Recent Happenings at Outreach
February Fresh Vegetable Distribution
Outreach hosted our first Vegetable Distribution of 2019 recently. In addition to the fresh fruits and vegetables that were given away to all Polk County residents who stopped by, United Healthcare, the Columbus Fire Department and NC Cooperative Extension were on hand to answer questions and share information. We host these distributions several times during the year, so keep an eye on our website or Facebook page for information on this and other upcoming events and programs!
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Outreach Holiday Distribution
Our Outreach Holiday Distribution was held on December 7 at Green Creek Community Center. Gifts for seniors and children 12 and under were distributed. Food and grocery store gift cards to help with a special holiday meal were also given out.
Our Outreach Holiday Distribution was held on December 7 at Green Creek Community Center. Gifts for seniors and children 12 and under were distributed. Food and grocery store gift cards to help with a special holiday meal were also given out.
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Outreach School Supplies Distribution
Over 300 Polk County students received new backpacks and school supplies early August to help get their school year started off right. In addition to school supplies, over 25 local service organizations were assembled to share information and assistance, including free haircuts!
Thank you to all who participated in this special event to make it such a wonderful success!
Thank you to all who participated in this special event to make it such a wonderful success!
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Good Shepherd Church's $1 Million Dollar Gift in Kind Milestone Celebration
Plaque Presentation - Myral Shields, Stacey Lindsay (Outreach Board President), Carol Greata, George Alley (Outreach Executive Director), Ashley Parrish, Mike Greata.
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In August, Outreach celebrated our $1 MM Dollar milestone with Good Shepherd Episcopal Church and the United Way of the Piedmont Gift in Kind (GIK) Center. The United Way of the Piedmont GIK Center is a distribution center where Walmart and its vendors ship non-perishable items (such as paper products, over the counter medicines, kitchen tools, storage containers, diapers, bedding, etc) that they're no longer able to sell to the general public. Non-profits have an opportunity to purchase a membership that enables them to "shop" at this distribution center for 30 minutes at a designated time each week. During that 30 minutes, non-profits "speed shop" to get as many items as they can. Thanks to Good Shepherd Episcopal Church, Outreach has participated in this program since 2010. The "Fab Four" (Carol Greata, Mike Greata, Ashley Parrish and Myral Shields) in the famous Green Hornet, have picked up and delivered over $1 MM dollars in non-perishable items that have been distributed to Outreach clients. These products are essential items to families and are often not covered by SNAP benefits (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, the federal government program, formally known as food stamps). On Sunday, August 26, we celebrated and thanked Good Shepherd Episcopal Church for hitting this significant milestone with a luncheon enjoyed by church parishioners, United Way of the Piedmont partners and Outreach board members and staff. Thank you Carol, Mike, Ashley, Myral and the entire Good Shepherd Episcopal Church congregation for your commitment and support of Outreach. We are very grateful! |
Annual Volunteer Appreciation Lunch
Outreach celebrated our wonderful, dedicated volunteers at our annual Volunteer Appreciation Lunch on Friday, May 4. Organized by Volunteer Coordinator Barb Powell, everyone was treated to festive picnic themed meal followed by several rounds of Bingo. We missed all who weren't able to attend this year!