Mailing
Address:
P.O.
Box 834
Columbus, NC 28722
Physical
Address:
134 White Drive
Columbus, NC 28722
Telephone:
828.894.2988
FAX:
828.894.0130
E-Mail:
info@tboutreach.org
Website:
tboutreach.org
News Releases 2008 [ January, February, March April]
(2007 news releases)
May 30, 2008- Volunteer Appreciation Breakfast
“Shining Star Volunteers” was the theme of the morning of May 30, 2008 as Thermal Belt Outreach honored the 120+ people who give of their time to enrich the lives of their fellow Polk County residents. A delicious breakfast was cooked by Brian Kerr of The Crossroads Restaurant and music was provided by Pam McNeil.
Awards were given by Executive Director Eloise Thwing with the Volunteer of the Year going to Sandra Pierce. Sandra has worked tirelessly on various projects. Last fall, she organized 3 Bake Sales and a fund raising breakfast at Mountain View Deli that netted $5,000. She also collected approximately 50 gifts from various merchants for the prize drawing. These gifts were not only from Polk County vendors but from Landrum, Rutherford and Henderson Counties. She volunteers at least once a week in the Client Intake Section often twice a week, depending on need. Thermal Belt Outreach is very blessed to have Sandra and many others like her.
Other volunteers were also honored for their service . Arvis Pitts was awarded the “Over and Above Award”. Arvis has given 400 hours in the last year in the Client Intake Department. She works with those who have immediate needs and helps with the daily function of the Outreach Center.
Pat Reed was also honored for giving 400 hours last year. She works in the Food Pantry, specifically with the Feed-A-Kid program. Pat works every week to get packages ready to deliver to the schools on Friday to ensure that no child goes hungry in Polk County.
Jeanette Rickman earned the “Extra Mile Award”. She has volunteered for many, many years and was always looking out for the Food Pantry and Outreach. A recent retiree from Polk County, she has brought excess food, such a cakes and breads from local grocery stores for us to share with those in need.
The volunteers are the backbone of Outreach and a valuable asset to our bottom line. A total of 5,973 hours were logged by all volunteers and calculates to a total of $108,000.
Thermal Belt Outreach is always looking for additional volunteers to help with all the programs. During this time of recession, high gas prices and increasing prices for food and other basic necessities, we have even more people who find themselves with less resources to buy what they need.
“We are really stretched to the limit right now,” said Eloise Thwing, Executive Director. “The needs are always there, but we are seeing people now that we haven’t seen in many years. The rising prices of so many things are hitting people hard.” Thermal Belt Outreach receives no local, state or federal funds, so all support comes from individuals, businesses, civic organizations, churches and agencies that provide grants for non-profits. We welcome anyone who can give of their time or money to make sure we can continue to help everyone who needs us. You may visit the Food Pantry at 134 White Drive, Columbus or make a donation to Thermal Belt Outreach, PO BOX 834, Columbus, NC 28722.
April 10, 2008- Timken Supports Thermal Belt Outreach
During a recent visit to Thermal Belt Outreach, Chris Kramer, plant manager of Timken Company in Polk County, presented a generous check to Thermal Belt Outreach executive director Eloise Thwing.Accompanying Mr. Kramer were Timken administrative assistant Janice Green and HR analyst Cara Sabastano.
Timken Company and its employees support local programs that enhance education, support economic development, improve quality of life and help ensure that communities’ basic needs – food, shelter and safety – are met. Thermal Belt Outreach was selected by Timken as a major recipient for the plant's charitable efforts because of its success in meeting these goals for those in need in Polk County.
The Timken Company is a leading global manufacturer of highly engineered bearings, alloy steels, and related components and assemblies. It has facilities in 26 countries.
April 2, 2008- An Afternoon of Delightful Entertainment!
If you have not read Ann B. Ross's Miss Julia series, you are missing chuckles, laughs and guffaws. Don't miss this opportunity to meet Mrs. Ross in person and hear her read from her latest book in the series, Miss Julia Takes a Stand.
This afternoon event will benefit Thermal Belt Outreach. Punch and cookies will be served and Mrs. Ross will autograph books. The Book Shelf will have books on sale and 10% of the proceeds will be donated to Outreach.
