Lake Toxaway Charities
Serving Transylvania County for more than 40 years
Volunteer Opportunity Rosman Elementary
LTC Volunteer Opportunity: Help monitor kids as they shop, help with checkout at the Rosman Elementary book fair.
Days and Times: October 11-15th
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday 8:00-11:30
AND Thursday, Friday 12:00-2:45
Volunteers can contact Crystal Whitman to coordinate.
Crystal Whitman
Instructional Coach
Rosman Elementary School
cwhitman@tcsnc.org
(828) 862-4431
Thank You Jean Merritt!
Thank you, Jean Merritt as the 2019 – 2021 RHS cheerleader coordinator!
The Rosman High School Cheerleaders were ready for a winter football schedule thanks to the efforts of Jean Merritt and the generosity of Lake Toxaway area residents who led a fundraising effort to completely outfit 40 girls and one guy! Check out the picture below. Jean dubbed the program “Feed the Tiger” and ultimately, the objective is to provide mentoring to the girls as well. Jean is transitioning the role to a new coordinator but will always be remembered and appreciated for the effort she made! Way to go Jean!”
Rick Tranquilli
“Rosman Tiger Cheerleaders are truly thankful for Mrs. Jean Merritt. She not only met in person with the coach but stayed in constant contact throughout the process of obtaining donations to help keep our team warm last year. Our cheerleaders come from lower-income families and it is a struggle sometimes to help pay for not only warm-ups but shoes, bows, and even team meals. This donation did all of that and more. Through her constant efforts, we were even able to replace some fall uniforms needed for the 2021-2022 season. Mrs. Jean was an intricate part of that. Her being a former LSU cheerleader was even more of a blessing to some of our students. We had two seniors last year that were able to see LSU play in person the previous year which made Mrs. Jean’s efforts more memorable for our team. We are truly thankful for all that she has accomplished and all of her support in getting this program started. We are going to miss talking to her regularly but we say that she is ALWAYS welcome to visit us in the future. THANKS for EVERYTHING.”
RHMS CHEERLEADERS & Shannon Patton, RHS Varsity Football Cheerleading Coach
This is a bittersweet time as we say so long to Jean Merritt as the megaphone is being passed to both Caroline Donohue and Louise Tranquilli. Thank you to Caroline and Louise for stepping up to work with the RHS & RMS cheerleaders for the 2021-2022 school year!
MountainCare, INC
MountainCare Adult Day in Transylvania County has existed for more than 26 years; first as KOALA, then as part of CarePartners, and now as part of MountainCare. MountainCare provides a safe and enjoyable environment for those who require specialized support during the day but wish to remain living at home. MountainCare’s programing reduces the burden for caregivers, often older adults themselves, who need to balance caring for their loved ones with their own needs and responsibilities. Of MountainCare’s programs, Transylvania has the highest rate of participants from low-income households, with 4 out of 5 participants receiving financial support. MountainCare accepts reduced reimbursement rates from several state funding sources so that cost is not a barrier – making Transylvania Adult Day the program with the greatest need, but the lowest revenue.
Unfortunately, the Transylvania program is experiencing significant financial hardship. With grant support in 2021 from Lake Toxaway Charities, MountainCare will continue to provide this vital service while building sustainability and recovering from COVID-19.
2021 Grant Assessments:
Meals on Wheels
Lake Toxaway Charities approved grant requests in 2020 & 2021 to fund Meals on Wheels programming. Meals on Wheels delivers hot lunches daily to the homes of house-bound seniors in the upper part of Transylvania County. Volunteers make these deliveries to recipients who are pre-enrolled with the program manager. Other funding is provided by the Home and Community Care Block Grant, proceeds from sales at the Tiger Town Thrift Store in Rosman and monetary donations from the caring public.
In 2020 Meals on Wheels delivered 23,000 meals, an all time record high. Meals on Wheels provides meals, 5 days a week, based on a sliding scale. Inability to pay does not disqualify anyone from receiving meals. The need in Transylvania County is great and Lake Toxaway Charities is stepping up to support this valuable program.
