What's Happening Now at Outreach 
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  • Outreach School Supply Distribution is August 5
Thermal Belt Outreach Ministry's 2017 School Supply Distribution will be held Saturday, August 5th in the Polk County Middle School cafeteria from 11am - 1pm. All qualified Polk County students, Pre-K - 12th grade, are invited to attend to receive new backpacks filled with grade appropriate school supplies.
Eligibility requirements include:
- ​Children must be residents of and attend school in Polk County
- Children must be accompanied by a parent or guardian to receive school supplies
- Parent or guardian must present valid photo identification

- Families who receive government assistance from the following programs are eligible:
  • Free or reduced school lunch
  • SNAP (food stamps), Medicaid, WIC, foster care
  • Any program offered by WCCA or Steps to Hope
We're currently collecting new backpacks and school supplies.  If you would like to make a donation, financial contributions can be made by clicking the green 'donate now' button on this page or new school supplies can be dropped off at Outreach before July 28. New school supplies needed include:
  • backpacks
  • spiral & composition notebooks
  • #2 pencils, mechanical pencils
  • blue, black & red pens
  • large & small erasers
  • pencil boxes & pencil pouches
  • colored pencils, markers, crayons
  • highlighters
  • rulers
  • pencil sharpeners
  • index cards
  • glue sticks
  • safety scissors
  • 1" & 2" 3 ring binders
  • wide & college ruled notebook paper
  • 5 tab dividers
  • protractors
Empty Bowls 2017
Mark your calendars for the Community Bowl Making Event July 22, 9AM - 12PM at TACS
Save the date for 2017 Empty Bowls - September 30
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Garden of Hope - Upcoming Events
The 2017 Garden of Hope has been a great success so far - the garden is growing beautifully and producing lots of fresh vegetables, berries, herbs and flowers! Our program series has been well attended and Outreach clients and friends have enjoyed each class!  
If you haven't been to any Garden of Hope programs yet this season, it's not to late to participate:
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July 14, 12PM: Crockpot Cooking Class and Ice Cream Social (Outreach)
July 27, 5PM: Candle Making Class (Outreach)
August 11, 5:30PM: Harvest Dinner - bring a covered dish to share (Harmon Field Cabin)
Photos from recent Garden of Hope Classes
Kids' Dessert Class
Mason Jar Salad Class
Garden pics
Did you know..... Outreach now has a texting service to communicate with our clients? This service will be used to send out important Outreach news and updates on programs and special events. It's simple to register, text 21000 and type Outreach in the message and send!
Volunteering is FUN - come join the team at Outreach!
Volunteering at Outreach is both fun and rewarding and we're looking for Volunteers to fill important jobs:
  • Pantry volunteers​ assist clients and help them shop and stock pantry shelves with food and non-perishables.  Shift times especially needed are: Mondays, 9am - 12:30pm; 12:30 - 4:00pm; Tuesdays, 12:30 - 4:00pm; Wednesdays, 9am - 12:30pm; Thursdays, 12:30 - 4:00pm.
  • Intake volunteers interview (potential) clients at Outreach. Shift times especially needed are: Mondays, 8:45am - 12:30pm & Wednesdays, 8:45am - 12:30pm.
  • Fill-in volunteers are needed to assist, on short notice, with various jobs in the pantry, such as stocking shelves, feed-a-kid, and shopping assistance. 
  • Volunteers​ are needed to chop wood at the monthly, 2nd Saturday firewood splitting.  This is a great opportunity for churches and youth groups to get involved at Outreach.
For more information, please complete & submit the Volunteer Sign-up Form or contact Volunteer Coordinator, Barb Powell - barb.powell@tboutreach.org or 828-894-2988.
Upcoming Events
  • ​​July 14, 12PM: Crockpot Cooking Class and Ice Cream Social
  • July 22, 9AM - 12PM: Community Bowl Making Session
  • July 27, 5PM: Candle Making Class
  • August 5: School Supply Distribution
  • August 11, 5:30PM: Harvest Dinner
  • September 30, 4PM: Empty Bowls
Monthly Wish List
  • Food Focus: fresh fruits and vegetables, canned vegetables
  • Non-Food Focus: new school supplies, fans, toilet paper, paper towels
Newsletter

​Annual Report
​Check out our video about how Thermal Belt Outreach has changed the lives of many and touched the hearts of our community. ​
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​​Thermal Belt Outreach Ministry
134 White Drive
P.O. Box 834
Columbus, NC 28722
828.894.2988