Good Work in Our Community
Like every community, our High Country community depends on a variety of not-for-profit organizations to serve and support the people, places, animals and environments that are most in need. We have an abundance of effective and efficient organizations who rely on support from neighbors and businesses to realize their missions. Here is a list of just some of these noteworthy organizations — and our list keeps growing!
AMOREM, the only not-for-profit hospice and palliative care provider in Ashe, Burke, Caldwell, and Watauga Counties, specializes in palliative medicine, hospice care, advanced cardiac care and grief support. 828-754-0101, amoremsupport.org
Anne Ministries offers free and confidential pregnancy support services and recovery support services for those suffering from a past abortion, miscarriage, stillbirth, or infant loss in a Christ centered environment. 828-742-1973, anneministries.com
Appalachian Mountain Leadership is a non-profit organization that uses adventure programming to foster and inspire servant leadership. 828-278-9499, http://www.amlnc.org/
Appalachian Voices is a leading force in Appalachia’s shift from fossil fuels to clean energy, healthy communities and 21st-century local economies. 828-262-1500 https://appvoices.org/
Appalachian Theatre of the High Country is a historic 629-seat, 1938 Art Deco Theatre for live entertainment and film located in the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains. 828-865-3000, apptheatre.org
Ashe County Arts Council is committed to promoting the arts as a hallmark of an active, engaged community. 336-846-2787, ashecountyarts.org
Ashe Food Pantry leads the fight to end hunger in nearby communities by acquiring and distributing food to those who seek aid. Their vision is “No one should go hungry.” 336-846-7019, http://AsheFoodPantry.Org/
A Simple Gesture provides a simple, convenient way to help end hunger in the High Country. Supporters get a bag and fill up that bag every two months with non-perishable items; on a designated day their team picks up the bags. 828-262-1628, asimplegesturehc.org
Avery Association for Exceptional Citizens (Yellow Mountain) serves adults with intellectual or developmental disabilities living in Avery County. Yellow Mountain Enterprises is an adult day vocational program that operates under the umbrella of Avery Association for Exceptional Citizens. 828-733-2944, yellowmountainenterprises.org
Banner Elk Book Exchange offers opportunities to bring books and exchange them for the same number of different books. In lieu of a book to exchange, patrons can make a small donation. An academic tutoring program and summer enrichment classes are also offered through the Book Exchange. bannerelkbookexchange.com
Banner Elk Fire & Rescue’s volunteer firefighters protect life and property in the communities of Banner Elk, Sugar Mountain, Elk River, Diamond Creek, Eagle’s Nest, Tynecastle, The Farm, Balm, and Lees-McRae College. 828-898-4623, bannerelkfire.org
In support of the Blue Ridge Parkway, the Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation creates a spirit of stewardship to address the challenges faced by this national treasure. With your help, the organization can ensure cultural and historical preservation, natural resource protection, and educational outreach now and for future generations. (336) 721-0260 https://www.brpfoundation.org/
Blue Ridge Partnership for Children serves and supports the children, parents, and childcare providers of Avery, Mitchell and Yancey counties. 828-733-2899, blueridgechildren.org
Blue Ridge Women in Agriculture (BRWIA) helps build an equitable, sustainable High Country local food system by supporting producers and cultivating community connections that educate, inspire, and increase the demand for local food. BRWIA works closely with Casting Bread and The Health and Hunger Coalition, securing grants that allow BRWIA to donate food to these organizations while assuring local farmers get a fair price for their items. BRWIA also operates The High Country Food Hub, a year-round online farmers’ market. 828-386-1537, brwia.org, highcountryfoodhub.org.
Casting Bread’s mission is to increase food security within the High Country. In their free, self-choice Market, people choose foods they want, rather than a pre-selected box. Meals served in the Café are prepared using food from the Market and seek to model healthy eating habits. 828-783-3510, increasefoodsecurity.org
Children’s Council of Watauga County works to build a strong foundation for children’s learning and development by strengthening families, the early childhood system, and the wider community. 828-262-5424, thechildrenscouncil.org
Children’s Hope Alliance provides hope, health, and healing for generations by healing the hurt, providing a safe home and encouraging a healthy start. (800) 320-4157 https://www.childrenshopealliance.org/
The Community Care Clinic is a non-profit community-supported medical clinic that provides free primary care, mental health and behavioral health services, select specialty services and health education to low income, uninsured persons. 828-265-8591 https://ccclinic.org/
Crossnore Communities for Children provides residential foster care homes, community-based foster care and adoptions, and clinical services for children and families in North Carolina. 828-733-4305, crossnore.org
D.A.R.E. (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) is a collaborative program in which local law enforcement and local schools join together to educate students about the personal and social consequences of substance abuse and violence. 828-733-6006, dare.org/north-carolina/
Ensemble Stage Theatre is a professional theatre in Banner Elk dedicated to culturally enriching the lives of residents and visitors by providing a broad range of live theatrical presentations of the highest possible quality at an affordable price. 828-414-1844, ensemblestage.com
F.A.R.M. Cafe builds a healthy and inclusive community by providing high quality meals produced from local sources, served in a restaurant where everybody eats, regardless of means. 828-386-1000, farmcafe.org
Feeding Avery Families (FAF) is a non-profit Christian organization in Avery County NC dedicated to eliminating hunger by any means possible including monetary donations, volunteerism, or food donations. https://feedingaveryfamilies.org/
Girls On The Run after-school program for 3rd-8th grade girls is centered around self-esteem enhancing lessons and uplifting workouts, based in Watauga, Ashe, Wilkes and Avery Counties. 828-262-7557, gotr.appstate.edu
The Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation is a not-for-profit corporation established to preserve Grandfather Mountain, operate the nature park sustainably in the public interest, provide an exceptional experience for guests, and inspire them to be good stewards of the earth’s resources. For more information, visit https://grandfather.com/support/non-profit-foundation/ or call 800-468-7325.
