My name is María. At the beginning of 2024, thanks to the HOP program, we were able to repair the roof of our home. It was a great need, as we were living with moisture and leaks that put my children's health at risk. When we were approved for assistance, I felt an immense relief and a renewed sense of hope. I thought that, finally, we would have a safe place to call home.

Four years ago, a violent attack forever altered Brenda Mancuso’s life when she became a victim of a stabbing. This is a trauma that would leave physical and emotional scars. At the time, she was working at the Steak House inside the Casino. She had never relied on government help in her nearly 60 years. But after the attack, suddenly everything that once was manageable became a struggle. The pain, the fear, and the haunting shadows of PTSD.

Watch Blake Heart, Executive Director, give his remarks in this video about HCM’s inspiring vision for our community!

HCM is developing a brand-new food hub (the Smoky Mountain Harvest Hub). This food hub will help produce fresh local food for charitable and non-charitable distribution purposes. It will also contain a variety of additional features in support of our community food producers and farmers, such as a composting facility, extensive cold storage, and a commercial kitchen.

From demolished greenhouses to washed-out fields, Western North Carolina growers were hit hard by Tropical Storm Helene and have been struggling to tread water ever since. Among the disaster’s many impacts on the area’s agriculture operations has been the shuttering of local restaurants. 

When HCM learned about Rosemary, a 10-year-old girl from Ohio, who leads with kindness and donated the money she earned from making bracelets to help provide other families with a good Christmas, we were deeply inspired by her and her mother's kindness. Rosemary began crafting friendship bracelets over a year ago with a simple yet powerful goal: to spread joy and brighten the lives of those around her.

Jason and his son take great pride in their home, but when Jason became unable to maintain his household physically, the assistance he didn’t know was available for him fell into his lap.

“I went to get a weekly food supplement from the pantry one day, and Bernedice and Theo offered me a way to get further life-changing assistance.”

We spoke to Sara and Dustin of Sustainabillies which is a local farm here in Haywood County to share a bit more about what it's like working with Haywood Christian Ministry. 

HCM partnering with local farms is an effective way to support the local community. We spoke with Danielle from Mighty Gnome Market Garden, “It's been pretty transformative for our garden working with HCM. It genuinely has been one of the best working relationships we've had.” Working with HCM allows farmers to provide food relief which can be hard to do for small-scale farms.

Haywood Christian Ministry (HCM), located in Haywood County, NC, is a non-profit organization serving the community since 1970. HCM operates a thrift store and a large-scale food pantry, which feeds thousands of people every year. Within the year 2023, HCM's food pantry provided food to over 5,000 individuals and averaged 1.2 million pounds of food, which (according to Feeding America estimates) is equivalent to 1 million meals.

Wayne Towery (age 53) is a resident of Haywood County who has a great fondness for old Western movies. In 2023, he developed a new medical condition that required the amputation of his left leg above the knee. As a result, he could no longer work for his landscaping business.

"My whole lifestyle changed. It was a big adjustment. Then, my doctor, who provides in-home services, recommended that I seek additional assistance. I had old stairs that were really dangerous and flimsy. That's when I discovered Haywood Christian Ministry." 

HCM has been working to provide food to those who need it in the community. We have already provided enough food to feed more than 41,000 people this year alone, and today, we would like to introduce you to one of those people - Amy Colbert. Amy is a mother, wife, and a dedicated supporter of her community. She is an active volunteer at the HART community theatre, and she has always dreamt of becoming an actress. However, due to her disability, Amy and her husband have fallen on hard times.