Yokefellow Inc.

What Yokefellow Inc. does

Yokefellow of Caldwell County, Inc. (legal entity: Caldwell County Yokefellow, Inc.) is a 501(c)(3) crisis ministry founded in 1968/1969 and headquartered at 202 Harper Avenue in Lenoir, North Carolina. The organization provides three core services to residents of Caldwell County experiencing acute need: (1) Emergency Assistance, offering financial support for rent, mortgage, utilities (electricity, gas, water, fuel), medical needs, and vouchers for clothing and household items; (2) a Food Pantry, including on-site monthly distribution and mobile food pantries targeting senior citizens at four sites, Happy Valley Medical Center, Kings Creek Fire Department, and Hudson United Methodist Church; and (3) a Thrift Store selling donated clothing, accessories, and household goods, with vouchers issued to clients demonstrating evaluated need. In 2025, the organization reported $173,568 in direct emergency assistance to 1,245 households, 135,065 meals provided to 27,013 people, 183,375 pounds of food distributed through the food pantry, and 520,902 pounds of thrift-store items donated with $123,266 disbursed through 757 vouchers.

The organization is governed by a Board of Directors composed of pastors and laypersons from 47+ member churches spanning Baptist, Methodist, Advent Christian, Catholic, Episcopal, Lutheran, Presbyterian, Unitarian Universalist, and United Church of Christ congregations, plus at-large community members. Its revenue model is entirely donation- and thrift-driven: individual and church contributions (including designated giving to Emergency Assistance or Food Pantry), estate and planned gifts, memorial donations, and thrift-store retail sales. All services are provided free of charge to qualifying clients. The organization owns its facility outright, having purchased the former Kimbrell's Furniture building in June 2019 and relocated in January 2020, tripling its square footage. There is no app, no API, no proprietary technology platform, and no disclosed headcount; operations are conducted in person at headquarters and at off-site distribution points across Caldwell County.

Name

Yokefellow Inc.

Legal name

Caldwell County Yokefellow, Inc.

Website

https://yokefellow.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1968

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Yokefellow of Caldwell County is a 501(c)(3) crisis ministry providing emergency financial assistance, food pantry services, and a thrift store to residents in need across Caldwell County, North Carolina, supported by a 47+ member church network.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Human Services and Crisis Ministry

NAICS

Community Food and Housing, and Emergency and Other Relief Services (6242), Community Housing Services (62422), Community Food Services (624210), Emergency and Other Relief Services (624230)

akta.pro primary industry

Housing Assistance & Homeless Services (BPAGAEAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Food Assistance & Safety Nets (In-Kind, Vouchers, Cash Transfers) (BPADAJAA), Housing Voucher & Rental Assistance Programs (Tenant-Based/Project-Based) (FSALAKAI), Housing Counseling, Foreclosure Prevention & Loss Mitigation Programs (FSALAKAM)

Keywords

• Emergency financial assistance
• Food pantry distribution
• Thrift store operations
• Crisis ministry services
• Community social services

Headquarters

HQ city

Lenoir

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Others, Personnel, Operations

Revenue model

1. Individual and Church Donations: Yokefellow is primarily funded by individuals and churches in the community. The organization accepts financial contributions designated to specific areas such as Emergency Assistance or Food Pantry.
2. Estate Gifts and Planned Giving: Legacy gifts and estate gifts have helped bridge the gap between service costs and annual donations. Memorial gifts to honor loved ones are also accepted.
3. Thrift Store Revenue: The thrift store sells donated clothing, household items, and furniture. Revenue funds Yokefellow's many ministries and services. In 2025, the store generated $123,266 through 757 vouchers.

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Yokefellow of Caldwell County is a 501(c)(3) crisis ministry that provides free emergency financial assistance (rent, mortgage, utilities, medical needs, clothing/household item vouchers), food distribution through an on-site food pantry and mobile food pantries, and a thrift store offering affordable clothing and household goods to qualifying residents of Lenoir, NC and Caldwell County. The organization is funded primarily by individual and church donations, planned/estate gifts, and thrift store sales revenue.

