While you might think that the majority of Americans feel stable and secure in their current situation, housing insecurity touches nearly half of adults at some point in their lives.  Frequent moves, overcrowding and the threat of eviction or foreclosure creates stress, depression and hopelessness for far too many families.

Sometimes a helping hand is all they need to build a better life

This year will be the first year in our new home. It's an awesome feeling to enjoy knowing that we have a house to walk into and knowing that the true meaning of Christmas is beginning in our first forever home.

I'm excited because we can actually get a Christmas tree in our living room and have room to decorate with Christmas joy. Another grateful blessing we have received with our new home is being able to have family/friends over to enjoy laughs with many memories. Family is important to us so I'm glad to have space and the healthy atmosphere to be able to do so. My little boy has really enjoyed decorating the house and the outside with lights. He is so excited about baking goodies for Santa.

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.