BY DEBBIE PAGE

With the continuing federal shutdown and the cessation of some food benefits, Iredell County agencies are seeing rapidly increasing numbers of new applications for food assistance. Salvation Army of Iredell County Lt. April McCormick reported that 50 families in need of groceries came in to her agency on November 4.

United Way Senior Director of Development Sara Helmick said that the community can donate funds at iredellfood.org. United Way will use the money to buy food in bulk quantities and then help restock area food banks and pantries.

Helmick is also compiling a comprehensive food resource list to share with agencies to guide community members seeking food assistance.

The Salvation Army of Iredell County (704-872-5623, 1361 Caldwell Street in Statesville), Yokefellow (704-872-7677, 1380 Shelton Avenue in Statesville), and The Christian Mission (704-664-2357, 919 N Main Street in Mooresville – non-perishables) are asking the community for food donations to help meet food demand.

FeedNC (704-660-9010, 2546 Charlotte Highway), in partnership with Scouting America, is hosting its annual Fall Food Drive, its largest and most important food collection of the year. The community’s donations ensure that no child enters this season of gratitude hungry. Drop-off dates at the FeedNC facility are November 17-22, with the Scouts’ drive day on Saturday, November 22. The agency is also asking for donations of turkey and holiday meal fixings and wrapped Christmas gifts as well.

Check out their wish list and get information about FeedNC’s holiday food and gift drives at https://www.feednc.org/holidayevents2025. For questions or to get involved, contact Karen Belgrader at kbelgrader@feednc.org.

Upcoming Events

“Cozy Up To Fall” (winter wear giveaway)

Foundation of Hope Ministries and the Statesville Police Department will have its Cozy Up To Fall” event on Saturday, November 8, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Alex Cooper Park (1500 Fifth Street). Hats, coats, gloves, and blankets will be available, along with food and kids’ activities for families to enjoy.

Free Veterans Day Meal

The free 2025 Veterans Day Celebration Meal will be on Saturday, November 8, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Ernest Morgan American Legion Post 217 (167 Wallace Springs Road). This event, which is open to the entire community, is sponsored by the Village Intervention Partnership and Grill 4 God Ministries. For more information, contact Latonya Graham at 704-902-5020 or Anthony Darty at 704-924-0605.

15th Annual Turkey Trot 5K

The 15th Annual Turkey Trot 5K, a fun, family-friendly way to kick off Thanksgiving while making a meaningful impact in the community, is on Thanksgiving Day at 9 a.m. starting at The Christian Mission at 919 N Main St in Mooresville. The Kids Fun Run (half mile for kids 10 and under) is at 8:30 a.m.

Participants can arrive at 8 a.m. All proceeds benefit The Christian Mission, providing food, clothing, housing assistance, case management, and educational programs to over 6,000 local individuals and families in need.

Donations of canned goods or shelf-stable food items are welcomed and appreciated on race day.

Race packets can be picked up early to avoid race-day lines and to explore The Christian Mission and its impact firsthand.

Register by November 12 to receive a race T-shirt designed by Freeman Screen Printers. Register for the 5K at https://runsignup.com/Race/Register/?raceId=34148&eventId=1002952 or the kid’s fun run at https://runsignup.com/Race/Register/?raceId=34148&eventId=1002953.

Thanksgiving Community Meal

The community is invited to Christ Church at 2172 Wilkesboro Highway in Statesville for a Thanksgiving dinner on Thanksgiving evening at 6:30.

Yokefellow

Yokefellow will give away large frozen chickens during Thanksgiving week to help with holiday meals. On December 13, Yokefellow and Grilling 4 God will have a free community lunch, offering about 300 plates and a chance to connect with community resources.

SPD Christmas Toy Drive

The Statesville Police Department’s annual “Fill the Trailer Toy Drive” is a community initiative dedicated to bringing holiday joy to children and families in need. Each year, many families in our community face financial hardships, making it difficult to provide the gifts that make the season special.

The drive served nearly 700 families last year.

Suggested items to donate include:

♦ Board games, puzzles, travel games, books
♦ Sports items (footballs, basketballs, soccer balls)
♦ Electronic handheld/portable games
♦ Manicure sets, hair & nail accessories, fragrance sets
♦ Hat and glove sets, scarves
♦ Art and craft supply sets, educational toys
♦ Remote control vehicles, toy cars, action figures, dolls

The SPD cannot accept gift cards, monetary donations, clothing, stuffed animals, or food items.

Donors can drop off gifts at the Statesville Police Department (330 S. Tradd Street) through December 19 in the designated drop-off area.

To contribute online, donors can have items shipped to the SPD. View the 2025 SPD Toy Drive Wishlist on Amazon at https://www.amazon.com/registries/gl/guest-view/1INJSIX1JD54T.

SPD Officers and staff will be also collecting donations at the Walmart Supercenter (1116 Crossroads Drive) from 12 to 4 p.m. on five Saturdays (November 8, 15, 22, and December 6, 13).

