Let’s find home.

As a recognized leader in helping children reclaim, rebuild, or reimagine the essential belief in a safe, dependable home, Crossnore Communities for Children recruits and trains prospective foster parents who can provide a safe and stable home to children.

Ongoing supervision and support is provided after placement.

You can change the future for a child in foster care. Apply today to become a foster parent.

828-693-9444

BGCHendersonCo.org

The Boys & Girls Club of Henderson County provides a secure, enriching and positive space for over 1,000 young people each year through after-school and summer programming. These programs aim to promote academic achievement, career readiness, community involvement and physical fitness while encouraging positive personal choices. The club serves children ages six to 18. An all-inclusive membership costs $5 per child per year.

828-697-2000

CamplifyNC.org

Camplify builds community leaders through a leadership development journey that nurtures local youth for nine years, beginning in the 4th grade when they are nominated by their school counselors and continuing through their high school graduation. Camplify works with area camps and nonprofits to provide high-quality, year-round experiential education programming that these youth would not have access to otherwise. Through this journey, Camplify helps youth develop the skills they need to thrive and be confident leaders now and as adults.

828-698-0674

ChildrenandFamily.org

The Children and Family Resource Center nurtures the development of children by building a strong foundation of family and community. CFRC offers 16 programs focused on parent education, quality child care resources, developmental screenings to prepare children for kindergarten and leadership on children’s issues.

828-697-6224

CFHCForever.org

Since 1982, Community Foundation of Henderson County has been helping people who care make lasting contributions to causes that matter. In 2022, the Foundation received $6.2 million in new charitable contributions and awarded $5 million in grants and scholarships. Currently, the Foundation manages $130 million across 700-plus funds and trusts. Ninety-one percent of these funds are endowments that provide philanthropic support forever.

828-697-5777

ConservingCarolina.org

Conserving Carolina is a land trust that protects, restores and inspires appreciation of the natural world. The organization serves Henderson, Polk, Rutherford and Transylvania Counties and parts of neighboring counties. Conserving Carolina has helped protect more than 48,000 acres of natural places from the waterfalls of DuPont State Forest to the rock faces of the Hickory Nut Gorge to the farms and rivers that provide food and clean water.

828-692-4203

COAHC.org

For more than 50 years, the Council on Aging for Henderson County has been providing and coordinating services that engage, connect and support local adults as they age. COAHC strives to ensure that no one ages alone through programs that include Meals on Wheels (delivery of meals to homebound seniors), congregate dining and activities, liquid nutrition, caregiver services, senior companions and community resource coordination. The Council on Aging also offers seasonal services including a heat-relief assistance program and shelf-stable meals for inclement weather.

828-301-4622

Crossnore.org

Dedicated to the complex needs of children facing abuse, neglect or other serious risk, Crossnore is a recognized leader in understanding how trauma at home affects the whole child. Crossnore brings clinical expertise and compassionate care to children and families through four interconnected resource communities: therapy services, family preservation, foster care and adoption and youth independent living.

828-697-5551

HCEFNC.org

Founded in 1986, the Henderson County Education Foundation has supported the teachers and students of Henderson County Public Schools by investing in and responding to the whole child and the whole school to create a thriving community. Through the support of donors, events and other fundraising efforts, the Foundation is able to provide funds to principals to meet the dayto-day emergencies and other needs of the most vulnerable children in the district. Additionally, HCEF offers post-secondary scholarships to graduating seniors, provides instructional support for arts and music education, supports HCPS curriculum needs with literacy and STEM and helps introduce and expand Leader in Me, a leadership program that empowers students with 21stcentury leadership and life skills. The Foundation’s flagship event is its annual Education Celebration where outstanding leaders in education are inducted into the Education Hall of Fame.

HABITAT

828-694-0340

Habitat-HVL.org

Henderson County Habitat for Humanity builds homes with families with low incomes who are living in substandard housing, working and can pay an affordable mortgage and are willing to spend “sweat equity” hours helping build their homes alongside Habitat volunteers. Habitat currently builds

12 to 16 energy-efficient homes each year. Habitat’s Home Preservation and Aging in Place programs help low-income homeowners and elderly homeowners with repairs to solve health and safety problems so they can continue to live in their homes safely and as they age.

