"Building relationships to support our community with

collaboration, compassion and purpose."

Congratulations to Michelle Lail from Catawba County Government, this week's car drawing finalist in the 2023 Catawba County United Way Car Giveaway.

It's continues to be a big year with more than 2,800 car giveaway cards currently in the drawing with only two left before the 2023 winner is announced.

For the 12th year, the car will be donated by Paramount Automotive Group, and thank you to RLI – CPA, Certified Public Accountants for overseeing this year’s drawings.

Want to be part of this year’s United Way campaign and have a chance to win a new car?

Call 828-327-6851 or visit THIS LINK.

Thank You to everyone who supports the CCUW every year.

Past Car Giveaway winners:

• 2012 – Richard Jennings – Century
• 2013 – Barbara Cromer – The Salvation Army
• 2014 – Cody Myers – HSM
• 2015 – Marcie Boughman – DSS
• 2016 – Deborah Morel – DSS
• 2017 – Fred Roseberry – Century
• 2018 – Susan Estes – Conover School
• 2019 – Danny Miller – Shurtape
• 2020 – Amy Hedrick – Publix Lake Hickory Crossing
• 2021 – Meghan Stripling – Conover School
• 2022 – Margaret Bush – Conover School

“Our people, automatically become poor the minute they walk out of detox or prison, but they’re clean and they’re ready to start over.” 

-      Rev. Susan Smith, Exodus Homes assistant executive director. 



What does it look like for the 20,000+ Catawba County residents living in poverty?

• No home?
• No food?
• No transportation?
• No healthcare?
• Not enough income?
• Not enough hope?

It’s all of this and more.

And no single non-profit or public agency can tackle all these issues, but the Catawba County United Way addresses many of them through the support of its community partners.

This November, the CCUW is taking the time to talk to some of its partners and learn what poverty looks like for the individuals and families they help – what are the key issues their programs address and what areas of improvement are needed to address this concern in Catawba County.

This series will tell the story of poverty from the point of view of those working on the front lines of this issue every day.

Today – EXODUS HOMES – read more at THIS LINK.

Watch Jim Jernigan share his story of finding a new path in life with the help of Exodus Homes.

What does it take to end homelessness?

Representatives from several Catawba County non-profits were hoping a trip to Greensboro would help them figure that out.

Their destination was the Tiny House Community Development.

The agency has two communities in Greensboro built to provide supportive housing for those who are homeless and one community being built for veterans in the High Point area.

Scott Jones, Tiny House Community Development founder and executive director, described the program as supportive housing, that final step before a client makes the move into a permanent home.

A cornerstone of the agency is its workforce development program which provides a 16 to 24-week job training program for some of its clients experiencing homelessness. It equips them with case management, job and life skills training and a reference at the end of the program, according to the agency's website.

The Catawba County non-profits left Greensboro with greater insight into what it would take to replicate something similar, and plan on continuing this conversation in the upcoming weeks.

In the photo, from left: Austin Pearce - Hickory Soup Kitchen executive director. John Bailey - Catawba County United Way. Scott Jones - Tiny House Community Development executive director. Summer Jenkins - The Corner Table Soup Kitchen in Newton executive director. Back: Mark Bumgarner - Catawba County United Way executive director. Renee Neal - community volunteer. John Hayes - Strong Life Ministries executive director.

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 or email jbailey@ccunitedway.com.

From food resources, emergency financial assistance, housing, healthcare, transportation - NC 211 can help you find out which services are available in your community. Call 2-1-1 or 1-888-892-1162 or visit nc211.org.

Catawba County United Way is one of several community partners who help fund this program.