Circles of Jackson County unites entertainment and charity

The McGuire Estate in downtown Sylva came to life for the Circles Music Fest on Thursday night, Sept. 21. This unique fundraising event featured a silent auction, local musicians, food, and community fellowship. The event featured a laid back atmosphere. Guests ordered food and drinks. They socialized throughout the venue, enjoying live music and conversation. […]

Over 20% of children in Jackson County are food insecure

Originally published in The Western Carolinian. Food insecurity is a much larger problem than most people realize. It is more than simply having to budget at the grocery store or rationing food portions at home. People who are food insecure are unable to consistently access fresh and affordable food. Many factors such as the distance […]

HOMEBASE providing for students despite COVID-19 challenges

This story was first published in The Western Carolinian. One local organization is working to provide for all WCU students who may find themselves without food, clothes, or the necessary support needed to graduate.  HOMEBASE, an outreach of Baptist Children’s Homes of North Carolina, has been located in the small white building next to Cullowhee […]

HOMEBASE still offering services amongst COVID-19

During the COVID-19 crisis a lot of students working on or near campus lost their jobs. Leading to lower or no income for necessary expenses like rent, food and hygiene needs. The university is offering a student relief fund for students who need to pay for these expenses. Another resource including food, hygiene needs, and housing being […]

The fight against food insecurity

“Food security is an invisible injustice that is so much more pervasive than we realize… There are literally people that are living in chicken coops in Western North Carolina, that are eating dog food in Western North Carolina, that their only refrigeration is a cooler that’s sitting in a creek. I don’t say that abstractly; […]

Poverty in Western North Carolina

One of the biggest economic crisis’ facing this country is the unemployment rate and the effect of poverty on the American people. FRAC’s (Food Research and Action Center) analysis for the nation as a whole in 2011 shows that 18.6 percent of respondents reported food hardship that year – up modestly from the 2010 level (18 […]