When: Wendesday, April 23rd 2:00 pm
Where: Tryon Fine Arts Center
Why: To benefit Thermal Belt Outreach
Tickets are available at The Book Shelf, the Outreach office in Columbus, Outreach friends, or contact Outreach Development PR Coordinator Cynthia Terwilliger at <cynthia@tboutreach.org> 828-894-2923
Here's an excerpt from her first book, Miss Julia Speaks Her Mind:
"But I tell you, I thought I'd never get over the shock of finding Wesley Lloyd dead as a doornail, slumped over the steering wheel of his new Buick Park Avenue. Steel gray with plush upholstery, parked right out there in the driveway.
But I did, laying him to rest in a properly ordered Presbyterian ceremony as he would've expected. Then I had to suffer another shock when I found out how well-off Wesley Lloyd had been. Why, besides the bank his daddy'd left him, he owned half the county, seemed like, plus stocks and bonds and tax-deferred annuities, all of it making more and more money every day of the week. When the extent of his estate was laid out for me, all I could think of was how he used to hand me a housekeeping allowance every Friday, saying, "Make it last, Julia. Money doesn't grow on trees, you know." And all the time he was cultivating a whole grove! Well, a lot of good it did him, because I ended up with every penny.
Now, after forty-four years in blissful ignorance of Wesley Lloyd's activities, financial and otherwise, I had settled down to enjoy the benefits of widowhood and a full checkbook, both of which I was mastering with hardly any problems to speak of." (reprinted with permission from Harper Collins)
March 16, 2008 Outreach Easter Egg Hunt at Spiegel Farms
The ninth annual Easter Egg for Thermal Belt Outreach clients, hosted by Sue Spiegel, couldn’t have been more perfect. More than fifty children and parents enjoyed a beautiful spring day at Spiegel Farms. Over 500 plastic eggs with special surprises were hidden throughout the Spiegel Farms lawn. After the egg hunt, children and parents were treated with snacks and juices.
Eloise Thwing, Executive Director of Outreach summed up the event, “Outreach is so grateful to Mrs. Spiegel for her long-time commitment to improving the quality of life for those we serve. She is a very special friend.
Mar 15 "Know Your Numbers" Community Health Fair at Outreach
Fourteen agencies recently came together at the Thermal Belt Outreach campus to provide health testing and information. Over 60 people received four tests: body mass index, cholesterol, glucose, and blood pressure. Many others talked with representatives from health agencies and organizations and gathered important health information.
This is the first in a series of free health screenings that will
continue on an ongoing basis. The health screening program is
jointly sponsored by Thermal Belt Outreach, St. Luke's Hospital, and Saluda Medical Center.
Participating agencies were: Columbus Fire Department, Collins Dental Center, Community Health Connections,
Flutes of Hope, Hospice of the Foothills, Polk County Cooperative
Extension, Polk County EMS, National Alliance on Mental Illness
(NAMI) Polk County High School Interact Club, Polk County Sheriff's
Office, The Meeting Place, Saluda Medical Center, St. Luke's
Hospital, Thermal Belt Outreach.
Mar 12 American Legion Supports Outreach
Glen Burgess, financial officer of the Polk County Memorial Post #250 of the American Legion presents a $2,500 check to Thermal Belt Outreach Executive Director Eloise Thwing and Outreach Financial Coordinator Norma Hunt.
The Legion is a long-time, consistent supporter of Outreach. The Legion’s continuing support of Outreach helps many Polk County veterans who find themselves in need of a helping hand as well as other Polk County individuals and families.
Each Friday, the American Legion holds family Bingo night. Every penny that the American Legion earns through Bingo Night is distributed to community services. Mr. Burgess invites everyone in Polk County to get involved. “This is a terrific way to have a wonderful family night out and help support worthwhile and vital community services organizations and programs.”
The Legion Hall is located on the lower level at 43 Depot Street in Tryon. Bingo runs from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm. The doors open at 5:30. Admission is free and open to everyone of all ages. Bingo cards can be purchased. A canteen is open selling hot dogs and desserts. Bingo Night is a great, inexpensive family activity.
Mr. Burgess has been a Thermal Belt Outreach volunteer transporter for many years. He has driven dozens of veterans to the VA Hospital in Asheville and other people to doctor’s appointments and continuing medical procedures such as dialysis and cancer treatment.
Mar 10 Feed-a-Kid Reaches Funding Goal
Thermal Belt Outreach volunteers Patty Peake and Pat Reed load Feed-a-Kid bags for distribution to Polk County Schools. Ninety children, identified by school principals and counselors, are receiving weekend food supplies.
