Lake Toxaway Charities extends our heartfelt conGRADulations to the class of 2020! Sixty-six Rosman High School Seniors were honored and recognized on May 15 with gifts funded by LT Charities as part of our TIG support.
Lake Toxaway Charities, I want to thank you from the deepest part of my heart for your most generous donation for the RHS Class of 2020. Without your continuous support so many of our students would be forgotten. The pictures are great but the joy your love and generosity brought to those Seniors, they do not come close to what your donation meant to the Seniors and our Staff. Thank you again for all you do for our students and especially making our Seniors feel so important.
Jason Ormsby
Principal
Rosman High School
The line of cars snakes out of the parking lot and into the street with patient drivers waiting their turn.
Change the World is but one of several nonprofit agencies that Lake Toxaway Charities has assisted by providing funds in these troubled COVID-19 times. It operates out of Anchor Baptist Church in Pisgah Forest and provides free curbside pick-up meals and groceries for the Transylvania County elderly, who are the most vulnerable and cannot risk grocery shopping on their own. Since the onset of the virus, Change the World has tripled the number of its usual client base. It approached Lake Toxaway Charities with a request for emergency funds to meet this need and received a check immediately.
“The agencies Lake Toxaway Charities supports are anchored in the community,” said Carroll Summerour, Grant Committee chair of Lake Toxaway Charities. “Our goal is to connect neighbors with neighbors, and we are blessed that through the generosity of our donors, we are able to give back.” In addition to Change the World, Lake Toxaway Charities recently supported The Sharing House, which is currently navigating a 45 percent increase in need. Shelly Webb, director, told Lake Toxaway Charities that many hurting families have come to them.
“We didn’t know where else to turn,” Webb said. “Thank you for being here.” These connections are vital to providing aid to neighbors, Summerour agreed.
Lake Toxaway Charities is a nonprofit established over 40 years ago and supported solely by donations from property owners in Lake Toxaway Estates. It currently serves 46 nonprofit organizations in Transylvania County, providing annual grants to assist in funding their programs.
In response to the pandemic crisis, the Lake Toxaway Charities sent an urgent appeal in March to 800 property owners asking for donations to support local agencies providing much needed food, medication and shelter to neighbors affected by the state’s stay-at-home policy, as well as business, restaurant and school closings. Over $142,000 has been raised so far from generous donors, and $77,000 in relief funds have been distributed to date.
Chip Brown, co-chair of Lake Toxaway Charities, said, “We are pushing through the wave to increase assistance in Transylvania County as unemployment mounts and food distribution is hampered. The Charities foresees the need to continue to provide this support through the summer and into the fall, with additional emphasis on helping Transylvania County Schools as their students, teachers and staff return to their classrooms.”
Another agency providing immediate needs is God’s Way Food Pantry in Balsam Grove, run by Lydia and David Perry. It served a record 225 families during their last food distribution. The Perrys say their partnership with Lake Toxaway Charities has “enabled us to meet increased food needs, and we thank Lake Toxaway Charities for its continuous support in our communities.”
Lake Toxaway Charities has also been able to triage food needs for Transylvania County Schools while the school system navigated funding at the state-level. Carolyn Barton, director of School Nutrition Services, expressed her gratitude to Lake Toxaway Charities: “Many blessings and thank you’s to Lake Toxaway Charities for supporting thousands of school children in Transylvania County.”
Donors, volunteers and recipients know so many needs are being met as goodwill and generosity spread throughout the county in this most unusual time. The Lake Toxaway Charities is blessed to be part of this effort. For additional information, contact http://www.laketoxawaycharities.org. or call Chip Brown, co-chair, at (704) 560-3175.
Lake Toxaway Charities extends our heartfelt conGRADulations to the class of 2020! Sixty-six Rosman High School Seniors were honored and recognized on May 15 with gifts funded by LT Charities as part of our TIG support. Lake Toxaway Charities, I…
The line of cars snakes out of the parking lot and into the street with patient drivers waiting their turn. Change the World is but one of several nonprofit agencies that Lake Toxaway Charities has assisted by providing funds in these troubled…
Our latest newsletter is positively jammed packed with information about the GOOD you are doing in our community.
Covid19 has severely harmed many of the residents of Transylvania County, disrupted the activities of many of the agencies that assist these residents, and makes volunteering by our residents difficult. As a result of the Covid 19 disruption, Lake Toxaway…
Dear Lake Toxaway Charities, The generosity of your members is overwhelming and we are humbled at your willingness to move on behalf of the needy in our mountains. Balsam Grove is a very small community with many workers who have…
I’m excited to let you know that over 9,300 individuals have been reached (thus far) by our Family Support Initiative (on Facebook) and over 1500 have actually engaged with the content–pulling up the activities, clicking on the articles, etc. We are…
Our latest newsletter is positively jammed packed with information about the GOOD you are doing in our community.
