Taylorsville Times – March 2024
Hiddenite Community Helpers is gearing up to allow clients to shop again in April at the Hiddenite Food Pantry. Since Covid, all clients have been handed a box of food according to their family size. The board members’ goal of this ministry is to provide food to Alexander County residents in need as well as have an eternal impact on a personal level. “While handing out a box of food has been a good process for the purposes of lessening the spread of Covid, it has limited this opportunity. Volunteers walking the pantry aisles with the clients as they pick out the food their family will eat allows more time for a personal impact,” states Heather Davis, HCH Board Member.
While the HCH board members are excited about the transition back to pre-Covid practices, it will require more hands and feet. HCH is looking for more volunteers. There is always a need stocking the shelves, preparing for clients to shop, walking clients down the pantry aisles, helping people out to their cars, praying, being an encouragement to clients, etc. The food pantry hours are Tuesdays and Thursdays 4:00 pm – 6:00 pm. The Hiddenite Food Pantry also has a job opportunity for ages 55+, provided and paid by a federal program. Please see the classified section of the newspaper for specifics, or contact Judy Wilson 828-320-5269 with any questions. You can stay informed at Hiddenite Community Helpers on Facebook.
Taylorsville Times – January 2024
Hiddenite Community Helpers is proud to announce their fifth annual 2023 Match Campaign was very successful! HCH raised a total of $14,963.00, exceeding their $10,000.00 goal, when donations were matched by these generous sponsors: Craftmaster Furniture, Keever’s Carpentry, David E. Looper & Company, Paragon Films, Little Stitches, Local United Methodist Churches, On Time Metal, Cindy Beason in Honor of Amy Daigle, Alexander Railroad Company, Main Street Tire, Alexander Funeral Service, Dogcross Properties, Eddie Kane Steel, and Taylorsville Tire. The board members of HCH are so grateful to everyone that gave during this campaign and throughout 2023 to help further the ministry of Hiddenite Community Helpers. If you missed the opportunity to give, you can give anytime throughout the year.
Taylorsville Times – February 2023
Hiddenite Community Helpers is proud to announce their fourth annual 2022 Match Campaign was very successful! HCH raised a total of $12,385.00, exceeding their $10,000.00 goal, when donations were matched by these generous sponsors: Craftmaster Furniture, Tabitha & Co, Keever’s Carpentry, Alexander Railroad Co, David E Looper & Company, Paragon Films, Rental Uniform Service, Little Stitches, Mainstreet Tire, Bumgarner Propane, Alexander Funeral Service, Dogcross Properties, Eddie Kane Steel, and Taylorsville Savings Bank. The board members of HCH are so grateful to everyone that gave during this campaign and throughout 2022 to help further the ministry of Hiddenite Community Helpers.
Taylorsville Times – January 2022
Hiddenite Community Helpers is proud to announce their third annual 2021 Match Campaign was very successful! HCH raised a total of $9,920.19, just shy of their $10,000.00 goal, when donations were matched by these generous sponsors: Rental Uniform Service, Paragon Films, Little Stitches, All Pro Fire & Safety, Alexander Railroad Company, Peoples Bank, Alexander Farm Bureau, Eddie Kane Steel Products, Bumgarner Oil, Keever’s Carpentry, Weichert Realtors, Alexander Funeral Service, and Main Street Tire. The board members of HCH are so grateful to everyone that gave during this campaign and throughout 2021 to help further the ministry of Hiddenite Community Helpers. If you missed the opportunity to give, you can give anytime throughout the year (see the info below).
Tim Jolly, HCH board member, had this to say, “We get most of our food from Second Harvest in Winston and their supply has been low recently, especially meats, with meat prices rising. Local food drives have been fewer as well, but the need is there. We are starting to see an increase in the number of families we serve. We are thankful for the many volunteers, and contributors that keep our pantry operating. We cannot do what we do without you!”
