Dec. 2, 2022
"To increase the organized capacity of people to help others."
News & Resources
Final United Way 2022 Car Giveaway finalist from Hickory Chair
Congratulations Vickie Franklin from Hickory Chair.
She was drawn as this week’s Catawba County United Way's Fair Share Donor Car Giveaway finalist.
Vickie is also our last finalist to be drawn this year.
We will announce the 2022 winner on Dec. 15 during the event's finale at Paramount Automotive in Hickory.
Employees of companies participating in this year’s Catawba County United Way campaign who are Fair Share Donors (1 hour pay per month) went into 10 drawings starting in September for a chance to win a car donated by Paramount Automotive Group.
The drawings were done every Thursday by Martin Starnes & Associates, CPAs.
The Hickory Daily Record also provided space in the paper to announce each week's finalists.
While the car giveaway is a fun way to help celebrate the annual Catawba County United Way campaign, every donation made to the CCUW helps support local programs that improve the lives of those in need. In 2021, local agencies who received funding from the CCUW helped improve the lives of more than 20,000 individuals.
Hundreds served by Catawba Co. United Way Teen Christmas
More than 470 local teens will be able to celebrate Christmas this year because of the countless hours of dedicated work by the Catawba County United Way Teen Christmas volunteers.
This CCUW program is part of the annual Catawba County Christmas Bureau (Dec. 14 - 16), which is a collaborative effort by dozens of local organizations to provide clothing, coats, food cards and toys to families in need during Christmas.
Matching the increased need local non-profits have seen across the county, Teen Christmas saw an increase of more than 60 teens to their list this year.
In addition to helping teens (ages 13-17) of families on the Christmas Bureau list, Teen Christmas also partners with high school and middle school counselors/social workers to identify teens who may be homeless, pregnant, displaced or abandoned. These teens have no parent to complete their Christmas Bureau applications, so school personnel become their Christmas guardians completing the applications for them.
Donations are used to purchase clothing, shoes and teen toy items, art and bath/body basket items for girls and boys.
Local churches, Rotary Clubs and other community groups help prepare the baskets every year and the Catawba County Library system provides a library services information bag for each teen.
For the ninth year, Shurtape Technologies partnered with Teen Christmas, purchasing special gifts for teens.
Thank You…Thank You to everyone who helps make Teen Christmas a success. All the volunteers are looking forward to Christmas Bureau distribution Dec. 14-16.
Broome Insurance, CertaPro join Small Businesses Love Big
In the last 4 months, 14 local small businesses have joined the Catawba County United Way's new initiative - Small Businesses Love Big.
The two most recent businesses to join are Broome Insurance in Hickory and CertaPro Painters in Hickory.
This CCUW initiative 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.
Each participating company contributes $365 a year, which will be used to fund a second Catawba County United Way allocation process focused on local small and start-up non-profits. 
Representatives of the businesses will meet to review the grant applications and decide what programs to fund.
For more information about Small Businesses Love Big call the United Way at 828-327-6851 or visit THIS LINK.
Catawba County United Way hosts VOICE shoe drive
When your feet are your only source of transportation, a new pair of shoes means everything.
Support the current VOICE (Volunteer Outreach in Community Efforts) shoe drive, collecting New Shoes for those in need. Drop off New Shoes at the Catawba County United Way in Hickory or at Brown's Storage and Rentals in Bethlehem.
For more information about V.O.I.C.E., email blessedhf2@gmail.com.
What's happening - news and updates from local non-profits
We've all heard the phrase - "It takes a village," and in the non-profit world it's true. The Catawba County United Way enjoys building relationships with its community partners and sees how much greater our impact is because of our collective efforts every day.
Below are some upcoming programs and events from just a few of those partners...please share, and if you're interested, the Catawba County Interagency Council meets the second Thursday every month at the United Way office - 2760 Tate Blvd SE in Hickory.
Call 828-327-6851 for more information.
NC 211, find local emergency services
NC 211 is the health and human services information line provided by United Way of North Carolina. Catawba County United Way is one of several community partners who help fund this program.
If you or someone you know needs help dial 2-1-1 or visit nc211.org.

Need help? Dial 2-1-1 or visit nc211.org.
Since 1944, the Catawba County United Way has been dedicated to increasing the capacity of people to help others. To learn more about the CCUW's mission contact us at 828-327-6851 or visit ccunitedway.com.

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