What's Happening Now at Outreach 
Join us for the 3rd Annual Empty Bowls Fundraiser September 30
Tickets are available now - click here to purchase
Empty Bowls is a simple meal of soup and bread. All guests receive a handcrafted bowl to keep as a reminder of all the empty bowls at meal time in Polk County and around the world. This Empty Bowls event will raise money to stock Thermal Belt Outreach Ministry's food pantry and raise awareness to the plight of local residents struggling with hunger.

Join us at The Barn at scenic Parker-Binns Vineyard for Thermal Belt Outreach Ministry's 3rd Annual Empty Bowls fundraiser, brought to you by our generous sponsors HomeTrust Bank, Artistry Above and Wilderness Cove Tubing and Campground. As you enjoy music provided by The Trophy Husbands, Cask Strength, sample delicious soups prepared by 6 of your favorite local restaurants - Huckleberry's Restaurant, Larkin's Carolina Grill, Lavender Bistro, McGourty's Irish Pub, Southside Smokehouse & Grille and The Purple Onion. Standing Stone Breads will provide fresh, artisan breads. 
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Parker-Binns wines will be for sale, along with beer. Tea and water will be provided.
2017 School Supplies Distribution - If you missed the School Supplies Distribution on Saturday (8/5), come by Outreach to pick up a backpack and supplies (134 White Drive, Columbus NC; 828-894-2988).​  We have school supplies available for all ages, Pre-K to 12th grade!
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Garden of Hope 
The 2017 Garden of Hope has been a great success - so far the garden has produced 1,191 pounds of fresh vegetables, berries, herbs and flowers with more to come!  We're still harvesting corn and other vegetables and have planted fall crops such as pumpkins.
The Garden of Hope program series was lots of fun! Community members enjoyed learning how to make candles, soap, mason jar salads and mastered crock pot cooking.  Scroll to check out pictures from some of the classes!

Photos from recent Garden of Hope Classes
Kids' Dessert Class
Mason Jar Salad Class
Garden pics
Crockpot Cooking Class and Ice Cream Social
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
  • August 11, 5:30PM: Harvest Dinner
  • September 30, 4PM: Empty Bowls Fundraiser - click here to purchase tickets
  • November 18, 8AM: Tryon Half Marathon
Monthly Wish List
  • Food Focus: milk, eggs, fresh fruits and vegetables, lettuce greens (all kinds), yogurt, bread
  • Non-Food Focus: new school supplies, fans, toilet paper, paper towels
Newsletter

​Annual Report
Did you know.... Outreach now has a texting service to communicate with our clients? This service will be used to send important Outreach news and updates on programs and special events. It's simple to register - text 21000, type Outreach in the message and press send.
​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