Community Almanac

Zonta Club of Franklin donates to REACH

The Zonta Club of the Franklin Area presented reading materials for women to REACH in Franklin.

Fifty booklets on financial management and two selfhelp books were given at a presentation at the REACH for Bargains store. Zonta supports REACH in Jackson County and Macon County.

REACH of Macon County and Jackson County helps women and families by fighting violence in the home and sexual assault anywhere. It runs 24/7 crisis hotlines, counseling and education services and a shelter in Macon County.

The Franklin Zonta Club is the only one of this international organization in North Carolina. Zonta focuses on helping women and their families reach their full potential by addressing education and health needs, by working to end violence against women and by supporting women in the workplace.

For more information visit www.zontafranklinnc.org.

Linda Tyler (from left) and Peggy Milton (Zonta Board); Jennifer Lynn-Turner (REACH) and Roxanne Chambless and Deanna Wagner (Zonta Board).

Riley Howell Foundation receives donation

On a chilly April 3 morning, 240 runners gathered in Waynesville for the inaugural Mighty Four Miler, a race honoring the life and legacy of Riley Howell and raising $6,860 for the Riley Howell Foundation Fund, administered by The Community Foundation of Western North Carolina. Another 160 runners gathered for its sister race, the Gateway to the Smokies Half Marathon.

In April 2019, Waynesville native Riley Howell was killed in a school shooting at UNC Charlotte while tackling the gunman to save the lives of fellow students. Fellow student Reed Parlier was also killed. Howell, a runner, loved the outdoors.

“When something like the shooting at UNC Charlotte occurs, most of us feel helpless,” said Greg Duff, Glory Hound Events Director. “Unlike Sandy Hook, Columbine or the seemingly countless others that have happened, this one hit close to home. I know the Howells and remember seeing Riley as a child. I also know how to put on races so doing one to honor Riley was an easy decision. We decided to name it the Mighty Four Miler and to donate all profits to the foundation.”

Learn more at www.rileyhowellfoundation.org.

Community Foundation awards grants

The Community Foundation of Western North Carolina recently approved grants totaling $541,300 reaching 17 WNC counties to address needs exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The awards, made outside of the Foundation’s regular grant cycles, provide funding for basic human needs in Latinx communities and youth mental health services across the region. A few of the grants awarded locally include: • $82,800 to Blue Ridge Community Health Services for a school-based mental health program offering counseling sessions to students in Henderson and Transylvania counties that have no insurance or are underinsured. • $100,000 to Meridian Behavioral Health Services to provide mental health treatment to youth by increasing services for its in-home program, assisting families with co-pays and increasing translator services for Spanish-speaking residents in Jackson, Cherokee, Graham, Clay, Haywood, Swain, Transylvania and Macon counties. • $100,000 to Vecinos Farmworker Health Program to support low-income Latinx families with basic needs in Jackson, Swain, Macon, Graham, Clay, Cherokee and Haywood counties. • $50,000 to Western North Carolina Workers Center to provide basic need assistance to Latinx immigrant workers in Burke, Henderson, Macon and Buncombe counties.

Learn more at www.cfwnc.org.

Tag machine donated to Animal Services

The Friends of Haywood County Animal Shelter has donated an IMarc tag machine to Haywood County Animal Services, which will engrave identification tags for collars to provide each adopted shelter animal.

Currently, Haywood County Animal Services provides each adopted animal a microchip. ID tags will provide a quick and easy way to reunite a pet with its owners, eliminating the need for the finder to transport the animal for having it scanned for a microchip.

According to FoHCAS Board Member, Teresa Smith, “Most animals ending up in the shelter do not have a collar, let alone a tag for identification. As part of the Friends’ mission to raise funds to assist in the support, maintenance, and sustainment of operations of Haywood County Animal Services, we consider helping animals to “Return Home” a very worthwhile endeavor.”

Haywood County Animal Ordinance Chapter 91.06 requires the owner of a dog provide a metal identification tag with name and phone number attached to a strong and serviceable color or harness. The County ordinance does not require cats to display an identification tag on collar. All cats adopted from the shelter, upon the owner request, will have a tag and breakaway collar provided

For more information, visit www.hcasfriends.org.

Nonprofits partner on vaccine efforts

Dogwood Heath Trust has awarded $100,000 to The Community Foundation of Western North Carolina to be distributed through its Janirve Sudden and Urgent Needs (SUN) Grant program to support nonprofits in delivering the COVID-19 vaccine across Western North Carolina.

The SUN program awards grants of up to $10,000 to assist human service nonprofit organizations experiencing an unforeseen crisis that diminishes their ability to provide critical services. In this case, DHT and CFWNC want to remove barriers for nonprofit COVID-19 vaccine efforts in 18 western counties, including the Qualla Boundary.

Applications will be considered on a rolling basis with grants awarded within two weeks. Nonprofits can apply at https://cfwnc.org/grants/janirve-sudden-andurgent-needs-sun.

Haywood libraries now open

Waynesville and Canton branches are open 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesday through Friday; Fines Creek is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesdays and Maggie Valley is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday.

Public computers are available on a first come, first serve basis. Copying, printing, faxing, and limited public seating are available. Programs for all ages are virtual and available on the Haywood County YouTube channel, the library’s Facebook page, and at www.haywoodlibrary.org.

REACH volunteer training May 22

REACH of Haywood County (domestic violence/sexual assault/elder abuse prevention and intervention non-profit) is seeking new volunteers and will hold a Volunteer Training Day from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Saturday, May 22, at the REACH office, 627 N. Main Street, Waynesville.

Lunch and snacks will be provided for all participants. Volunteers can offer help in several areas, including able-bodied assistance at the Within Reach Resale Store in Hazelwood, answering calls from the community (with staff backup) on the Helpline after hours and weekends (one or more 12 hour shifts per month), and assisting as a Friend of REACH on fundraising, special events and client assistance committees.

The morning training will be general information about REACH, domestic violence and sexual assault. After lunch training will be specifically for Helpline volunteers. Participants do not have to attend the afternoon session if not training for the Helpline. Volunteers should have received their COVID vaccines to attend this in person training.

For further information and to register, contact Buffy Queen, REACH Community Educator, 828.456.7898, or bqreach@aol.com by May 20, as notebooks will be prepared for all participants.

Celebrate bike to school day

The month of May celebrates bike to/at school programs including bike skills clinics at local schools, community bike rodeos and comprehensive trainings for PE teachers in Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety, using the Let’s Go NC! curriculum.

While the events continue to adapt to respect the range of COVID local public health guidance and combination of hybrid and remote learning settings, this month offers organizers/teachers and community partners opportunities to find creative ways to support walking and rolling.

Click on the following link to find ideas to recognize the importance of community connection. Check out the list of resources to help all of us maintain our focus on safety and health and ways to stay active together. https://btsdwnc.weebly.com.

The Safe Routes to School Program in Western North Carolina is housed at the Jackson County Department of Public Health and serves Jackson, Haywood, Macon, and Swain Counties.