This is the Fall 2026 quarterly newsletter from the Catawba Nation Foundation. It opens with the Executive Director's personal account of visiting nearly 40 grant partners over the summer, sharing stories of collaboration and community strength across Cleveland County and the broader North Carolina Tribal community. The issue features a story on Shepherd's Table and Jireh Food Ministry teaming…
This is the Fall 2026 quarterly newsletter from the Catawba Nation Foundation, a tribal community foundation serving the Catawba Nation and surrounding areas in North Carolina. It is written for community members, grant partners, and anyone interested in the foundation's work to strengthen communities through grants and collaboration.
The Executive Director's report opens with a personal reflection on visiting nearly 40 grant partners over the summer. The author describes walking through food pantries and community gardens, meeting nonprofit leaders and volunteers, and being struck by the dedication and resourcefulness of organizations working with limited staff and budgets.
A featured story highlights a new collaboration between Shepherd's Table and Jireh Food Ministry to create a community food mart in Shelby, Cleveland County. The project goes beyond groceries to include healthy eating education, children's activities, and literacy resources, with a market garden and greenhouse planned to teach children about growing food.
The newsletter also covers the Elevate Together workshop held at the Don Gibson Theatre, where nonprofit leaders learned about capacity building and succession planning. Sessions included practical strategies for assessing organizational strengths and planning for leadership transitions, with a focus on rural and founder-led organizations.
A section on Orange Shirt Day honors the memory of Wade, a 13-year-old Catawba boy sent to the Carlisle Indian Industrial School in 1903, and at least 12 other Catawba children who attended between 1893 and 1916. The piece includes a personal reflection from Program Officer Tolani Franks, whose great-great-grandparents met at Carlisle, and mentions a monument at the Catawba Cultural Center.
The issue closes with a note about the Catawba Nation Foundation's partnership with Kings Mountain Historical Museum's 23rd Annual Fundraiser, which supported the exhibit 'Choosing Sides: The Catawba Nation & the Fight for Independence.' It also invites readers to share upcoming events and volunteer needs for future newsletters.