In lieu of its traditional two-day in-person volunteer effort in May, United Way of Henderson County (UWHC) is launching a virtual Days of Caring 2021 initiative to raise funds for 13 local food pantries in Henderson County. The funds raised during the months of March and April will be evenly divided among the pantries in early May.

Community members who want to donate funds can do so easily by texting “UWCARES” to 71777 or by clicking here. Local residents Tom and Sue Fazio have generously offered to match up to $25,000 in financial donations from the community.

According to MANNA Foodbank, a United Way funded partner, many of these families are seeking help for the first time. MANNA reports that since the start of the pandemic, one in five adults and one in four children struggle with food insecurity in Henderson County. All thirteen pantries benefitting from this initiative are MANNA partner pantries, which ensures that they meet standards for accessibility and quality.

"The pandemic has caused financial hardships for so many people in our community. One result is that Henderson County food pantries have seen a 50% increase in residents needing food assistance in the last year,” noted UWHC Executive Director Denise Cumbee Long. “United Way’s work is to make life better for everyone in our community, and we know that our local food pantries need this support so they can continue to serve those in need,” she added.

Residents and local organizations are encouraged to organize food drives and purchase and assemble Kids’ Snack Packs for local pantries. UWHC will provide interested individuals and groups with suggested donation lists and connections to a local food pantry. Text “UWCARES” to 71777 or click here to get started. Any questions about these volunteer initiatives can be directed to Sarah Kowalak at skowalak@liveunitedhc.org, or by phone at 828-692-1636 x1107.