Taylorsville Times – January 2021
Hiddenite Community Helpers is proud to announce their 2nd Annual 2020 Match Campaign was a huge success! The goal of $10,000 was surpassed with a total of $16,220 raised. This was made possible by individuals, businesses, and churches who made contributions during December that were matched by these generous sponsors: Paragon Films, David E Looper & Company, Rental Uniform Service, Peoples Drug Store, Alexander Funeral Service, Anchor-Richey EVS, Printcrafters, Alexander Farm Bureau, Main Street Tire Pros, and Edwin P. Chapman – Deputy Clerk of Superior Court. “We are so grateful for every dollar given! Even with COVID-19 and so many people facing hard times, we again exceeded our goal, with some giving a portion of their stimulus check. It is encouraging to know that people want to help our ministry thrive and reach out to those in need. Our ministry is volunteer based with no paid staff, so you can know every dollar given is used to pay for food, gas, maintenance for our truck, and utility bills,” stated Judy Wilson, President of HCH.
Some great things are happening at the Hiddenite Food Pantry. In 2020, HCH was able to purchase a new truck for food pick-up as a result of receiving a grant from ER Carpenter Co. The pantry was able to donate their original truck to a food pantry in Thomasville. Their funds also bought Christmas gifts for 30 children in the county. The pantry building has received a few upgrades, including a large walk-in cooler to help preserve fresh produce longer and a full kitchen where cooking classes will soon be offered.
The Hiddenite Community Helpers Board of Directors wants to thank all their workers, volunteers, and donors for their continued support. “We would not be able to keep our doors open and help feed Alexander County without your help,” stated Teresa Riddle, HCH Secretary.
Taylorsville Times – January 2020
Hiddenite Community Helpers is proud to announce their 1st Annual 2019 Match Campaign was a huge success! The goal of $10,000 was surpassed with a total of $11,581.36 raised. This amount should fully fund the Hiddenite Food Pantry for six months. This was made possible by individual and business contributions made during December and them being matched by these generous sponsors: David E. Looper & Company, Paragon Films, Mitchell Gold+Bob Williams, Anchor-Richey EVS, Rental Uniform Service, Main Street Tire Pros, Alexander Funeral Service, and Xcel Racing Components. “Our ministry is volunteer based with no paid staff, so you can know every dollar given is used to pay for food, gas and maintenance for our food truck, and utility bills,” stated Judy Wilson, President of HCH.
URGENT FOOD DONATIONS NEEDED: Since the start of the year, the shelves at Second Harvest Food Bank have been bare therefore there is not much for HCH to buy to keep the food pantry stocked. “We desperately need any food donations at this point. We depend greatly on Second Harvest Food Bank where we can buy food for an average of nineteen cent per pound. With their shelves so bare, we are being forced to shop the local grocery stores and those prices are much higher,” Wilson added. On Wednesday, January 22nd Heather Davis posted in the Hiddenite Community Helpers facebook page the urgency for needed food donations. The Alexander County Offices and the Alexander Early College are collecting items along with several local churches currently. Mitchell Gold+Bob Williams recently held a food drive as well. With the urgent need, Craftmaster donated $500.00 on Thursday morning and Judy was able to shop at Food Lion for what was most needed for that afternoon’s pantry operating hours. HCH encourages the public to donate food to fill the void until Second Harvest can get stocked back up. The Hiddenite Food Pantry will accept donations Mondays 9am-1pm or Tuesdays/Thursdays 10:30am-6pm. The pantry address is 45 Fire Department Court, Hiddenite, NC 28636. Items most needed currently: soups, especially tomato and chicken noodle, any canned beans, dry beans, canned fruits, macaroni and cheese boxes, eggs, milk, margarine sticks, and dessert items. The following items always needed: paper towels, toilet paper, hygiene items such as deodorant, toothpaste, soap, shampoo, feminine products, etc.
Taylorsville Times – October 2019
Hiddenite Community Helpers is proud to announce that Hiddenite Elementary School collected and delivered 43,000+ items for the Hiddenite Food Pantry during their Fall Food Drive. Congratulations, Hiddenite, for being the top food collecting school in Alexander County again this year! Linney’s Grove Baptist Church held a recent Fish Fry with proceeds of $600.00 going to the food pantry. HCH held a yard sale at the Hiddenite Celebration, with $485.00 raised. There has also been several furniture raffles bringing in additional moneys. Camp Fear held a food drive, filling their hearse, to further the work of HCH. The board members of HCH would like to thank each and every person that gives food donations, money, and volunteers their time to help fight hunger right here in Alexander County.
