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Gratitude for ‘Rock for Relief’ Benefit Community

One-day event, ‘Rock for Relief’ raises over $34K for Mountain Projects and Musicians Fund

 

In an impressive feat of camaraderie, compassion and creativity, the recent “Rock for Relief: A WNC Flood Benefit Festival” was able to garner more than $34,000 in its one-day musical extravaganza.

Held on Saturday, Nov. 2, in Waynesville and surrounding communities, the gathering consisted of over 60 artists performing on 16 stages around Haywood County. All efforts involved were donated: from musicians to production, volunteers to venues.

“It’s just incredible to see how our community came together for a great cause,” said Patrick Schneider, president of Adamas Entertainment, a Waynesville-based production company who helped organize the event. “This is what live music is all about.”

Proceeds will be distributed between Mountain Projects, a beloved longtime nonprofit organization helping those in need in Haywood and Jackson counties, and also be given directly into the hands of local artists heavily affected by the floods through the Rock for Relief Musicians Fund.

“There will always be a call for aid to help our family, friends and neighbors here in Western North Carolina,” Schneider said. “And we want to continue to be part of the process to assist those in need.”

This past week, a check for $24,615 was handed to Mountain Projects. The remaining $10,000 will be put towards the Rock for Relief Musicians Fund.

Schneider noted that plans are already in the works for another similar event this coming spring, with “Rock for Relief” expected to return for its second installment next fall.

The Smoky Mountain News was the official media sponsor of “Rock for Relief.” For more information, click on rockforreliefwnc.com.

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Blanket Drive is Underway for Haywood & Jackson County Households in Need

For Immediate Release, October 16, 2024
Re: Mountain Projects and Rotary Blanket Drive

WAYNESVILLE & SYLVA, NC – The annual Community Blanket Drive is underway! An initiative between Mountain Projects in partnership with the Waynesville Rotary Club, has expanded to include numerous civic organizations, local banks, credit unions and the community.

“There are individuals and families in our community living without heat in their homes,” says Mountain Projects Executive Director, Patsy Davis, “We are collecting donations to support this serious need.”

Blanket donations are being accepted at 2177 Asheville Road in Waynesville and 154-B Medical Park Loop in Sylva. Monetary donations towards heating bills can be made online at MountainProjects.org/heatingassistance.

For several years, the Waynesville Rotary Club held a successful blanket drive during the holiday season, with donations going to the Mountain Projects to help families afford emergency needs like utility bills. In recent years, the Rotary Club invited other service organizations, including Altrusa, Kiwanis, Lions Club of Canton, Lions Club of Clyde, and two additional Rotary Clubs, Haywood County and Sunrise, to help increase participation. Last year, the event was renamed the “Community Blanket Drive.”

The 2024 Blanket Drive is in progress. There are three ways to contribute:
1. Purchase blankets and deliver them to local clubs or participating institutions, which will distribute them to Mountain Projects.
2. Haywood County blankets can be delivered directly to Mountain Projects at 2177 Asheville Road in Waynesville, across from Junaluska Elementary School.
3. Jackson County blankets can be delivered to 154-B Medical Park Loop in Sylva, located on the Harris Regional Hospital campus.
4. Order blankets through Amazon and ship them directly to Mountain Projects. Donors are asked to include their organization’s name in the address. The Amazon link below is provided to facilitate donations of blankets and children’s coats. The link is: https://amzn.to/3YeZFOs.

Please contact Bronwen Talley-Coffey, 2024-2025 President of Waynesville Rotary Club, with questions regarding Amazon purchases. (828)550-8350 or [email protected]. All items can be shipped to Mountain Projects at 2177 Asheville Road, Waynesville, NC 28786-3139. Office hours are 7:30 am until 5:30 pm, Monday through Thursday.

For other information, contact Bill Allsbrook of the Waynesville Rotary Club at 828-734-4536 or Patsy Davis at 828-452-1447.

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Mountain Projects Annual Report 2022-2023

Dear Friends of Mountain Projects,

Mountain Projects Community Action Agency is a non-profit organization that serves Haywood and Jackson County, NC. We help disadvantaged families, the elderly and others, by encouraging and supporting independence and self-sufficiency, and by providing assistance with emergencies and unmet basic human needs.