This Thermal Belt Outreach project is fully funded for the rest of this semester thanks to grants received from the Hunger Committee of the Western North Carolina Presbytery, MANNA Abundance and support from Kiwanis Club of Tryon, employed of Timken and many generous individual donors.
The program will run through the end of this school year and resume next fall. Those groups wishing to support the continuation of the program for next school year should contact Dave Herron at Thermal Belt Outreach Food Pantry at 894-2988 for more information.
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Feb 15 Outpourings of Love Brings Churches Together
Representatves from more than twenty church throughout Polk County gathered at the Columubs Baptist Church to celebrate Valentines day with pianist Sherlene Womack. Dr. Womack presented a romantic potpouri of classical and standard composers. The program opened with livelygospel songs from the Columubs United Methodist Church. One hundred people attended this great event that was followed by a reception in the fellowship hall. A love offereing of over $500 was collected.
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Jan 2 Outreach Receives Grant for Feed A Kid Program
Thermal Belt Outreach is the recipient of $5,700 grant from the Presbytery of Western North Carolina through its Nickel a Meal Mission program. These funds will make up the bulk of the funding for the first phase of the Feed A Kid program that will provide nutritious, kid-friendly ready to eat food to low-income children in Polk County. School principals identified seventy-three “at-risk” students to receive weekend food packages. The packages will be distributed through the principals’ offices at six schools each weekend during the second semester of school.Margaret Kennerly, Hunger Committee member presented the check to Eloise Thwing, Thermal Belt Outreachexecutive director, during a December church services at the Columbus Presbyterian Church.
In accepting the check, Mrs. Thwing remarked, “We are grateful for the continued support of the Columbus Presbyterian Church and the Presbytery of Western North Carolina. This grant is a wonderful beginning to a much-needed program. All of us want to see our young people succeed at every level. Having nutritious food on a steady basis will greatly improve their chances for a quality life.”
The Nickel a Meal Mission program is one way in which the Presbytery of Western North Carolina responds to the biblical mandate to show compassion and do justice for those in need. The plan of Nickel a Meal is very simple. Each person puts 5 cents (or more) in a special bank for each meal he/she eats. This amounts to $54.75 per person per year.
The money is sent to The Presbytery of Western North Carolina from churches throughout the region. Twice a year the Presbytery Hunger Committee reviews grant requests from regional ministries working with those who are poor. These agencies must have programs that meet the guidelines adopted by Presbytery, be endorsed by local Presbyterian churches, and representatives must meet with the Hunger Committee.
The Nickel a Meal program offers young and old, from large and small, rural and urban congregations, the opportunity to participate as equal partners in mission. It provides an ongoing process of family and congregational awareness and participation that keeps the needs of poor people before each participant. The program encourages making the needs of poor people the subject of private, family and congregational prayer, as well as congregational worship and study. It is a good beginning point from which a deeper understanding of the root causes of hunger can develop.
Margaret Kennerly, Presbytery of Western North Carolina Hunger Committee member presents a check for $5,700 to Eloise Thwing, executive director of Thermal Belt Outreach. The grant will provide the bulk of the funding for the first phase of Outreach's Feed a Kid program.
Jan 2 “Feed A Kid” to Begin Second Semester
It is hard to be a hungry or a malnourished child and still go to school every day and do the work that is required to succeed in the classroom and ultimately in life.
Fortunately for the children of Polk County, there are a great many people who understand the struggle and have come together to take on this problem. Thermal Belt Outreach, Columbus Presbyterian Church, Polk County Cooperative Extension and the Polk County Schools are working together to see that no child in Polk County goes without food on the weekends.
Thermal Belt Outreach Food Pantry will prepare and deliver “kid-friendly” weekend food supplies for seventy-three children, identified “at nutritional risk” by their school principals. The deliveries will be made on Fridays to all six schools in Polk County.
This pilot program has received seed money through a $5,700 grant awarded by the Western North Carolina Presbytery Nickel-A-Meal Mission, sponsored by the Columbus Presbyterian Church. Outreach staff estimate that the pilot program will cost $6.50 a weekend per child.
Ways you can help:
Volunteer to pack food (flexible schedule)
Volunteer to deliver food to the schools (six drivers needed for Friday mornings)
Monetary donations to purchase approved kid-friendly foods
Donate approved kid-friendly foods to the Feed A Kid program (talk to Dave)
For more information contact Dave Herron, Food Pantry Coordinator (894-2988) tbompolk3@alltel.net
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