828-697-4725

HendersonCountyNC.gov/Library

With the main library downtown and five branches throughout the county, the Henderson County Public Library makes available to all county residents tens of thousands of books, movies and music in both physical and digital formats. Each location offers free Wi-Fi to all visitors and public computer access for those with a card or guest pass. The library offers free engaging programs for all ages including story times, book clubs, computer classes and more. Visit the library’s website for a full calendar of events.

828-697-1354

HendersonvilleRescueMission.com in 1981 today gives shelter to more than 1,000 people and provides more than 60,000 meals each year from its facility on Maple Street.

828-388-7979

ElementsOfHope.org

Initiated by the Henderson County Partnership for Health in 2013, Hope Coalition is a community collaborative that works to educate, evaluate and implement evidentbased models on substance misuse and underage drinking in Henderson County. The community is invited to get involved throughout the year and in three annual events – Hope on The Farm, We Are Hope Week and Jingle Jog 5k/Fun Run. Hope Coalition offers programs and resources including Henderson County Youth Council, a Recovery Community Center, Mental Health & Crisis, Prevention Wellness Resources and more. The Buzz, a specialty nonalcoholic bar and café providing an alcohol-free environment for socializing and events is located at 225 S Grove Street.

Henderson County has many houses of worship representing both denominational and nondenominational congregations. Henderson County also is home to two Christian-affiliated conference centers – Bonclarken Conference Center and Kanuga Conferences –and Heartwood Refuge, a Buddhist retreat center.

828-692-4744

Housing-Assistance.com our community by working on new construction projects, designed to put families into homes that they might not otherwise be able to manage, including self-help built homes. They also enhance the community by doing numerous volunteer projects such as health and safety home repairs for the disabled and elderly.

828-697-7029

IAM-HC.org

Founded in 1984, Interfaith Assistance Ministry (IAM) is the largest nonprofit provider of crisis services in Henderson County. IAM provides free assistance with vital basic needs to Henderson County residents who are experiencing a financial crisis or an ongoing crisis. In 2022, IAM provided more than 71,830 service touches to 16,080 unique individuals. Many children and adults received assistance more than once. IAM provides services from 9AM – 4PM, Monday, Wednesday and Thursday, extended hours from 9AM – 5:30 or 6PM (during Daylight Saving months) on Tuesdays and from 9AM – 1PM on Friday. Crisis services include a grocery order of nutritious food, personal hygiene items such as diapers and feminine products, clothing in all sizes, sheets, blankets, towels, pillows, financial assistance with rent to prevent new homelessness, utility bills, prescriptions and gasoline vouchers. IAM also serves homeless residents with tents, sleeping bags and other supplies and pet food. The agency also provides required clothing needed for working women and men to help them accept better-paying jobs. Budget counseling, referrals to other helping nonprofits and information about job openings is also provided. The IAM Thrift Store, located behind IAM’s crisis services facility at 119 Jack St., is open from 9AM – 5PM Tuesday through Saturday to help sustain the nonprofit.

For more than 41 years, the Hendersonville Rescue Mission has been helping those in need 365 days a year. Serving the hungry, addicted, homeless and poor, HRM offers overnight shelter, an addiction recovery program, the Good Samaritan Clinic, a Day Center and more. What began from a tailgate continued on page 92

A private, non-profit organization, the Housing Assistance Corporation is committed to providing safe and affordable housing for persons of limited income living in Henderson County and surrounding areas. Housing Assistance Corporation makes a difference in the lives of

TRANSIT

» Apple Country Transit logged 163,925 miles

» 50,127 trips in 2021 and 171,819 miles | 56,364 trips in 2022

» WNCSource Transportation drove 57,486 mi. (5,000 trips) for Same-Day/Next-Day Medical Transport, Work First Transport, Elderly and Disabled Transportation