Habitat for Humanity works in partnership with people in need to build and renovate decent, affordable housing. Learn more about the work Habitat for Humanity does in Avery County (http://www.averycohfh.org/ (828) 733-1909), Watauga County (https://wataugahabitat.org/ (828) 268-9545), and Ashe County (https://www.ashehabitat.org/ (336)846-2525).
Hebron Colony has been helping men and women break the bondage of addiction through a Christ-centered approach to substance abuse treatment. 828-963-4842, hebroncolony.org
High Country Audubon Society HCAS focuses a great deal of its resources on helping birds. Participate in bird walks, field trips, ways to help birds, native plants for birds and education opportunities. highcountryaudubon.org
High Country Breast Cancer Foundation has an all-volunteer board where 100% of the money donated or raised goes to those in need who have been impacted by breast cancer in the NC High Country. 614-928-6544, highcountrybreastcancerfoundation.org
High Country Caregivers provides advocacy, support, and education for kinship caregivers and their families. 828-832-6366, highcountrycaregivers.com
The High Country Charitable Foundation, Inc. is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization with a vision to help the Avery County, NC community by providing for neighbors and animals in need. 828-898-3810 https://highcountryfoundation.org/
High Country United Way serves Avery, Watauga, and Mitchell counties with the mission of uniting people and resources to improve lives in the High Country. High Country United Way also serves as the fiscal agent for donations in Ashe and Yancey counties. 828-265-2111, highcountryunitedway.org
Holston Camp and Retreat Center in Banner Elk has hosted summer camps for kids since 1959. Now a year-round facility, today’s campers play together and explore creation, try new activities, build community, develop physical, social, psychological, and spiritual skills, and make memories to last a lifetime. 844-465-7866, holstoncenter.org
Hospitality House, founded in 1984, is a non-profit crisis agency in Boone, NC, which serves seven counties and helps those in crisis, poverty and homelessness rebuild their lives using housing, prevention, nutrition and myriad supportive programs and services. 828-264-1237 https://www.hosphouse.org/
Our local Humane Societies provide food, shelter, medical care and lots of love to the homeless animals as they work to find permanent, loving homes for them. Learn more about the work the Humane Society does in Avery County https://averyhumane.org/828-733-9265, Watauga County https://wataugahumane.org/828-264-7865, and Ashe County https://www.ashehumanesociety.org/336-982-4297.
Hunger and Health Coalition’s mission is to be a resource for individuals and families within our community that are struggling to provide themselves with basic needs. 828-262-1628 https://www.hungerandhealthcoalition.com/
Johnson County Center for the Arts in Mountain City, TN, serves to empower the local community and bring residents and visitors together through teaching, encouraging and supporting a variety of artistic forms and experiences. 423-460-3313, jocoartcenter.org
Kiwanis Club of Banner Elk Foundation is dedicated to helping the youth in our community. Over the past 40 years the service organization has given out over a million dollars in grants to support organizations that focus on youth. bannerelkkiwanis.org
Lees-McRae Summer Theatre provides top quality, professional theatre in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina. This non-profit theatre company specializes in big stage musicals including Broadway classics and newer hits, plus some outstanding original works. Their season runs from late June through early August. lmc.edu/community/summer-theatre/
LIFE Village is dedicated to meeting the ongoing residential needs of adults with autism and related challenges. 828-406-2855, thelifevillage.net
Linville Central Rescue Squad is an all-volunteer rescue squad serving the people of Avery County by responding to accidents; medical emergencies; wilderness, mountain and water rescues; searches for lost or missing persons; and calls to assist county EMS and fire departments. 828-733-2346, linville-centralrescue.org
Linville Volunteer Fire Dept. proudly serves and protects the citizens of Avery County, NC, through fire protection and emergency services. 828-733-2188, [email protected]
Mediation & Restorative Justice Center works to reduce the physical, emotional, and financial harm caused by unresolved conflict, litigation, and incarceration by providing mediation, alternative sentencing, and other restorative processes that increase the respect, peace, productivity and safety in the communities served. 828-264-3040, mrjc.us
Mountain Alliance for Teens provides free service and adventure trips after school and on weekends for high school students. 828-263-1770, mountainalliance.org
Mountain True & Watauga Riverkeeper are dedicated to protecting, preserving and restoring the Watauga and Elk River watersheds “because everyone has a right to clean water.” 828-406-2429, mountaintrue.org
NAMI High Country supports those living with mental illness as well as their families and loved ones. They strive to increase public understanding of mental disorders and give hope to those experiencing them. 828-278-9293, namihighcountry.org
