CCS Social Worker knew exactly where to get one because of the UW school supply drive.
“That’s what she needed to feel comfortable in a new school with new people that she already had anxiety about being around. We have lots of families we impact that way, but that one really touched my heart,” Silver said.
The 2026 United Way School Supply Drive collection partners included: Adult Life Programs, Ashure Ministry, Carolina Containers, Catawba County Partnership for Children, Catawba County Social Services, Catawba Valley Insurance Agency, Catawba Valley Healthcare, Century Furniture, Corning, Hickory Community Yoga and Wellness, Jim N’ Nick’s BBQ, Mallorie’s Place, MDI, Hickory Chair, HSM Solutions, Newton Elks Lodge, Peoples Bank, Pepsi of Hickory, Publix Super Market – Hickory, Senior TLC, Patrick, Harper & Dixon, LLP, St. Aloysius Catholic Church, Shurtape Technologies, Smurfit West Rock, Starbucks Coffee, Tommy’s Express Car Wash, Transportation Insight, Woodforest National Bank, Valley Hills Mall Tenants and ZF Chassis.
HSM Solutions also made a monetary donation of $2,000 to match what they collected.
The United Way drive ran through the month of July and along with regular classroom supplies, also collected hygiene items. Families can contact their child’s school to get access to any of the donations.
To learn more about the CCUW’s school supply drive visit – ccunitedway.com or call 828-327-6851.
