BY DONNA SWICEGOOD

From providing a safe, nurturing place for children to learn and thrive to helping senior citizens make their homes more comfortable, I-CARE is there for Iredell County.

That was the message that Executive Director Bryan Duncan delivered Wednesday afternoon at the Statesville Civic Center.

The organization has been spreading hope, love and a caring spirit in Iredell County for 60 years.

“The agencies like ours that are in the trenches every single day, we’re the difference,” he said.

The organization, which has grown to serve Alexander, Lincoln and Catawba counties, celebrated its 60th anniversary with a luncheon featuring testimonials from some of those who have been impacted by I-CARE.

“When a family’s home is cold and drafty in the winter months, our organization team steps in, sealing leaks, adding insulation and making homes safer and more energy efficient,” Duncan said.

I-CARE programs also help parents who are struggling to make ends meet by providing aid, teaching skills and working to encourage them on the road to self-sufficiency, he said.

And its Head Start program is more than just a safe place to stay during the day.

“When a child goes through the doors at one of our Head Start programs, they find not just a place to learn but a place where their potential is nurtured, their families are supported and their future begins,” Duncan explained.

I-CARE programs also extend to students beyond the elementary years.

Chanel Maddox, an assistant branch manager for the State Employees Credit Union, spoke of her experience with I-CARE.

“I want to share my story, not because it’s perfect, but because it paints a real picture of what I-CARE does every single day,” she said.

Maddox said she was pregnant when she walked across the stage at South Iredell High School to get her diploma.

After enrolling at Mitchell Community College, while standing in line at the bookstore, she heard that I-CARE helped with education expenses.

“That’s when I came to them,” she said.

Her mentor, Darlene Kent, who is now retired, offered more than advice.

“She didn’t just tell me what I wanted to hear. She told me what I needed to hear,” Maddox said. “She challenged me and she stretched me … ensured me that my goals and dreams were worth fighting for. There were moments when I felt like she believed in me more than I even believed in myself,” she said.

She said her mindset began to shift, and she started taking the workshops seriously.

“They gave me the tools and the knowledge and the confidence that I needed,” she said.

For Caryn Hutchinson of Mooresville, I-CARE’s weatherization team came in, replaced a HVAC system that was on its last legs, got rid of 70-year insulation, sealed cracks that were allowing the cold and hot drafts to make the house uncomfortable, and made repairs to the inside of her home.

She said she learned of the program through the South Iredell Senior Center.

“I cannot thank them enough,” Hutchinson said. “I am just really grateful that they came out.”

These programs help the elderly maintain their homes and their dignity, she said.

William Stevenson, Jessica McIntyre, Jaymee Hardy and Barbara Curtis also talked about the difference I-CARE has made in their lives from helping seniors to providing needed services for grandchildren.

Joe Duncan, WCCB television reporter and producer, served as moderator. He said I-CARE was doing God’s work in the community.

Jake Lowman, chairman of the board for I-CARE, thanked those who attended the celebration.

“You all in this room prove that community can come together to support one another, that we are not alone,” he said.