​What's New at 

Outreach - 

Hurricane Helene update- 

Thanks to generous grants funded by Dogwood Health Trust, Gateway Wellness Foundation, Polk County Community Foundation and The Community Foundation of Western NC, Outreach has been able to continue to provide support and assistance to those impacted by Hurricane Helene. With the funding provided by these organizations, Outreach has repaired & replaced roofs, driveways and provided rent and utility support to those both impacted and displaced as a result of the storm. Thank you to these benevolent organizations for looking out for Polk County & all of Western NC!

"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

​Expressions of Gratitude for Grants & Foundation 

Support

Thanks to the support of these generous foundations, Outreach was able add new programs and increase our support of the Polk County community in 2024 & 2025 - 

The Polk County Community Foundation generously supports Outreach and Polk County neighbors in need every year through - 

• $35,000 grant in support of important Food Pantry initiatives - our EATS (Edible. Available. Time-Saving.) program Meal Kits, Enhanced Food Items and Good360 program that offers household items, tools and linens
• JM Funds $25,000 annually that helps cover utility and rent assistance needs
• Local Commitment Grant that supports organizations who provide assistance to Polk County residents
• Seasonal Assistance Grant contributes $3,000 towards Outreach Holiday programs
• PCCF Board Sustainability Grant contributes to Outreach staff retirement accounts

Outreach was awarded a $132,000 URP (Urgent Repair Program) grant through the ​North Carolina Housing Finance Agency. This grant finances emergency home repairs low-income homeowners who have special circumstances.

​Thanks to Gateway Wellness Foundation, Outreach received a grant for $25,000 in support of our EATS (Edible. Available. Time-Saving.) and Backpack Snacks programs in 2025. 

• EATS is a meal kit complete with 4-5 recipes and all ingredients needed to make the meals. The baseline is food we receive from the Federal Government's TEFAP program and Outreach supplements with all the additional ingredients, including spices needed to make the recipe!
• Backpack Snacks is nutritious, "kid-approved" food that goes home with Polk County students every Friday to ensure they have enough to eat over the weekend. Outreach partners with Polk County Schools, teachers and counselors to identify students who could best benefit from this program. 
  

Thanks to a matching grant from the Tryon Garden Club, Outreach was able to plant five cherry trees along the Hope Valley Lane, the road in our developing neighborhood, Horse Creek Village.

Have you heard about our Life Works Program?

Are you ready to make positive 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 Life Works Coach, Michelle Reedy ([email protected] or 828-894-2988) or click to visit the Life Works section on our website.

"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

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!

Check out the storage shed James Purtill built for one of our rental houses for his Eagle Scout Project. James led a group of fellow Boy Scouts who helped him complete the construction. 

Thank you to the Cooper Riis Organic Farm Program for sharing the fruits of your labors with Outreach! We are so grateful for the beautiful poinsettias you have shared with Outreach staff, clients and volunteers!

Thank you Kathy Nebel for looking out for our 4-legged family members and keeping our pantry stocked with dog and cat food!

We extend an extra special Outreach thank you to these cuties who made chocolate covered strawberries to give to their neighbors in exchange for canned goods that they donated to Outreach! Thank you Trenton & Victoria for your creativity & kindness!!

As part of their Grace It Forward day, this group from First Baptist Church Tryon worked in our wood shed splitting and stacking wood

Thank you to the group from the Congregational Church, UCC who came out in support of their Church Beyond the Walls program and helped landscape the bed at our newest rental house. We are grateful for all of your hard work!

Thank you to Melissa Cary's 4th grade class at Sunny View Elementary School for all your hard work to make Outreach grounds beautiful and welcoming to clients and guests. You guys did an amazing job!

Thank you Holy Cross Youth for your quarterly shopping trips for our food pantry!!

"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

Donate Now

Hours of Operation Monday & Thursday: 9:00AM - 12:00PM 1:00 - 6:00PM Tuesday & Wednesday: 9:00AM - 12:00PM 1:00PM - 4PM Friday, Saturday & Sunday: Closed ​ Outreach ​Calendar April 11: TACS Westside Mixer - potters throwing bowls for Empty Bowls ​April 21 - 25: Volunteer Appreciation Week April 26, 11A - 2P: Spring Family Fun Fest, Harmon Field April 28 - May 1: Outreach Volunteer Training, Lunch & Learn October 10, 4-7P: Empty Bowls, Parker-Binns Vineyard ​ Monthly Wish List Food Focus: boxed cereals, muffin mix, bagged salad mixes, salad dressings, cooking oil, canned soups & chilis, beef stew, canned vegetables, canned fruit, milk, butter, mayo, ketchup, sugar, flour, rice, spaghetti sauce, pasta Non-Food Focus: paper towels, toilet paper, ziplock bags (all sizes), laundry detergent, dish soap

​@Outreach

Outreach 2023 Audit Report
File Size:	555 kb
File Type:	pdf

Download File

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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 18883663895, type Outreach in the message and press send.

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

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