In August, Outreach celebrated its $1 million milestone with Good Shepherd Episcopal Church and the United Way of the Piedmont Gift in Kind Center.

The United Way of the Piedmont GIK Center is a distribution hub where Walmart and its vendors ship nonperishable items (such as paper products, over the counter medicines, kitchen tools, storage containers, diapers, bedding, etc.) that they are no longer able to sell to the general public. Nonprofits have an opportunity to purchase a membership that enables them to “shop” at this distribution center for 30 minutes at a designated time each week. 

During that 30 minutes, nonprofits “speed shop” to get as many items as they can. Thanks to Good Shepherd Episcopal Church, Outreach has participated in this program since 2010.

​The “Fab Four” (Carol Greata, Mike Greata, Ashley Parrish and Myral Shields) in their “Green Hornet” pick-up truck have delivered over $1 million in nonperishable items that have been distributed to Outreach clients.

These products are essential items to families, and are often not covered by the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, the federal government program formally known as food stamps, Outreach representatives said.

On Aug. 26, the organization celebrated and thanked Good Shepherd Episcopal Church for hitting this milestone with a luncheon enjoyed by church parishioners, United Way of the Piedmont partners and Outreach board members and staff.

Outreach thanks the Good Shepherd Episcopal Church congregation for its commitment and support of the organization.

For more information on Outreach, people may visit tboutreach.org or call 828-894-2988.

– Submitted by Margot Carter