BY DEBBIE PAGE
During the April Iredell County Homeless Collaborative meeting, members shared details about upcoming events and seasonal needs for the local homeless population.
Walk for Recovery
The 9th Annual Iredell Walk for Recovery, set for Saturday, September 19, from 3 to 6 p.m., at the South Iredell High School Performing Arts Center, is seeking sponsors for this fall’s event.
Those interested in getting involved with this long-running recovery support family event can visit https://sites.google.com/view/iredellcountywalkforrecovery/ for more information and to download the sponsor flyer and forms to participate. For more information, contact Jerry Campbell at JCampbellII@partnersbhm.org.
Job fair
Wendy Martin of Goodwill of Western North Carolina said her agency is planning a job fair at the Unity Center in Statesville on May 6. Goodwill is seeking employers to set up booths at the event. Businesses or agencies who are interested can contact Martin at wmartin@goodwillnwnc.org.
Goodwill services
Martin also announced that the Western North Carolina Goodwill agencies have shifted their services to justice navigation, which includes services for families and victims of crime as well as those who are justice impacted and re-entering the community after incarceration.
Martin said that the agency has also acquired a mobile unit equipped with laptops and Internet services that can be brought to events as well as act as a command center at rapid response or emergency situations.
Salvation Army community lunch & Spring Fest
Salvation Army board member Steve Byrd announced that the agency will have its monthly community lunch on April 14 at 11:30 a.m. The agency is also partnering with Foundation of Hope Ministries for a Spring Fest on Saturday, May 9, which will feature food and fun activities for the whole family.
Yokefellow Store accepting donations of household goods
Yokefellow Executive Director Tommy Simmons requested that community members donate their unwanted items to the Yokefellow Store (1386 Shelton Avenue), which is in need of items. Proceeds from the store go to fund the services that the agency provides to those with food insecurity or other household or personal care needs. The thrift store is open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. for shopping or to accept donations.
Yokefellow food distribution
Yokefellow food distribution occurs on Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., on Thursday from 2:30 to 4 p.m., and on Friday from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
I-CARE offers hygiene kits
I-CARE Family Support Services Director Shelton Moore said the agency is offering hygiene kits at their offices at 1415 Shelton Avenue in Statesville.
Community cleanup set for April 18
On April 18, Foundation of Hope Ministries (FOHM) and the Statesville Police Department will sponsor a community cleanup in the Crossroads Shopping Center area. Breakfast and lunch will be served to volunteers. The cleanup will occur from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. as part of the N.C. Department of Transportation’s statewide Litter Sweep event. Trash bags, gloves, and safety vests will be provided, and the city will provide garbage pickup services.
FOHM also spread 150 bags of mulch and cleaned up the area around the Statesville Cove Church location with the help of 13 of the organization’s homeless friends. The organization also provided haircuts and beard trims along with some fun activities and food.
FOHM events
On May 1, FOHM will sponsor, along with G4G, the N.B. Mills School field day, which will include hotdogs, games, crafts, and inflatables along with teacher appreciation tributes.
In partnership with the Statesville Cove Church, FOHM is also providing around 10 showers per week to the Crossroads area homeless population, as well as providing clean clothes, food bags, hot meals, and other needs.
The organization is also hosting a sensory station at the Special Olympics activities at Statesville High School on April 14 & 15.
4th Annual Pancake Day set for April 16
The Boys & Girls Club of the Piedmont will have its 4th Annual Pancake Day event on Thursday, April 16, from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the Statesville Civic Center. Tickets are $10 each and available at https://piedmontbgc.org/pancake-day/.
The club provides a safe environment and activities for underprivileged youth to learn and grow as they build relationships with each other and community mentors.
Drug Take-Back Day
On Saturday, April 25, the Statesville Police Department will hold a drug take-back day at the Walgreens at 951 Davie Avenue from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
SUMMER NEEDS
The homeless encampment population has new needs as the season changes.
Some of these needs include insect repellent, sunscreen, sun hats, lip sunscreen and Chapstick, lotion, aloe vera gel, tarps, canopies, tents, sunshades, reusable water bottles, wet or hygiene wipes, personal hygiene items, rain ponchos, flashlights and batteries, and polarized sunglasses.
First aid items such as antiseptic wipes, instant cold packs, electrolyte packets, disposable gloves, antibiotic ointment, bandages of different sizes, sterile pads, Tylenol and ibuprofen, Benadryl, and anti-itch cream are also needed.
Protein bars (such as Clif Bars, KIND bars, RXBars), tuna or chicken packets with pull-tabs, trail mix or mixed nuts, fruit cups or applesauce pouches, crackers with peanut butter or cheese, granola bars, and jerky or meat sticks (high protein) are great nonperishable snack items.
To donate, contact Karen Kidd at Foundation of Hope Ministries, a boots on the ground assistance organization for the area’s unhoused, at fohminc1@gmail.com or call her at (704) 622-5603.