HOUSING

» Assists over 200 satisfied property owners

» 714 Families to secure safe, stable housing through the Housing Choice Voucher program

» 6,271 meals were served to 432 senior citizens

» Volunteers delivered 4,948 meals to the homes of 206 seniors

» Over 6,540 Ensure or Glucerna meals were distributed to over 260 seniors

» 3,822 Shelf-Stable 7-day meal boxes were delivered to 54 older adults

CHILDREN’S SERVICES

» 670 Children served (birth to 5 yrs.): 4 Pregnant women | 19 Children in foster care

» 287 Children enrolled through Early Head Start | 146 Children enrolled in Head Start

» 122 Children attended NC Pre-K

» 115 Children were served by Early Head Start Childcare Partners

» 20 Homeless families were served during the 2021–2022 program year

» 270 Families were provided with additional services (clothing, food, transportation, etc.)

» 302 Families took advantage of parenting education courses, English

» 184 Families received health education assistance

» 99% of Children received required medical exams | 53% of Children received dental exams wncsource.org

Make an impact in 2023!

Join us in our work to empower children, families, older adults and the working poor with the resources needed to transform their futures and live more fully in their community!

828-693-1711

Formerly Blue Ride Literacy Council

828-696-381

LitConnection.org

Literacy Connection transforms lives by cultivating literacy skills that promote economic and social success. Volunteer tutors work directly with adult learners to increase their basic literacy skills, learn English as a Second Language, prepare for the US citizenship exam, obtain a GED or reach job-related goals such as promotions, raises and career changes with improved work literacy. Additional programs like Health Literacy and Digital Literacy serve the senior population. Literacy Connection partners with the Juvenile Crime Prevention Council and Juvenile Justice to offer literacy support to at-risk youth and with Henderson County Public Schools to offer a kindergarten readiness program to mothers of preschoolers.

828-693-3840

SafelightFamily.org

Safelight is a comprehensive nonprofit serving all survivors of interpersonal violence such as domestic violence, sexual assault, human trafficking, elder abuse and child abuse. The nonprofit offers a continuum of services moving survivors from crisis to sustainability. Safelight’s services include a 24-hour crisis hotline, an emergency shelter, case management, individual counseling, support groups, onsite medical linkage to care, forensic medical exams and interviews for children, emergency room advocacy, law enforcement advocacy, legal advocacy, community education and advocacy. Safelight’s Dandelion Café and Resale Store are components of the nonprofit’s onsite paid job training program, helping trauma survivors rebuild the confidence and skills necessary to obtain sustained employment that leads to selfsufficiency.

828-693-1580

SmartStartPFC.org

Smart Start Partnership for Children has been serving families with young children ages 0-5 in Henderson County since 1998. With the mission to support, educate and advocate to build a strong foundation for the youngest members of the community, the organization works toward a vision where every

NC 2-1-1 family in Henderson County has equitable access to opportunities and resources so that all children in Henderson County can reach their full potential. Smart Start focuses on improving the availability and accessibility of high-quality early childhood education, improving the quality of care that all young children receive in licensed child care centers, providing the tools and resources parents need to support the health development of their children, building community resilience, early literacy efforts and community education. The work of Smart Start Partnership for Children is grounded in a commitment to diversity & inclusion, equity, cultural humility, resiliency and community partnerships.

NC 2-1-1 is a health and human services information and referral service administered by United Way of North Carolina and supported by local United Ways and public and private partners across the state. North Carolina residents in all 100 counties can get connected to a database of more than 13,000 verified resources by dialing 2-1-1 (or 1-888-892-1162) or by visiting NC211.org. This service is free, confidential, multilingual, and available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.

828-692-8300

StorehouseOnline.org

Formed in 2000, The Storehouse is a Christ-centered food and hygiene pantry for those in need in Henderson County. The nonprofit’s mission is to help families and individuals facing food insecurity in a caring and respectful manner by distributing coats, blankets, hats, gloves, socks, linens, personal hygiene items, kitchen supplies and pet food. They provide direct food continued on page 94