Founded in 1965, we have since grown to host 19 programs, with a staff of 140 and an annual budget of almost sixteen million dollars. We serve more than 15,000 people each year.

The following is our 2022-23 annual report. We are proud of our accomplishments and appreciate the support of our board, our organizational partners and the community, all of whom have made our work possible!

Sincerely,

Patsy Davis
Executive Director

View Mountain Projects 2022 – 2023 Annual Report here:  mp_annual_report_web

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2023 Needs Survey / Encuesta de Necesidades 2023

 

IMPORTANT SURVEY – Mountain Projects’ funders require that we conduct an annual survey to understand the needs of the communities we serve. Please take a few minutes and answer these questions – your answers help our organization to secure and maintain services for the residents who need Mountain Projects assistance. THANK YOU!

Follow this link to participate:
https://us2.list-manage.com/survey?u=879932ac210374ab76bb3acaf&id=3a4f5a07c8

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ENCUESTA IMPORTANTE: los financiadores de Mountain Projects exigen que realicemos una encuesta anual para comprender las necesidades de las comunidades a las que servimos. Tómese unos minutos y responda estas preguntas; sus respuestas ayudan a nuestra organización a asegurar y mantener servicios para los residentes que necesitan la asistencia de Mountain Projects. ¡GRACIAS!

Sigue este enlace para participar: https://us2.list-manage.com/survey?u=879932ac210374ab76bb3acaf&id=85a05452a2

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Mountain Project’s Sylva Offices have Moved

NEW SYLVA LOCATION FOR MOUNTAIN PROJECTS!

After more than three decades at its office on Schulman St., Mountain Projects’ Sylva team has outgrown its space. The Sylva office has moved to 154-B Medical Park Loop, in part of the building once home to Meridian Health Services.

All Mountain Projects programs offered in Waynesville are also offered in Sylva, and coordinated by a staff of 15.

We owe a debt of gratitude to First Baptist Church of Sylva, NC which has leased us space at a gracious cost for many years, a has truly made our work part of its ministry.

To view a map to our Jackson or Haywood County locations, visit this page.

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New Special Enrollment Period for Marketplace Health Insurance

A new Special Enrollment Period on the Federal Health Insurance Marketplace has opened for consumers who have projected income of at least 100% of the federal poverty level but are at or below the 150% of the federal poverty level. This SEP allows qualifying people to enroll in plans in any month during the year without having to experience a “qualifying life event” like other SEPs. Enroll now and coverage should start April 1st.

100% of Federal Poverty Level is $12,880 for a household of one and $26,500 for a household of four. The 150% Poverty Level is $19,320 for a household of one and $39,750 for a household of four. Because this is North Carolina, which has not expanded Medicaid, people who are in the “Medicaid Gap” cannot qualify for this new SEP because their income is below 100% of FPL.

This SEP is available right now through the marketplace call center. By the end of March this SEP should be available automatically when you do your application on line through the Healthcare.gov website.

If you have questions, need more information or want help with enrollment, GetCoveredWNC, a service of Mountain Projects, offers local, free unbiased help. We can also help if you need a 1095-A form for your taxes. Call 828-452-1447 and ask to speak to a Certified Application Counselor.

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Community Success Story: Kayla Cothern

By the time Kayla Cothern graduated from Haywood Community College in May, 2021, she was all set to put her Associate of Science degree in Nursing to work: she’d already accepted a full-time nursing position with a local employer.

Here’s what Kayla said about her experience with the Federal program, WIOA (Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act), and the Finish Line Grant, through the North Carolina Department of Commerce.

“As a single mother of two little girls, I doubted time and time again that I could possibly make it through nursing school on my own. There were many trials and errors along the way, with finances being one of the major struggles.”

“I was not aware of WIOA and the Finish Line Grant until my third semester. However, although I was well into my nursing school experience, WIOA helped me more than I can ever say or repay. Not only did WIOA help me pay for my schooling, but also reimbursed me for gas used to and from training.”

“The Finish Line Grant helped me pay my rent and utilities. These two services alleviate some of the stress for struggling students so that they can get through school and continue on to a successful career. Again, I cannot thank enough the people who have helped me along the way. A huge thanks to Maggie (Leftwich, case manager, NCWorks Career Center, Haywood County) for all that she has done to help me though.”

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