Dear Friends and Neighbors, We are heartbroken over the recent incident at Whitewater Falls resulting in the tragic loss of two souls, Eldon Jamison, first responder, and Chandler Manuel, 24, of Rockwell, NC. On Monday, May 4. Chandler Manuel was…
In the wake of the COVID 19 outbreak and in compliance with the governor’s orders, SAFE had to temporarily close its 2 resale stores. The 2 resale stores generate the vast majority of the unrestricted funds for SAFE, which provides…
Friends and Neighbors, please see the thank you note from the Cindy Platt Boys and Girls Club of Transylvania County. Lake Toxaway Charities donated $5,000 in April to support the purchase of giftcards for needy families and for stocking the…
In order to help you navigate these ever-changing times, Mountain Roots continues to share helpful posts every day to their Facebook and Instagram pages. Every day has a theme to help support families in finding balance as we deal with…
God’s Way Food Pantry is experiencing a significant increased demand for produce and groceries, currently 4 times the normal distribution. By the end of May, God’s Way Food Pantry anticipates meeting the food needs for 800 to 1,000 people in…
The Transylvania County Library is now a Hub of COVID-19 relief. If you need help, contact the library and they can connect you with a local agency for assistance.
May 3rd: An update from Sharing House Director, Shelly Webb: We are now seeing increases for financial assistance. We have seen a major increase with people who need help paying for two specific areas– housing and medication. We also know…
5/6/2020 Update: Lake Toxaway Charities donated $5,000 in late March to Change the World to aid in fresh food purchases for the elderly and vulnerable in Transylvania County. Food distributions have been in high demand, at least three times the…
April 22nd Thank you to Kevin Smith and Transylvania Schools for hosting us on today’s Coffee Break. Chip Brown, co-Director, provides an excellent overview of Lake Toxaway Charities’ mission and how we are responding with help for our neighbors in need.
Our latest newsletter issue is positively jammed packed with information about the needs in our community and the multifaceted ways your donations are making a difference. Click here to read more.
Friends and Neighbors, please see the thank you note Dalton Leopard, a Special Olympian from Transylvania County sent us. You may remember that Dalton spoke at our gala last July.
Lake Toxaway Charities approved a $5,000 emergency grant to The Cindy Platt Boys and Girls Club of Transylvania County on April 16th. The grant will support giftcard purchases for their neediest families and for stocking their supply closet for when the children return.
Covid19 has severely harmed many of the residents of Transylvania County, disrupted the activities of many of the agencies that assist these residents, and makes volunteering by our residents difficult. As a result of the Covid 19 disruption, Lake Toxaway Charities has cancelled the Volunteer Fair that was scheduled for June and there are no plans at present to sponsor a Volunteer Fair this summer.
Despite the problems created by Covid19 and the restrictions it has presented to the agencies and our volunteers, the agencies still desperately need volunteers. Some agencies can utilize volunteers at this time, and others will need volunteers once restrictions are lifted. At this time it is impossible to provide details on which agencies can utilize assistance now and which ones can use help once restrictions are lifted.
As we cannot provide details on the needs of all the agencies at this time, we encourage any potential volunteer to contact any agency in which they have an interest directly. The following list provides the contact and website information for some of the agencies that are in need of volunteers either now or after restrictions are lifted:
Augustine Literacy Project-Brevard (https://www.augustineproject-brevard.org/), Wendi Adair, (828) 508-2254
Boys & Girls Club of Transylvania County (https://www.bgctransylvania.org/), (828) 885-7800
Four Seasons Hospice & Palliative Care (www.fourseasonscfl.org), (828) 692-6178
Meals on Wheels of Brevard (https://www.mealsonwheelsbrevard.org/), 883-3743, Sharon Scalici, coordinator
North Toxaway Baptist Church Food Bank (https://northtoxawaybaptist.org), (828)702-9230
Rise & Shine Freedom School (www.riseshine.org), (828)883-2295 , Laura Leatherwood, Reading Specialist & Volunteer Coordinator
SAFE, Inc. of Transylvania County (www.safetransylvania.org), (828) 885-7233
The Family Place of Transylvania County (https://www.thefamilyplacenc.com/), Brevard (828) 883-4857, Rosman (828) 884-6273,
The Haven of Transylvania County (http://havenoftc.org/), (828) 877-2040, Emily Lowery
The Sharing House (http://www.sharinghouse.org/), (828) 884-2866 ext. 104, Megan Parker, Volunteer Coordinator
SHIIP (The Seniors Health Insurance Information Program)(https://transylvania.ces.ncsu.edu/shiip-the-seniors-health-insurance-information-program/), (828) 884-3109)
Tiger Town Thrift Store (www.tigertownthrift.com), (828) 884-9222
Transylvania County Animal Services Department (https://www.transylvaniacounty.org/departments/animal-services), (828) 883-3713
Transylvania Habitat for Humanity (http://transylvaniahabitat.org/volunteer/), (828) 884-3464
In addition to volunteering your time and talents to our agencies, the following agencies accept donations of household items. Please check with the individual agency to determine what types of items they accept.
