February has been proclaimed Family Support Awareness Month. Our thanks go out to N.C. Governor Roy Cooper for recognizing and highlighting the importance of supporting our state’s youngest children and their families.

Listen to the linked podcast below to learn more about why economists consider a beautiful new baby a 'market failure.' Even if the layperson would not use this exact terminology, most would agree that the state of child care in America is exactly that - a failure - on many levels. Is it time for an innovative solution?

Without early childhood care and education being high quality, we risk the health and well-being of the children who will become the next generation of workers. The effects of this are already being felt in high costs of health care, public safety, and public assistance programs." -- EducationNC

Within this inspired quote from Rosa Parks, the Mother of the Civil Rights Movement, we at Nantahala Health Foundation derive courage and hope for the work we are doing with others to secure a future of health equity in the far Western North Carolina region. We value equity on many levels, especially as it intersects with our work to advance health and wellness for all who have historically been denied access to quality care. And while it is important that we as a nation officially commemorate Black History throughout the month of February, we believe we should look to honor Black history and celebrate Black excellence year-round.

We are beyond thrilled to have ended 2022 with an impressive track record of making health investments and community partnerships from within our grant-making program. While we are proud of these numbers, the real reason we are committed to doing this work is the hundreds of stories of hope and health these numbers represent.

While the collaborative work we are doing with regional partners is already making a big difference in the lives of many, we are just getting started.

WHY DO THIS WORK?

If you have any questions about the state of Appalachia's health outcomes, a quick review of this Scientific American report should illuminate why this work is needed now and more likely than ever to create real change in rural Western North Carolina than ever before.

Furthermore, the County Health Rankings and Road Map website tells a tale of woe for many living in our service area. Of North Carolina's 100 counties, 2022 health outcome rankings were as follows:

Macon -- 25th

Clay -- 38th

Jackson -- 41st

Graham -- 71st

Cherokee -- 73rd

Swain -- 96th

We cannot do this work alone. We look forward to connecting with you to learn more about how we can continue eliminating barriers to better health and well-being for all.

We are thrilled to announce that six regional nonprofit agencies and two government units have been awarded grant funds to aid in their efforts to address the home repair needs of low-income homeowners throughout far Western North Carolina.

Agencies selected to receive Healthy Homes Initiative funding and their areas of coverage are:



• Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians Housing Department, homes owned by Tribal members
• Four Square Community Action in Andrews, homes located in Cherokee, Clay, Graham, and Swain counties
• Hinton Rural Life Center in Hayesville, homes located in Cherokee and Clay counties
• International Friendship Center in Highlands, homes located in Jackson and Macon counties
• Macon County Housing Department in Franklin, homes located in Macon County
• Mountain Projects in Sylva, homes located in Jackson County
• Restoration House of WNC in Bryson City, homes located in Swain County

If you or someone you know is in need of home repair services to improve the health and well-being of occupants, please get in touch with one of these agencies to learn more about eligibility requirements. Home repair and modification projects associated with this grant cycle are anticipated to be completed by September 2023.

The results of our work in partnership with Duke Energy hit the airwaves earlier this month when News Reporter Rex Hodge of WLOS-TV visited Dillsboro in Jackson County to learn more about how Duke's Hometown Revitalization Program is anticipated to Refresh Dillsboro during the coming months.

Under Nantahala Health Foundation's grant management, the Duke Energy program awarded a total of $25,000 in Refresh Dillsboro grants to:

Funding from Nantahala Health Foundation's CHIP program offset the purchase and distribution costs of providing 142,497 pounds of nutritious food assistance in both Franklin and Nantahala, enough food for 118,748 meals for the residents of Macon County. - Photo provided by MANNA FoodBank

In December 2021, we invested more than $470K in 13 regional organizations through our Collaborative Health Innovation Projects (CHIP) program. The funded projects were anticipated to run from January – December 2022.

Among these was an award made to MANNA FoodBank to support food distributions to individuals and families facing food insecurities in Macon County. Their plan was two-fold. First, they hoped to identify a permanent location for Franklin's MANNA Community Market. Second, they sought to explore options to host a separate MANNA Community Market site in the more rural Nantahala Community.

Early in the project, MANNA and their collaborative partners at Macon Program for Progress (MPP) decided it would be best to keep their Franklin distribution operations headquartered at the Macon County Fairgrounds at 1436 Georgia Road, where so many local residents had come to expect it.

Next, MPP and MANNA addressed the urgent need for food resources in the Nantahala region. The closest grocery store to Nantahala Township, which is located in the upper left corner of the inset map, is more than 30 minutes away, and many residents must travel up to an hour to receive assistance at other food distributions. MANNA and MPP established another collaborative relationship with members of Aquone Baptist Church in Topton to secure a distribution site and the volunteers needed to help on food distribution days.

MPP, MANNA, and the volunteers of Aquone Church have successfully hosted six community markets since July 2022. Their mobile pantry team, MPP staff, and community volunteers have distributed 21,628 pounds of nutritious, shelf-stable foods, dairy products, eggs, and fresh produce in Topton during the grant period, according to a MANNA spokesperson.

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Our grant-making priorities are designed to create a strong network of organizations by investing in your strategies to remove barriers to health.

At Nantahala Health Foundation, we build partnerships with forward-thinking organizations focused on improving the overall health of the region. 

Our Values Statement

Our values speak to who we are as an organization and how we intend to achieve our mission. Read our full statement of values and let us know what you think.

Financial information about our organization and a copy of our license are available from the N.C. State Solicitation Licensing Section at (919) 807-2214. The license is not an endorsement by the State.