Contact Sgt. Shannon Humphrey at shumphrey@statesvillenc.net or Col. Chan Austin at caustin@statesvillenc.net for more information.

Agency Updates

United Way

The 2026 cycle of Love United Iredell, a project-based fundraising program that unites the community around local causes and nonprofits, is taking place next February. This initiative is a way for Iredell County nonprofits to reach the community and share their organization’s mission while raising project-based funds to make a positive local Impact.

All nonprofits selected will participate in a public awareness and fundraising campaign during February. This program is open to nonprofit organizations with a mission and focus in one of the following areas: Health, Education, And Financial Stability.

The application deadline is Friday, December 8, at 5 p.m. Interested nonprofits can submit their project via the United Way of Iredell County’s online application system during the open application process. The LUI Committee will review all applications to select projects.

Those chosen must attend an orientation meeting in January to prepare the February 1 launch of Love United Iredell.

Restoration Road Ministry

Restoration Road Ministry recently opened its initial sober living transformation house for men. The first two residents moved into the house this past weekend with an additional two moving later this month. A fifth person is moving in December after completing a recovery program.

RRM is also diligently working on opening a woman’s recovery home and a family recovery home for single mothers with children needing safe and structured recovery-based housing. RRM hopes to have these next two houses underway by year end.

Over the past month, RRM was successful in bridging a chronic disabled homeless male on the street in Mooresville for two years into stable living. The organization also successfully removed a young homeless female in an unsafe living situation into structured stable housing and a full-time job.

RRM also moved a recently paroled female from couch/motel surfing into stable housing and employment. The group also financially assisted a Mooresville mother of two daughters, a victim of domestic violence, into safe housing in Statesville.

Kintegra

Tamra Moser and Yolanda Myers-Johnson, Kintegra community resource advocates, said their pratice offers primary healthcare options for those with or without insurance and those on Medicaid or Medicare.

Non-insured patients pay on a sliding scale based on proof of their income and a valid ID.

Kintegra offers primary care, family medicine, pediatrics, dental care, optometry, chiropractic care, and other services. IThe agency also has an house pharmacy, with prescription costs on sliding scale if the patient lacks insurance. Kintegra also offers case management for people with HIV/AIDS.

Senior care is also available through the PACE program, a comprehensive healthcare and social services program for seniors 55 and older who are eligible for both Medicare and Medicaid. It provides coordinated care, including medical, dental, and social services and transportation to help participants needing a high level of care live in the community rather than in a nursing home.

Myers-Johnson said Kintegra is accepting new patients. 

FOH

Foundation of Hope Ministry has been busy taking propane and heat and hot meals to people living in county encampments.

FOH also had a Cozy up at Cove event in mid October, giving out 100 bags to adults and 50 bags for kids containing hot hands, toboggans, gloves, and wool socks.

The Cove Church also served 726 hot meals on Tuesdays from 6 to 7 p.m. They also gave out 232 Food bags.

FOH is also helping provide gifts and throw a holiday celebration for 127 kids who have an incarcerated parent. Along with Goodwill, this Angel Tree program will help these kids have a joyous Christmas.

FOH also helped nine people referred by Goodwill and the Iredell County Health Department get their IDs. The organization also assisted seven women in domestic violence cases to get to safety in a secure living environment.

FOH also provided three bus tickets to homeless folks to return to family and a support system, helped five people in get into recovery, and will have two people come out of detox into recovery next week.

The Cove Church will also being serving a Thanksgiving lunch on Thanksgiving Day at 11 a.m. to the city’s homeless population. Food donations will be accepted. Contact Karen Kidd at fohm1@gmail.com.

Fifth Street Ministries

Fifth Street Ministries Shelter Manager Takeem Marshall said they anticipating a larger crowd at Thanksgiving this year. The organization is seeking donations of turkeys and hams (preferably cooked) and desserts. These should be delivered to the shelter by Tuesday, November 25. Side dishes and service are being provided by a local church.

The shelter will also have a special meal on Christmas Day.

Fifth Street’s Empty Bowls fundraiser will be Sunday, November 16, at First Presbyterian Church (125 North Meeting Street) in Statesville. Those attending “Empty Bowls” can enjoy soup, salad, dessert, and a drink for $45 and received a beautiful hand-crafted artisan bowl. Tickets are available through November 14 at https://secure.qgiv.com/for/fifthstreetministries/event/2025emptybowlsfundraisereventtickets/. Tickets at the door to enjoy the meal only are $20 each (adults and children). Soups this year include chili from JD’s Deli, vegetable from Iredell Health System, tomato bisque from Amanda Caldwell, and creamy Italian sausage and potato from The Truk food truck.

Salvation Army

Salvation Army of Iredell County Lt. April McCormick Kettles said the nonprofit’s Angel Tree program will serve 450 families. She asked the community to support the annual kettle fundraising during the holiday season to support this and other SA efforts.

McCormick said the agency plans to open a day time warming station in December to help the homeless get out of the cold for a few hours.