ONE DAY ONLY: WED. NOV. 6TH – For each no-obligation insurance quote given, Thomas Insurance (dba Peak Insurance) in Taylorsville will donate $20 to HCH! You can also recommend friends/family to their agency for a no-obligation insurance proposal before Nov. 6th and the $20 will be given in YOUR NAME by going to: https://peakgroup.insure/rewards.
HCH will be kicking off their first annual match campaign on GivingTuesday, December 3rd. Any moneys given to HCH between Dec 3rd and the end of the year will be doubled by generous businesses in our area. HCH is getting geared up for this fundraising opportunity. Check out their facebook page (Hiddenite Community Helpers) as more information unfolds soon.
By giving to HCH, you will be helping others like a lady that worked at Craftmaster. A few years ago she was eating ice chips at lunch due to lack of food and money. She was told about the local food pantry and was grateful. She has since paid it forward and became a volunteer at the pantry.
Any monetary donations can be made to: HCH, PO Box 84, Hiddenite, NC 28636. You may also donate by going to hiddenitehelpers.org and clicking on the donate tab.
HCH is currently working on the 2020 pantry volunteer calendar. The pantry needs volunteers on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 4pm-6pm. If you have a group that would like to volunteer a month or take all the Tuesdays or Thursdays of a month in 2020, please contact us. Volunteers help people shop, walking them down the aisles as they make their own selections of food, and then help them unload in their vehicles.
Taylorsville Times – November 2018
Hiddenite Community Helpers’ Annual Raffle Fundraiser concluded at the Hiddenite Celebration on Saturday, September 22nd. A total of $1900.00 was raised and a few items of food were brought in to further the ministry of the Hiddenite Food Pantry. The winners of the three prizes are as follows: 1st prize (Yeti Cooler) Charlotte Britton, 2nd prize (beach bundle) Chris Severt, and 3rd prize (25.00 cash) Randy Mitchell. Thank you to everyone that came by our booth, bought raffle tickets, and donated food items.
Hiddenite Elementary School collected and delivered 25,595 items for the Hiddenite Food Pantry during their Fall Food Drive. Thank you staff, students, and parents of Hiddenite Elementary School, along with many others in the community that continue to organize our shelves with these items! Third Creek Baptist Church in Stony Point also held a food drive during the month of October, bringing in many food items to stock our pantry, including infant formula.
Amie Lumpkin held a food drive for her senior project on Saturday, November 3 at Walmart in Taylorsville, bringing in approximately 500 lbs. of food and $480.97 in donations. She went with her project mentor and HCH board member, Tim Jolly, to Second Harvest Food Bank to get food for the pantry in October. While there, she toured the facility and learned the process. Amie stated, “I was very surprised at the amount of food that goes through the Second Harvest Food Bank and through our Hiddenite Food Pantry. I am very thankful to live in a community that has the heart to help people in need.” Nicholas McNeely held a Nerf Gun War Night at Sulphur Springs Baptist Church on November 3rd as well for his senior project. This was a fun-filled night the kids really enjoyed! He also collected nonperishable food items and monetary donations. We are so grateful for both of these students choosing HCH for their senior projects.
HCH is currently working on the 2019 pantry volunteer calendar. The pantry is open on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 4pm-6pm. The months of January, March, April, September, and October have been taken. All other months are open. If you have a group that would like to volunteer a month or take all the Tuesdays or Thursdays of a month in 2019, please let us know. Our volunteers help people shop, walking them down the aisles as they make their own selections of food, and then help them unload in their vehicles.
