Foreclosure can be avoided, and counseling is free

Owning a home is one of life's most important milestones, but what happens when an unexpected financial difficulty puts your home in jeopardy?

Last year, there were nearly 54,000 foreclosures in the state, and that number is already closing in on 30,000 this year. With unemployment swelling and continued economic woes, the number could climb significantly.

Here are two tips if you are behind on mortgage payments or finding it difficult to make them.

First, contact a free housing counselor, who can explain the law and your options, help you review your budget, and maybe even work with your mortgage company on a possible repayment plan or loan modification.

If you have lost your job due to changes in the economy, counseling agencies may also be able to connect you to special bridge loans or secure a stay-of-foreclosure to help you keep your home.

If you aren't able to make it to a local counseling agency, you can call the HOPE Hotline at 1-888-995-HOPE, where you can get free answers to your foreclosure questions 24 hours a day.

Remember you don't need to pay for help, and beware of scams. If someone claims they can stop your foreclosure immediately if you sign a document appointing them to act on your behalf, you may be signing over the title to your property.

Second, talk with your mortgage company. When homes go into foreclosure, mortgage companies lose money. They can sometimes offer ways to help you to avoid high costs such as a loan modification that works with your current income or refinancing your home at a lower rate.

Also, be sure to open all mail from your mortgage company. The notices may offer good information to help you avoid foreclosure or may notify you of pending legal action.

According to the Banking Commission, two out of three homeowners who worked with housing counselors were able to keep their homes.

For more information, call the North Carolina Commissioner of Banks' Foreclosure Prevention Project at 888-384-3811, go to www.ncforeclosurehelp.com, or consult one of the agencies listed below.

Janet Cowell
State Treasurer
Raleigh

Resources:

Western Piedmont Council of Governments, (828) 322-9191; Alexander, Burke, Caldwell and Catawba.

Red Cross depends on donors, volunteers

Each year, our Catawba Valley Chapter is assigned a goal, from the Blood Service Region in Charlotte, of whole blood units to be collected.

Our goal for fiscal 2008 was 18,000 units of whole blood. I received a reporting, of annual collections, for our service delivery area (Alexander, Caldwell and Catawba counties). I am proud to announce that we collected 91.2 percent of our goal.

The Catawba Valley Chapter collected 16,416 units of whole blood, all of which were tested and typed then distributed to local hospitals.

There is no substitute for human blood. Thousands of patients depend upon the American Red Cross to supply blood to the hospitals. Each unit of whole blood can help up to three patients. The 18,000 units we collected could save up to 54,000 lives in our community.

Thank you for your contribution to our efforts. Our goals cannot be reached without you.

Our goal for fiscal 2009, that began July 1, is 18,000 units of whole blood. I am sure that together, we can exceed this goal. The lives of our fellow community members are counting on it.

Volunteer today, and encourage others to do the same. Please consider recruiting your family and friends to join the Red Cross.

Together we can save a life.

Erin Hodges
Director of Blood Services
Catawba Valley Chapter
American Red Cross
Hickory

To learn more about the Catawba Valley Red Cross chapter, find a blood drive or volunteer, go to www.catawbavalleyarc.org or e-mail Erin Hodges at ehodges@catawbavalleyarc.org.

Community Blood Drive Calendar and Volunteer Needs for August

Saturday Aug. 1
10 a.m. — 2:30 p.m.
Wal-Mart
2525 U.S. 70 SE
Hickory
Volunteer to assist with registration & deliver sign

Monday Aug. 3
3 — 7:30 p.m.
Mt Olive Lutheran Church
2780 North Center Street
Hickory
Deliver salty snacks & paper products

Tuesday Aug. 4
11 a.m. — 3:30 p.m.
Commscope Catawba
6519 Commscope Rd Catawba
Volunteer to assist with registration

Wednesday Aug. 5
10 a.m. — 2:30p.m.
Corning Cable
800 17th St NW Hickory
Volunteer to assist with registration

Wednesday Aug. 5
11:30 a.m. — 4 p.m.
Draka Comteq Claremont
2512 Penny Rd Claremont
Volunteer to assist with registration & deliver canteen

Wednesday Aug. 5
2:30 p.m. — 7 p.m.
Bethany United Church of Christ 2952 Bethany Church Rd
Claremont
Deliver canteen supplies

Friday Aug. 7
2 p.m. — 6:30 p.m.
Hickory Masonic Lodge
30 Catawba Boulevard
Hickory
Deliver canteen & sign

Saturday Aug. 8
11 a.m. — 3:30 p.m.
Blue Ridge Harley Davidson
2002 13th Ave Drive SE
Hickory
Volunteer to assist with registration & deliver sign

Monday Aug. 1h
3 p.m. — 7:30 p.m.
Resurrection International Church
2010 Clement Blvd NW
Hickory
Deliver full canteen & sign

Tuesday Aug. 1h
12:30 p.m. — 5:00 p.m.
Chili's
2181 US Hwy 70 SE
Hickory
Volunteer to assist with registration & deliver sign

Wednesday Aug. 12
7 — 11:30a.m.
Sherrill Furniture Hickory
2405 Highland Ave Hickory
Volunteer to assist with registration

Thursday Aug. 13
9 a.m. — 1:30 p.m.
1:30 — 6 p.m.
Convergys
1507 7th St SE Hickory
2 Volunteers to assist with registration (one per shift)

Thursday Aug. 13
7:30 a.m. — Noon
Lee Industries
1620 Fisher Ct Newton
Volunteer to assist with registration

Friday Aug. 14
Noon — 4:30 p.m.
Village Motors
529 1st Street E
Conover
Volunteer to assist with registration

Friday Aug. 14
Noon — 4:30 p.m.
Kmart
508 K 10th Street NW
Conover
Volunteer to assist with registration

Monday Aug. 17
3 — 7:30 p.m.
Mt. Zion Lutheran Church
4420 County Home Rd
Conover
Salty snacks & paper products

Tuesday Aug. 18
8 a.m. — 12:30 p.m.
Classic Leather
203 Simpson St. Hickory
Volunteer to assist with registration

Tuesday Aug. 18
3 — 7:30 p.m.
Providence Road Baptist Church
3283 Providence Mill Rd
Maiden
Deliver partial canteen

Tuesday Aug. 18
Noon — 4:30p.m.
People's Bank
218 S Main St Newton
Volunteer to assist with registration & deliver partial canteen

Wednesday Aug. 19
11 a.m. — 3:30 p.m.
Klingspor Abrasives
2555 Tate Blvd Hickory
Volunteer to assist with registration & deliver canteen

Tuesday Aug. 25
6 — 10:30 a.m.
Rock Tenn
2690 Kelly Blvd Claremont
Volunteer to assist with registration & deliver canteen

Wednesday Aug. 26
11 a.m. — 3:30p.m.
4 — 8:30 p.m.
Technibilt 309 E P St. Newton
2 Volunteer to assist with registration (one per shift)

Wednesday Aug. 28
2:30 p.m. — 7 p.m.
Steve White Motors
3470 US Hwy 70 E
Hickory
Volunteer to assist with registration