OASIS, Inc. (Opposing Abuse with Services, Information, and Shelter), founded in 1978, is dedicated to ending domestic violence and sexual assault in Watauga and Avery Counties, North Carolina. 828-264-1532 https://www.oasisinc.org/
Parent to Parent Family Support Network provides free support, caring connections, information and hope to families who have a premature baby, a child with a disability, an emotional or behavioral challenge, a mental illness, a chronic health condition or to families who are grieving the death of a child. 828-262-6089, parent2parent.appstate.edu
Pisgah Legal Services pursues justice by providing legal assistance and advocacy to help low-income people in Western NC meet their basic needs and improve their lives. 800-489-6144, pisgahlegal.org
Proud Spirit Horse Sanctuary is one of the most successful, longest existing facilities for horses in the U.S. which seeks to provide as natural an environment for the horses as possible. 336-984-4252, horsesofproudspirit.org
Quiet Givers Inc. serves the people of Watauga, Ashe, and Avery counties in the NC High Country; the organization is a source for people to find out about specific needs in the community and help meet needs through creative ways in order to change the reality of local people who are genuinely struggling. quietgivers.org
Reaching Avery Ministry (RAM) has served Avery County for over thirty years through their Ram’s Rack Thrift Store and Emergency Food Pantry in Newland. 828-733-5095, facebook.com/RAMsRackofNewland/
Resort Area Ministries is an ecumenical organization providing ministries/services to the residents of and tourists to the High Country. The RAM’s Rack Thrift Shop in Boone provides financial support for RAM and also provides clothing at no charge to those in need working with other nonprofits. 828-264-6605, facebook.com/resortareaministryRAM/
Samaritan’s Purse stands ready to respond at a moment’s notice whenever and wherever disaster strikes. They specialize in international disaster relief, meeting critical needs for victims of conflict, disaster, famine, and epidemics throughout the world, often working through ministry partners on the ground. 828-262-1980, samaritanspurse.org
Southern Sun Farm Sanctuary is a horse rescue located in the Blue Ridge Mountains of NC with the mission of providing a safe, secure place for abandoned, abused, neglected or unwanted equines; they also work to find them loving forever homes. 336-977-8966, southernsunfarm.com
Spirit Ride Therapeutic Riding Center is a not-for-profit 501(c)3 organization committed to helping children with disabilities and other health concerns achieve their full potential through equine related therapeutic and educational activities. 828-278-7464 http://www.spiritridenc.org/
The Jason Project/ “The Grandfather Project” is a program for at-risk kids suffering from mental problems and/or drug addictions. The program also seeks to assist any special kids who are struggling with adversities, including family, school, or other personal problems or challenges. 828-765-6561
THRIVE Appalachia provides teens opportunities, connections, and hands-on learning experiences–they help youth explore their gifts and talents, cultivate new skills, and connect with exciting opportunities in high-quality classes with professionals in their field. thriveappalachia.org
Volunteer Avery County finds resources to aid families and individuals who do not qualify for public assistance and fall through the cracks. VAC also matches volunteers with opportunities to help in the community. 828-737-0718, [email protected], averycountync.gov
WAMY Community Action’s mission is to partner with communities and families to provide the disadvantaged the support and tools they need to become self-sufficient. 828-264-2421, wamycommunityaction.org
Watauga Arts Council fosters a thriving, diverse, and vibrant creative community through arts advocacy, education, support, and inspiration. Serving professional and emerging artists, WAC facilitates and provides a structure for arts initiatives that enrich the lives of artists, residents, and visitors alike. 828-264-1789, watauga-arts.org
Western Youth Network (WYN) is a relationship-focused resource for at-risk youth in the High Country. Through prevention and intervention programs, WYN specializes in providing youth with the tools they need to reach their potential and discover their place in our world. 828-264-5174, westernyouthnetwork.org
Williams YMCA of Avery County serves the community in the areas of Youth Development, Healthy Living and Social Responsibility. The “Y” strives to help create a community where people have the opportunity to live healthy, all youth can be safe and reach their potential and the elderly have support to live quality, independent lives. 828-737-5500, ymcaavery.com
Wine to Water is an international non-profit organization committed to building a holistic, community-based model by supporting the life and dignity of all through the power of clean water. 828-355-9655, wtw.org
The Women’s Fund of the Blue Ridge is a collective giving organization formed to make a positive impact on the lives of women and girls in the High Country through grant making, advocacy, and community building. 828-264-4002 http://www.womensfundoftheblueridge.org/