Taylorsville Times – December 2015
The Hiddenite Community Helpers’ Annual Christmas Distribution was held on Wednesday, December 16th at the Hiddenite Center. Paragon Films, Craftmaster Furniture, Liberty UMC, White Plains Baptist Church, Dr. Brinkley’s staff, Hiddenite Elementary and East Middle School personnel and teachers, along with many other businesses, churches, and individuals adopted 234 children through the Alexander County Cares-4-Kids Christmas Operation Program which included buying an outfit, a hoodie, socks, shoes, underwear, a Bible, and a toy for the children to open on Christmas. Parents were able to pick up the items at this event. Approximately 250 people were served hotdogs and trimmings by the Sulphur Springs Baptist Church WOM. Santa made a grand appearance while excitement filled the children’s faces. Blake Pollard, age 6 and Bentley Pollard, age 5 (pictured above) got to share their special wishes with Santa. Each child received a Toys for Tots toy, collected by Dollar General in Hiddenite, from Santa himself. Entertainment and the Christmas Story was provided by Eddie Yount (pastor of Mt. Hebron Baptist), and his church praise team. The members of Hiddenite Baptist Church, teachers and personnel of Hiddenite Elementary School and East Middle School donated their time to set up for the event. “This night was a blessing! I had the privilege to speak with a lady who was very compassionate about the work of HCH. You see, her daughter passed away in 2010 and she was left to raise her granddaughter. She told me, ‘We don’t have much and the food pantry and Christmas gifts have been a blessing to us.’” stated Heather Davis, HCH PR Secretary. HCH is funded through local businesses, churches and individuals. HCH received a matching grant from Second Harvest Food Bank in which all financial contributions will be matched up to $1000.00 through December 31, 2015. So, a gift of $10.00 will actually become $20.00. With just a $10.00 gift, a family of 5 can be fed for one month through the Hiddenite Food Pantry. Donations can be made online using the PayPal link at www.hiddenitehelpers.org or mail checks to Hiddenite Community Helpers, PO Box 84, Hiddenite, NC 28636.
Hickory Daily Record
Posted: Friday, November 6, 2015 1:22 am
By Gina Story Special to the Record
HIDDENITE – Several years ago, a group of Alexander County citizens came together as the Hiddenite Community Helpers with the sole purpose of helping parents provide Christmas presents for children in need.
It didn’t take long for the group to realize that their help was needed more than just during the holiday season, but these same families needed help with food year-round. They founded the Hiddenite Food Pantry as a result.
“That has been a big undertaking,” Heather Davis said, who is the public relations secretary for Hiddenite Community Helpers.
The Hiddenite Food Pantry is a 501c3 organization that serves 1,150 people at an average cost of about $2 per person each month. The pantry is staffed by volunteers and has no paid staff. It is open from 4-6 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays. The pantry operates on a $2,000 a month budget and includes a community garden that provides fresh vegetables for clients.
“We are totally dependent on individuals, churches and business in our community,” Davis said. “We’re on a month to month basis. We get into panic mode when we get to $1,000 in the bank because we have to keep the lights on.”
In order to help fund the Hiddenite Food Pantry and stock the shelves, Hiddenite Community Helpers have organized an annual HungerWalk. This year’s HungerWalk will be from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday.
“This is the biggest fundraiser we have to keep the pantry going,” Davis said. “We have done this the last three years and we’re hoping it’s a lot bigger this year.”
T-shirts were sold for those who wanted to donate to the pantry; the T-shirts also were given to those who pre-registered for the walk. More than 300 T-shirts have been sold.
The past HungerWalks have brought out about 75 walkers and Davis said that she hopes to have between 150-200 people attend the event. In order to help the growth the members of Hiddenite Community Helpers have expanded the event to include food sales and entertainment.
“We want to draw awareness. That’s the reason for the walk, we want them to bring food, bring a bag of non-perishable food items, or monetary donation so hopefully we can be in their minds,” Davis said. “They don’t have to be registered to walk to come. We want everybody to come hang out.”
The walk will leave the Hiddenite Food Pantry, which is located in the Old Hiddenite Fire Department Building, go behind Hiddenite Elementary School, wrap around to Sulfur Springs Road, turn left on church road, and then return to the pantry. In addition to the walk, there will be entertainment provided by Jody Lee Hagar and hot dogs and hamburgers will be sold by the Sparrow’s Nest Ministry.
In addition to raising money for the Hiddenite Pantry, the HungerWalk also will serve as a kick-off for the Alexander County Cares-4 Kids Program sponsored by the Hiddenite Community Helpers. Those who attend the event will be able to take a sheet with a child’s age, favorite colors, favorite characters and toys on them.
“Jody Lee Hager will be launching the Alexander County Cares-4-Kids Program at the HungerWalk,” Davis said. “For Days Like This” is the perfect song he will sing to do that at the HungerWalk.”
Davis and the other organizers hope that this year’s event will be a great success for the community with the added draws of entertainment and food.
“Some people might not come out just for a walk. I think it’s going to draw more people in,” Davis said, adding that Hagar is going to share his testimony during the event. “I’m really excited about it being a success for our people and to be able to be a little part of that and helping them out is just wonderful.”