Transylvania Habitat for Humanity
SAFE, Inc. of Transylvania County
The Sharing House
Tiger Town Thrift Store
Dear Lake Toxaway Charities,
The generosity of your members is overwhelming and we are humbled at your willingness to move on behalf of the needy in our mountains. Balsam Grove is a very small community with many workers who have big hearts. The partnership with Lake Toxaway Charities has enabled us to meet food needs while helping families to work towards stability and sustainability. Your investment in our communities is greatly appreciated.
Blessings, David and Lydia Perry
I’m excited to let you know that over 9,300 individuals have been reached (thus far) by our Family Support Initiative (on Facebook) and over 1500 have actually engaged with the content–pulling up the activities, clicking on the articles, etc. We are currently averaging 5,000 individuals every single week.
Ali Lien
Executive Director-Mountain Roots, Inc.
“We are deeply grateful for your support and compassion that you and your fellow LTC donors have shown for our community’s families”
Creating a Family
“The generosity of your members is overwhelming and we are humbled at your willingness to move on behalf of the needy in our mountains.”
God’s Way Food Pantry
“Thank you for your generosity and willingness to respond to the unexpected crises that can occur when an organization provides crisis services to their clients 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. For SAFE, there have been too many this year. Through it all God has been and continues to show His love and compassion for the work SAFE is doing; Thanks Be To God, thanks be to our friends.”
SAFE House
We are so very grateful for your $5,000 grant to provide needed and urgent resources for our families. Our membership director Tamika Hunter has been calling, emailing, and texting our families since our club closed, with an emphasis on our most vulnerable children and their families/care-takers. She has been connecting them with community resources whenever and however she can. But your grant gives us some ability to be one of those resources for our at risk families. Thank you for that. We feel very connected to our children. Their needs become needs we want to fill and now we have some help to do that.
Thank you, thank you, thank you! Be well and stay safe. You are doing such GOOD in our community. You exemplify our slogan, “Whatever it takes to Build Great Futures!”
Cindy PlatT Boys and Girls Club of Transylvania County
“The generosity of your members is overwhelming and we are humbled at your willingness to move on behalf of the needy in our mountains. Balsam Grove is a very small community with many workers who have big hearts. The partnership with Lake Toxaway Charities has enabled us to meet food needs while helping families to work towards stability and sustainability. Your investment in our communities is greatly appreciated”
God’s Way Food Pantry
“Many blessings and thank you’s to Lake Toxaway Charities for supporting thousands of children.”
Carolyn A. Barton, Director School Nutrition Services Transylvania County Schools
Thank you for being so generous during this time of need.”
– Shelly Webb, Director, Sharing House
Dear Friends and Neighbors,
We are heartbroken over the recent incident at Whitewater Falls resulting in the tragic loss of two souls, Eldon Jamison, first responder, and Chandler Manuel, 24, of Rockwell, NC.
On Monday, May 4. Chandler Manuel was hiking the Foothills Trail with several other hikers, and he fell from the falls and went under water. The initial 911 call came to the Glenville-Cashiers Rescue Station and they were the first responders supported by Lake Toxaway Fire. During the search for Manuel, a rugged remote high line operations rappelling team from the GCRS was searching for the victim. One of the most experienced and veteran members of the team, Eldon Jamison, 71, fell from a rope during search operations. He did not survive the fall.
After Eldon’s tragic passing, the Lake Toxaway team took over and searched all night and the next day for these two victims.
Over 100 responders from Buncombe, Jackson, Transylvania and Oconnee counties worked this effort. Carmon West, Fire Chief, alerted Janet Flowers at the Falls Cafe and she prepared meals for all the rescue workers as they worked two long days and overnight. Lake Toxaway Charities, on May 7th approved an emergency donation to the Lake Toxaway Fire Rescue in the amount of $2,500 to cover the costs of meals and other out of pocket expenses incurred during the rescue operation for the hiker and Eldon.
The search for Manuel was completed on Wednesday afternoon. Jackson County authorities said his body was extracted successfully by a National Guard N.C. Heart helicopter at 3:45 p.m. Wednesday afternoon.
Glenville-Cashiers first responder, Eldon Jamison was a beloved member of our greater community and his loss will be felt deeply and painfully. We send our heartfelt condolences to Eldon’s family, friends, and the first responder community, please keep them in your prayers.We also ask for your compassion and prayers for the family of Chandler Manuel as they mourn the tragic passing of this young man.
Lake Toxaway Charities, wishes to convey our deep appreciation for the selfless work of our first responders. We are humbled by their devotion to our community, we mourn with our rescue family, and with gratitude honor their service. This is a heart-wrenching loss for our community
