What's Happening Now at Outreach 
Outreach Holiday Gift Distribution
Thank you Outreach volunteers, Polk County Toy Run, Green Creek Community Center and all the Polk County residents and businesses who donated gifts - what a wonderful community effort! We are grateful! Merry Christmas!
Cool Kids Alert!
Thank you Polk County Schools for your kind and generous support of Outreach this fall -
Polk County High School's Interact Club donated 542 pounds of food
Polk Central Elementary School
doubled their goal & donated 1,153 pounds of food during their fall food drive
Polk County Middle School donated 408 pounds of food during their Kindness Month initiative
These local elementary school kids raised money, bought supplies and assembled each container to make birthday boxes for the children of families who shop in Outreach's food pantry. Everything you need to throw a birthday party is in this box! "Every kid should have a birthday party!" they said.
Trail Life Group from Midway Baptist Church collected and donated 267 pounds of food for Outreach's food pantry.
Tryon Half Marathon - Fun Run!
Thank you to all the runners and volunteers who supported this year's Tryon Half Marathon - it was another great success! Check out our slideshow to see all the fun - 
Thank you to our generous race sponsors - 
It takes a village ...
At Outreach, we assist over 7900 Polk County neighbors each year with food, financial assistance (rent & mortgage, utilities, medical and dental) and special programs for children (Feed a Kid, School Supplies and Holiday) and veterans.  Without the help of our generous community, we could not provide this level of assistance to those in need. We're all in this together and at Outreach, we're grateful for all you do to help. Thank you!
Cooper Riis Greenhouse Crew Leader, Ines Wullimann, brought beautiful poinsettias to Outreach, grown by Cooper Riis residents. These plants were given to Outreach clients when they shopped in the food pantry.
The Knights of Columbus donated proceeds from their annual Golf Tournament fundraiser to Outreach's food pantry.
Foothills Wellness Center donated 4 large boxes of toys and made a financial contribution to help with Outreach's Holiday Gift Distribution.
8th Annual Tryon Rolling Art 
event donated 822lbs of food 
The NC Woodmen Life Chapter
donated 142lbs of food
Volunteers from the Congregational Church split wood for clients this fall
Empty Bowls 2019 - the Best Yet!
Empty Bowls is a wonderful, collaborative community effort that raises money for our food pantry. We are grateful to all who helped to make this year's event such a fun success - 
  • Business sponsors: Artistry Above, HomeTrust Bank, Saluda Outfitters
  • Restaurant & Bakery Sponsors: Huckleberry's, Lavender Bistro, McGourty's, Southside Smokehouse, The Purple Onion, The Rural Seed Restaurant & Standing Stone Breads
  • The Arts Community: Tryon Arts and Crafts School and potters- Will Barclift, Jim Cornell, Doug Dacey, Ann Gleason, Becky Hintz, Gary Huntoon, JoAnn Kearney, Samantha Oliver, David Voorhees; all the artists who donated to the Silent Art Auction & Silent Art Auction Coordinators Kam Kammerer and Stacey Lindsay
  • Parker-Binns Vineyard
  • All our wonderful volunteers
  • Everyone who bought tickets to this year's event 
Many thanks to all! We're already looking forward to next year!
Come Volunteer at Outreach!
 Volunteers needed:
  • Food Pantry: Monday morning (9:00AM-12:00PM) and afternoon (12:30-4:00PM)  shifts
  • Client Intake Interviewer: Friday morning (8:45AM - 12:30PM)
  • Receptionist: Friday morning (8:45AM - 12:30PM)
  • Van driver to make pick ups and deliveries 
Food Pantry volunteers assist Outreach clients when they shop, stock shelves, sort donations and more. Client Intake volunteers interview (potential) clients seeking assistance. Receptionists greet clients in a friendly and timely manner and answer the phone. Van drivers pick up donations and make deliveries for Outreach.
For more information, please complete and submit the Volunteer Sign-up form or contact Volunteer Coordinator Barb Powell at barb.powell@tboutreach.org or
​828-894-2988.
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Thanks to generous grants from The Cannon Foundation, Duke Energy and the Polk County Community Foundation, Outreach will be getting much needed building updates in 2019! Click this link to our 2019 Outreach Renovations page to learn more about this project and check out before and after photos!
Annual School Supplies Distribution
Our annual School Supplies Distribution on August 3 was a blast! Over 330 Polk County students were at Polk County Middle School to select a new back pack and pick up a packet of school supplies customized based on the grade they're entering.
 
In addition to school supplies, kids could get a fresh haircut, families could attend a health and information fair, load up on free fruits and vegetables (offered by MANNA FoodBank), and pick out a coat, thanks to Tryon United Methodist Church, for when the weather turns colder and even fill out a job application with several area employment agencies.

If you couldn't make it on Saturday, feel free to stop by Outreach (134 White Drive, Columbus) to pick up school supplies - we still have plenty on hand to give out!
Summer Feed-a-Kid Program
This season marks the 8th year local churches have partnered with Outreach to deliver food weekly during the summer to Polk County children who qualify for free and reduced lunch during the school year. This program, led by Carolyne Rostick and the Congregational Church in Tryon, has grown each year - both by participating children and support. This year, six local churches have contributed financially and take turns packing and delivering food each week to 169 children (63 families).  
Outreach extends heartfelt gratitude & appreciation to our Summer Feed-a-Kid partners - 
  • Congregational Church of Tryon
  • Episcopal Church of the Holy Cross in Tryon
  • Episcopal Church of the Transfiguration in Saluda
  • First Baptist Church of Tryon
  • Tryon United Methodist Church
  • Unitarian Universalist Fellowship
The Truth Seekers Sunday School Class at Melvin Hill Church also kindly contributed to this year's program. Many thanks to all!
Recent Grant Awards
Outreach extends heartfelt thanks to The Cannon Foundation for the recent "Human Services" grant award to be used to complete important updates to our building.  Check out our 2019 Renovation page for the details of this project and to track our progress. 
We are grateful to The Cannon Foundation for investing in Thermal Belt Outreach!

Thank you Polk County Community Foundation for awarding Outreach a "Seasonal Assistance and Cheer" grant. Thanks to this grant, Outreach was able to purchase Thanksgiving meal gift cards and gifts for children on our angel tree. 
Thank you PCCF for your generous and continued support of Outreach programs and services!
Hours of Operation
Monday - Thursday:
9:00-11:30AM
12:30-3:30PM
Friday:
9:00 AM-12:00PM
Saturday & Sunday:
Closed
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Upcoming Events
1/25: Wood splitting at Outreach
1/20: MLK Day
2/2: Souper Bowl of Caring
2/14: Valentine's Day
2/17: President's Day
2/22: Wood splitting at Outreach
3/8: Daylight Savings Time starts
3/17: St. Patrick's Day
5/1: Volunteer Appreciation Luncheon
Monthly Wish List
  • Food Focus: peanut butter, jelly, canned fruit, soups, cereal
  • Non-Food Focus:  toothbrushes (individually wrapped), toothpaste, reuseable shopping bags, diapers, wipes
Newsletter

​Annual Report
Did you know.... Outreach now has a texting service to communicate with our clients? This service is 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