What's Happening at Outreach​​
** Outreach will be closed Friday, January 21, due to icy road conditions.
Did you know ...
​Outreach is building a supportive, transitional housing neighborhood? The first two houses are complete and renters have moved in. Click here to learn more!
Outreach was recently awarded a $15,000 Parsec Prize grant to help with the fight against hunger in Polk County. Thank you Parsec Financial for your investment in our community. For more information on 2021 Parsec Prize grants, you may visit Parsec Financial's website.
"I want to thank Outreach for helping my family out. Because if it wasn't for you, I wouldn't have food for my six year old son. I just wanted to thank y'all from the bottom of my heart."                            ~ Outreach client
Extra Extra ...
Heartwood Gallery's (21 East Main Street, Saluda) annual Christmas ornament will be one of your favorites of the season! All proceeds will be donated to Outreach. What a meaningful way to support our community - thank you Heartwood Gallery!
Congratulations to our former Executive Director, George Alley on receiving a MANNA Full Plate award! Thank you MANNA Food Bank for recognizing George and all of his contributions to Outreach and our community!
Outreach friend, Chris Baschon has decorated a Christmas tree at Mr. Juan's Restaurant (526 S. Trade Street, Tryon) with her beautiful handmade peace birds. The birds are available for a (suggested) $5 donation that will benefit Outreach. Thank you!
Are you Ready to Make Critical Changes and Improve your Life?​
Outreach is now accepting applications to Life Works, our self-sufficiency program that focuses on helping you achieve goals related to:
  • employment
  • education
  • money management
  • transportation
  • childcare
  • housing
  • building life skills

To learn more, contact Client Services Manager, Michelle Reedy (michelle.reedy@tboutreach.org or 828-894-2988) or click to visit the Life Works section on our website.
It Takes a Village
At Outreach, we have over 7000 visits each year from Polk County neighbors requesting assistance 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 our community. Thank you!
Tim Daniels was hard at work in his kitchen for the 2nd straight year, baking Thanksgiving scones. These delicious treats were sold to Facebook friends and  proceeds were donated to Outreach and The Humane Society
The Congregational Church hosted a turkey drive recently in support of our Thanksgiving Meal Boxes
The Interact Club at Polk County High School held their annual fall food drive and donated over 670 pounds of food to our food pantry. Wow! And perfect timing, just in time for the holidays- thank you!!
As part of their Grace It Forward day, this group from First Baptist Church Tryon worked in our wood shed splitting and stacking wood
The Youth at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church were busy one Saturday stocking our wood shed
Thank you Polk County Masonic Lodge #482 for your generous support of our Christmas program
The Youth with Holy Cross Episcopal Church shopping for the Pantry during their quarterly shopping trip
"The food pantry is a blessing to me and my four little girls. We have had our lives turned upside down and I am very thankful for everyone's help. I hope to eventually be in a place where I will be able to start helping others, like others have helped me. Thank you so much!"            ~ Outreach client
COVID-19 updates & information​​
Outreach is here to help. The COVID-19 pandemic has hit countless Polk County families and individuals hard in many different ways. Thanks to the generosity of individual donors, churches, businesses and foundations (Polk County Community Foundation, Dogwood Health Trust, Duke Energy Foundation, Western NC Bridge Foundation), Outreach is in a great position to help. Whether you're one of our regular clients or someone who has recently fallen on hard times, give us a call if you need assistance with food, paying rent/mortgage or utility bills.
Outreach
134 White Drive, Columbus
828-894-2988
August 2 Building Reopening Postponed -
Due to the recent rise in COVID cases locally, the Outreach Board of Directors made the decision to postpone reopening our building to clients and guests on Monday, August 2 as planned. We are hopeful this is only a brief set back and will re-evaluate local metrics monthly to determine the new reopening timeline. While we look forward to returning to business as usual with an open building welcoming clients and guests inside as soon as possible, the safety and comfort of our volunteers, clients, staff and guests will always be priority.

Clients will continue to receive full support of all programs and services via phone, using the same process we've had in place since March 2020.

Our mask policy remains in effect - masks continue to be optional inside the building for staff and volunteers who are fully vaccinated. Masks are recommended for anyone who has not been vaccinated.​
Resources
There are funds available in the Low Income Household Water Assistance Program (LIHWAP). Click this link to learn more and see if you qualify.
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The Housing Opportunities and Prevention of Evictions Program (HOPE) provides rent and utility assistance to low-income renters that are experiencing financial hardship due to the economic impacts of COVID-19. The program helps prevent evictions and utility disconnections to promote housing stability during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Questions - visit the HOPE program's website or call 888-927-5467. Program representatives are available 8:00AM - 5:00PM Monday - Friday.
"When things get tight (as they always do being a single mother of two), it's great to have this wonderful, dependable place to come to, to help keep our heads above water! Thank you!"      ~ Outreach client
Hours of Operation
Monday - Thursday:
9:00AM - 12:00PM
1:00 - 4:00PM
Friday: 9:00AM - 12:00 PM
Saturday & Sunday: Closed
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Upcoming Events
3/12/22: Empty Bowls (Parker-Binns Vineyard)
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Monthly Wish List
Food Focus: pancake & waffle mix, syrup, breakfast sausage, bacon, soup, instant potatoes, jelly, flour (2 lb bags), rice (2 lb bags), sugar (2 lb bags), canned tuna, canned chicken
Non-Food Focus:  laundry detergent, toothbrushes & toothpaste, hand soap, body soap, cleaning supplies, hand sanitizer

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.
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​​        Outreach
           134 White Drive
           P.O. Box 834
           Columbus, NC 28722
           828.894.2988
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