Jameson’s Joy Memorial Service Foundation
Jameson’s Joy recognizes the importance of parents being involved in the lives of their children, and how the lack of a father figure hurts many children. Jameson’s parents, both teachers, see daily the positive effects on children that loving mother and father figures in the home provide. Due to a passion for creating opportunities for parents to intentionally connect with their children, Jameson’s Joy works to connect parents and their children through a variety of programs and activities, and allow them to build a bond and love like Jameson had with his parents.
Lake Toxaway Charities funded a grant in 2021 to support Jameson’s Joy #SayYes project. This project was born to remind parents to intentionally spend time investing in their children during the short time they are on Earth and spend less time on things that leave no legacy. Funding for this project will be used to purchase 500 copies of the book “Daddy Hug.” This book was one of the favorites for Jameson and his brother Rhys to read with their father. These books are provided to fathers of newborns and young children in the Transylvania County area to help encourage them to intentionally spend time investing in their children’s lives at an early age.
Through the Trees
Through the Trees assists community members obtain internet access in homes or businesses through rural broadband expansion and hotspot deployment. More than ever, people are reliant on internet access for basic necessities, but driving to free WiFi is not always feasible. Through the Trees helps remove barriers and support those in need. There are three branches of this needed non-profit—expansion, support, and resources.
In 2021 Lake Toxaway Charities supported Through the Trees’ “Rural Community Support Project” to subsidize setup and monthly internet costs for low-income households. Access to the internet will unlock employment and job-seeking, telehealth, and educational opportunities for these families. Because of the need for online education due to COVID concerns, we are prioritizing families with school-aged children.
St Baldricks Foundation of Transylvania County
St Baldricks Foundation is a private nonprofit raising money for childhood cancer research, has been in operation since 2005; all fundraising is accomplished by donations and volunteer event organizers (VEO). St Baldricks holds fundraisers, such as head shaving events to raise awareness and funds for childhood cancer research; 76 cents of every dollar goes directly to such research and directly impacts children diagnosed with cancer here in our own community. Since 2017, St. Baldricks organization has raised over $70,000, all of which has gone directly to the Foundation, and we also have our own Hero Fund that is currently supporting research to improve survivorship: https://www.stbaldricks.org/hero-funds/to-morrows-research-fund.
In 2021, Lake Toxaway Charities funded a grant to support St. Baldricks’ fundraising endeavors, including the 5th annual bowling tournament at Rockin Bowl of Brevard, Strike Out Childhood Cancer, a motorcycle ride through the Blue Ridge Parkway, a 5K, and in light of COVID, virtual head shavings.
Transylvania County Farmer’s Market
The mission of the Transylvania Farmers Market is to encourage and promote local agriculture, horticulture, value-added, and craft industries in Transylvania County, North Carolina; to provide producers a site to market their goods directly to residents and visitors; to provide consumers a market to obtain quality goods directly from local producers; to promote health, wellness, and a sense of community. During the pandemic and this time of uncertainty, the farmer’s market has also expanded their efforts in the fight against food insecurity and how that affects our community.
Individuals who are more at risk during the pandemic due to pre-existing conditions and health concerns mean they need to shop for food in a more distanced and safe fashion. Older citizens with mobility issues also need a way to access fresh local foods. Lake Toxaway Charities is pleased to award a first-time grant to the Farmer’s Market to provide for free curbside shopping area as well as for the advertising, support, and management of that area.
Veterans History Museum of the Carolinas
The mission of the Veterans History Museum of the Carolinas (VHMC) is to honor our nation’s veterans, to educate the public about our country’s military history and the contribution of our servicemen and women, and to preserve important and unique historic artifacts. The VHMC reflects a love of country and gratitude to those who serve it by remembering and celebrating their service.
Lake Toxaway Charities is pleased to support the Veterans History Museum of the Carolinas in 2021 with a grant to fund an important exhibit at the museum, a 1943 Willys MB Jeep generously donated to the museum by a collector. The museum will provide Transylvania County with a dynamic, accessible exhibit that will bring this artifact’s WWII history to life. This is the first grant to the Veterans History Museum from Lake Toxaway Charities.