To make the organization's Earn While You Learn program available online and in Spanish via DVDs, thus eliminating a variety of barriers their clients could face when attempting to access this educational resource.
Grant Impact: Our first client noticed immediately when we updated our website from “Bright Course Coming Soon” to “Now Available.” She reached out to us, after hours, via our social media about her interest in taking the classes. Our staff was able to video chat with her, after hours, through Bright Course and establish her interests.
From that connection, classes were assigned, and she was very excited to resume parenting classes from the convenience of her own home. This has been our goal with this grant, and thanks to NHF’s NIMble Grant, we are making parenting classes convenient and accessible.
To provide expanded resources for childcare and early childhood development to parents of children ages 0-3 throughout the region.
Grant Impact: Expanded eligibility of the NC Child Care Subsidy program was offered to families who are working or seeking employment with income up to 100% of the State Median Income and for families who are pursuing post-secondary education beyond the state maximum of 20 months. Families who qualify paid no more than 10% of their gross monthly income for child care.
To fill a funding gap required to expedite the start of the Southwestern NC Housing Consortium.
Grant Impact: “We are leveraging $600,000 annually into the region for affordable housing: The first HUD allocation ($550,000) is expected in fall 2021, after review and acceptance of the regional housing plan. Additionally, the American Rescue Plan allocated extra funds to HOME consortiums. Ours is scheduled to receive $1.9 million.”
Photo from grantee’s website
To purchase equipment for new optician program (2019); to purchase a COVID-19 tracking application with the capability to alert students and staff via SMS to emergency situations requiring their immediate attention (2020); and to purchase a chemistry analyzer, thus ensuring health science students have access to this educational tool in support of their chosen field of study and to support the outcomes of community clinics offered to the general public (2021).
Grant Impact: Although we have not yet been able to see members of the public for blood testing and analysis (2021), our students have been able to work with their instructors to learn about the equipment, draw their own blood, and conduct analysis on themselves, allowing them to get a head start toward what they will be doing in the coming months in the clinic once COVID restrictions allow us to start seeing more public patients, as well as what they will be doing in their future careers. Over fifty students have been able to use and practice on the equipment since it was purchased and installed in our new Health Sciences Center in Sylva.
Photo from WNC Farm to Table’s Facebook page
To support the implementation of a Farm-to-Table project in Jackson County by covering transportation (fuel and maintenance) costs, thus ensuring products can be delivered from local farmers to at least five categories of end-users, including restaurants, farmers markets, food banks, institutions, and producers of value-added products.
Grant Impact: Lisa McBride, Executive Director, of WNC Farm to Table in Jackson County, has formed a Board of Directors and filed papers to make WNC Farm to Table a non-profit.
She has grossed more than $83,000 in wholesale sales in 2021, by working with over 35 farmers and producers. She delivers to 8 restaurants in Jackson County and has a buyer list of over 15 restaurants. Two additional buyers are about to begin orders. Our community food bank also orders.
On January 1st, 2022, she will be taking over a physical space on Mill St. in Sylva, NC. Lisa works with the county planner and office of economic development in Jackson County. Assistance from WCU has been invaluable including the small business center. The Nantahala Health Foundation grant has been critical in establish the project with transportation resources. We now have a track record and good business plan.
Photo provided by grantee
To address the healthcare accessibility challenges and health inequities of more than 600 children and adults who are at greater health risks due to leading sedentary lifestyles, thus ensuring this population has access to health and wellness programming targeting priority issues.
Grant Impact: The following was submitted by a volunteer who leads Special Olympics programming in Clay County as part of her role as a special education teacher with Hayesville Middle School and Hayesville High School:
“We just received a very generous donation of tennis balls, softballs, basketballs, soccer balls, volleyballs, coaches’ whistles, mesh storage bags, and a wagon so we have supplies for inclusive PE and Unified Sports/sports training! The grant you all have supported has also supplied us with therapy bands/strength training bands for each school! Your donations will help Hayesville Middle School to practice basketball skills through 4/7, then Spring Games activities (running, softball throw, tennis ball throw) through May. Thank you for supporting the health, wellness, and fitness of SONC athletes, their families, and the community in Clay County NC. YOU ARE DIFFERENCE MAKERS!”
To support the continuation of the Council's work to provide nutritious, hot meals to Swain County seniors (2020) and to install a commercial kitchen at the Swain County Senior Center, thus ensuring the ability to prepare healthy, hot meals available on-site and for home delivery (2021).