Product overview

Yokefellow of Caldwell County is a crisis ministry non-profit organization offering emergency financial assistance, food distribution, and thrift retail services to residents in need in Lenoir, NC. The organization operates three core programs: Emergency Assistance (providing financial support for utilities, rent, mortgage, and medical needs), a Food Pantry (with both on-site and mobile distribution), and a Thrift Store (selling affordable clothing and household items while providing vouchers to qualifying clients). Supporting programs include the Yoke To Go bagged meal service, Mobile Food Pantry for seniors, clothing donation collection, and the annual Empty Bowls fundraiser. The organization is governed by a Board of Directors representing member churches and at-large community members.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Emergency Assistance Crisis assistance program providing financial support for rent, mortgage, utilities (electricity, gas, water, fuel), medical needs, and vouchers for clothing and household items to Lenoir residents facing sudden household emergencies.
• Food Pantry Monthly food distribution service located at headquarters in Lenoir, providing food assistance to households in need. Includes mobile food pantry programs targeting senior citizens and expanded services in the Hudson area.
• Thrift Store Retail thrift store providing affordable men's, women's, and children's clothing, accessories, and household items. Operates from headquarters in Lenoir and issues vouchers to clients with demonstrated need, allowing them to receive goods at no charge.
• Yoke To Go Bagged meal program launched in July 2021 to address homelessness and food insecurity, providing meals on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays from 3 pm until bags are distributed. Meals are donated by churches and community organizations.
• Mobile Food Pantry Monthly off-premises food distribution targeting senior citizens at multiple sites including Happy Valley Medical Center (second Saturday) and Kings Creek Fire Department (third Saturday), plus Hudson area services at Hudson United Methodist Church.

Quantifiable outcome

• In 2025: $173,568 in emergency assistance to 1,245 households; 183,375 pounds of food distributed; 27,013 people served; 135,065 meals provided
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Hudson United Methodist ChurchcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 November 2024In November 2024, Yokefellow expanded Food Pantry Services into the Hudson area in partnership with Hudson United Methodist Church. Food pantry operates every Wednesday from 11am to 1pm at this location.
• 47 Member ChurchescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerYokefellow is governed by a Board of Directors including Pastors and laypersons from 47+ Member Churches representing various denominations including Baptist, Methodist, Advent Christian, Catholic, Episcopal, Lutheran, Presbyterian, Unitarian Universalist, and United Church of Christ congregations. Churches provide financial support, volunteers, and community connections.
• William Lenoir Middle SchoolminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe 9th Annual Empty Bowls fundraiser in November 2025 was held in the cafeteria of William Lenoir Middle School, demonstrating community partnership for fundraising events.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Goodwill Industries of Northwest North Carolina: Regional Goodwill affiliate operating thrift retail stores and workforce programs, directly comparable to Yokefellow's thrift store and voucher model in the same North Carolina geography.
• The Salvation Army: National faith-based nonprofit providing emergency financial assistance, food assistance, and thrift stores across the U.S., overlapping with Yokefellow on multiple service pillars at much greater scale.
• Catholic Charities Diocese of Charlotte: Regional Catholic Charities office providing emergency assistance, food, and housing support across western North Carolina counties, directly comparable to Yokefellow's crisis ministry service mix.

Direct peers

• St. Vincent de Paul Society: Catholic lay organization operating parish-based emergency assistance and thrift stores serving households in crisis, a direct functional peer to Yokefellow's emergency assistance and thrift store model.
• United Way of Caldwell County: Local United Way chapter serving the same Caldwell County geography with comparable crisis and emergency assistance programs, competing for overlapping donor dollars and grant funding.
• Meals on Wheels of Caldwell County: Local Meals on Wheels chapter delivering meals to seniors and homebound individuals in the same Caldwell County geography, partially overlapping with Yokefellow's Yoke To Go and Mobile Food Pantry programs targeting seniors.
• Feeding the Foothills (Food Bank): Regional food bank distributing food to pantries in the foothills of North Carolina, a direct supplier comparable to and partner-adjacent of Yokefellow's food pantry and mobile distribution programs.

Regional players

• Western Carolina Community Action: Community action agency serving western North Carolina counties with emergency assistance, utility payment help, and food programs, operating across a broader geography than Yokefellow but with overlapping services.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/yokefellow-of-caldwell-county

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Yokefellow Inc.