"Building relationships to support our community with

collaboration, compassion and purpose."

From helping collect food, to sorting and preparing donated clothing, to manning an information desk, to showing up at a disaster ready to help, to sharing a smile with someone facing a crisis, Catawba County nonprofits would struggle to help others without their volunteers.  

Recently, the Catawba County United Way helped connect Public employees with a volunteer opportunity at Riverbend Park in Conover.

Each year thousands of volunteers give their time to make a difference for those in need and no job is too small.

Their efforts mean nonprofits can have greater outreach with community projects and save the agencies thousands of dollars each month in labor costs.

Would you like to be part of this growing movement?

School Systems offer Summer Food programs:



Hickory City Schools is committed to ensuring that all students have access to nutritious meals throughout the summer. The district’s School Nutrition Department will provide meals at no cost to children 18 years old and younger, with no registration required for daily meal pick-up. However, families participating in the Weekly Meal Pick-Up are encouraged to complete a Summer Meals Registration Form to help determine the amount of food needed for the program.

Option 1: Weekly Meal Pick-Up (Registration Recommended)

Wednesdays, June 4 – August 20 - 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Location: Henry Fork River Park, 5655 Sweet Bay Ln, Hickory

Option 2: Daily Meal Pick-Up

June 2 – August 15

Locations and Times:

• Highland Recreation Center, Monday – Friday: 1 – 3 p.m., 1451 8th St Dr NE, Hickory, NC 28601
• Kiwanis Park, Monday – Thursday, 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m., 805 6th St SE, Hickory, NC 28602
• Ridgeview Branch Library, Monday – Thursday, 12 – 1 p.m., 706 1st St SW, Hickory

More Details at THIS LINK.

Catawba County Schools - summer meals for kids and teens (ages 1–18) start June 9 – August 11. Pick up 7 days of breakfasts and lunches at 5 locations: Mondays and Thursdays, 4 –5:30 p.m.

Bunker Hill HS, Foard HS, Mill Creek MS, Balls Creek Optimist Park, Catawba Firefighter’s Museum. Closed week of July 4th.

Adult Life Programs is hiring - Current job openings are:

• Health Aide – Hickory and Maiden locations.
• Behavioral Health Program Assistant (Associate Professional) – Hickory location
• Aging & Behavioral Health Director of Operations – agency-wide

Please apply via Indeed or contact our Central Office at 828-326-9120 for more information or visit THIS LINK to learn more about Adult Life Programs.

NC Medicaid 1915(i) services support you (or your loved one) at home and in the community. These services are for children and adults with intellectual or developmental disabilities, traumatic brain injuries, substance use disorder or serious mental health conditions. Learn more at Medicaid.NC.Gov/1915i

1915(i) is available for people on Tailored Plans and some people on NC Medicaid Direct or Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians Tribal Option. Call your Care Manager.

Learn more at THIS LINK.

The Catawba County United Way is seeking a Director of Resource Development.

Please see attached Job Description. Interested parties must submit an application and resume. Applications can be requested from and submitted to Mark Bumgarner at mbumgarner@ccunitedway.com.

Completed applications can also be mailed to PO Box 2425 Hickory NC 28603.

Eligibility requirements include:

• Nominee’s volunteer organization must serve the community in Catawba County.
• Volunteer nominated by a non-profit (501 C3) or a governmental agency to receive the award.
• Volunteer has served at least a year at nominating non-profit.
• Youth award - Individual 18 years or younger. Youth groups are eligible for the Group Award.
• An adult, youth or group is eligible in one category only.
• Group Award is for groups of 2 or more individuals.
• Applications due by May 16.

Questions? Contact John Bailey at the Catawba County United way - 828-327-6851, or jbailey@ccunitedway.com.

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 non-profit 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 (10:30 a.m.) at the United Way office - 2760 Tate Blvd SE in Hickory.

Call 828-327-6851 for more information or email jbailey@ccunitedway.com.

NC 211 is the United Way of North Carolina's health and human services information line.

For help - Call NC 211 by dialing 2-1-1 or (888) 892 1162 or visit THIS LINK. Open 24/7.

The Catawba County United Way is a proud to help fund NC 211 locally.