Grant Impact: “We used the NIMble grant money to purchase a roll-up door to protect the kitchen from other users without permission to use the kitchen from damage to all the other equipment (ovens, grills, deep fryers) that are now in the kitchen. This kitchen will enable us to provide nutritious meals to seniors at a cheaper cost thus stretching the number we can serve.
Since October 1, 2020, we have served 676 hot meals to seniors in Swain County and provided them with 126 fruit and vegetable boxes put together by Darnell Farms. These were a real hit with all the seniors since they were distributed right before Christmas. The hot meals are served 5 days a week and delivered by volunteers.”
To upgrade the facility's Internet, WiFi, and telephone technology, thus ensuring community residents and visitors to Graham County have access to these vital services.
Grant Impact: Throughout 2020 and into 2021 during the Covid-19 pandemic, the children of our county were constantly changing from remote learning to in-school and back. In our remote county of WNC, the need for fast, reliable internet is a tangible thing. Many children don’t have internet at home and are unable to attend school in person so having a place to access internet is even more important. Being able to provide reliable, faster internet service to people in our community is just one of the ways the Stecoah Valley Center is meeting one of its mission goals of serving the people of Graham County.
Photo provided by grantee.
To purchase personal protective equipment and other materials required to ensure the safety of students and staff engaged in educational activities.
Grant Impact: “Summit was able to safely reopen our school in August 2020. We provided a safe school environment for our 42 faculty and staff members. Thanks to your generosity, we were able to purchase PPE equipment and other materials to ensure the safety of all students as well as our faculty and staff to teach and engage in educational activities.”
Photo by Nantahala Health Foundation
To support the county's effort to develop a community paramedic program, including adding specialized equipment and advanced training for staff.
Grant Impact: “Swain County officials successfully demonstrated that the program works by working with the local health care providers to monitor and coordinate services to individuals who have been discharged by the hospital. In addition, the local hospital system has been very cooperative in the program, and they have been successful in expanding the current capabilities of the “Doctor in a Box” to include other technology for increased care in the field.”
Photo provided by grantee.
To provide access to dental services for individuals in Swain County who otherwise may not be able to afford care (2019, 2020) and to support the In-Home Aide and Chore program, which includes alleviating food insecurities for Swain County seniors (2020). "Swain County seniors were extremely grateful that their needswere being met because of this grant."
Grant Impact: “COVID-19 restrictions had an impact on services but did not hinder the overall ability to serve patients and meet goals. One dental clinic was with an average of 11 patients seen per month. Dr. Ridgeway and his staff performed 65 exams, 58 xrays, 52 cleanings, 117 fillings, and 51 extractions.”
To improve accessibility for the recreation department swimming pool to ensure summer day camps are more inclusive.
Photo from Swain Cooperative Extension’s Facebook page.
To renovate the Swain County Extension Teaching Kitchen, where cooking classes can be offered to the community. Illustration provided by grantee.
Grant Impact: Thank you to Nantahala Health Foundation and Swain County Government for our new teaching kitchen – we fondly refer to it as the Extension C.A.F.E. (Children, Adult and Family Education) and plan to fully utilize the new space. Drop by and check it out! We will post more pictures, soon!
To support The Sparrow's Nest Ministry of First Baptist Church of Murphy in their effort to address food insecurity among seniors in Cherokee County.
To support their mission to provide rest, renewal, and recreation to families experiencing serious, life-altering illness of a child by incorporating nature, art, spirituality, and Southern Appalachian experiences to enhance resiliency, empowerment, self-determination, and hope.
Nantahala Health Foundation and the Town of Andrews awarded 24 small businesses Duke Energy Foundation Hometown Revitalization grant investments to aid their efforts to recover from COVID-19’s negative impacts.
Nantahala Health Foundation and the Town of Dillsboro awarded 11 small businesses Duke Energy Foundation Hometown Revitalization grant investments to aid their efforts to recover from COVID-19’s impacts.
Photo provided by grantee
To purchase a nursing infant simulator to address nursing students' need for access to training.
Grant Impact: “During our family health course in the summer, our clinical sites were restricted due to lack of available pediatric clinics. The students were able to utilize this simulator and the simulation experience to accurately assess, interpret, respond, and reflect on infant nursing care. One student expressed that she felt relieved that she was able to have this opportunity to practice her neonatal assessment skills during the simulation because she was not able to attend a pediatric clinical site. She reflected on how this opportunity eased her fears and improved her confidence when providing care to that vulnerable population. She stated that having this opportunity to synthesize class and practice provided her a meaningful learning experience, and something she can take with her in her future nursing practice.”
A Note about the Images on this Page: Unless otherwise indicated, images on this page are intended to represent work being accomplished in our communities.
