Ascension Outreach Committee is sponsoring Shop with a Purpose, a holiday sale featuring Unique World Gifts , Safe Harbor’s ReSource Warehouse and Gallery, Exodus Homes & Exodus Works, and Catawba Valley Habitat for Humanity on Sunday, November 20th in the Parish Hall. Join us and begin your holiday shopping even before Black Friday!

Anything you buy from Unique World Gifts will benefit those around the world seeking to sell their wares for a fair price and receive a fair profit. Sales from Safe Harbor’s ReSource Warehouse benefit the women’s shelter and residential program that works to free women and families from the bondage of homelessness and addiction. Services from Exodus also help to meet the needs of people in recovery and items from Catawba Valley Habitat for Humanity aid the mission of providing affordable housing. Please join us in this very special event as we support these Christ centered mission in our area.

Do you have some spare time on your hands? Do you like working with others to make a difference in the lives of your neighbors? Does your spouse want you out of the house for a little while during the week?

If so, Habitat for Humanity of Catawba Valley has a job for you! Volunteer to help our new Habitat Repairs! program. Habitat Repairs! is designed to address the repair needs of elderly, disabled, and lower income home owners whose homes need repairs. The goal of the program is to keep the families safe, dry, and warm while increasing their quality of life and enabling them to stay in their homes.

Two new board members and a new slate of board officers were sworn in during a recent Habitat board meeting.

Bobby Boyd will assume the duties as President, Whit Malone will act as Vice-President, Doug Dickson will serve as Treasurer, and Steve Elledge is the board new Secretary.

Habitat for Humanity of Catawba Valley staff members have been busy.

Executive Director Mitzi Gellman and Community Outreach Coordinator Jenna Cucco presented “Building a Mixed Income Neighborhood” at the annual Camp Habitat Conference October 3-5 at Lake Junaluska.  Mitzi also presented the material at the North Carolina Housing Finance Association’s Affordable Housing Conference October 12-13 at the Raleigh Convention Center.

By Michael Praats of the Hickory Daily Record

HICKORY– Catawba Valley Medical Center pledged $200,000 to Catawba Valley Habitat for Humanity’s capital campaign, Habitat Repairs.

The donation is in honor of Charles Dixon, a longtime community philanthropist, according to a press release. Dixon served as chief counsel for CVMC from the 1960’s until 2009.

The Catawba Valley will be invaded by Villanova Nation October 8-15 as 16 students take part in Villanova’s Fall Break Service and Justice Experience Program. A reception for the group will be held October 13 at 5:30 at the Habitat ReStore. The public is invited to attend.

Habitat for Humanity of Catawba Valley is one of 16 organizations, domestic and worldwide that Villanova volunteer will be serving this fall. In all, 250 students will be participating in service trips this fall.

Habitat for Humanity of Catawba Valley is thrilled to have been recognized by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) for Innovation in Affordable Homes.

They recognized 34 of the nation's leading builders at the 2016 Housing Innovation Awards during the Energy and Environmental Building Alliance's Excellence in Building Conference in Dallas, Texas in September. Winners were selected by a diverse panel of builders, architects, and industry professionals for their outstanding accomplishments in designing and building Zero Energy-Ready Homes.