In This Month's Update

• Executive Director's Message

•Our Current Pantry and Clothing Needs

•A Neighbor's Story

• Celebrating One Year of IAM’s Mobile Pantry!

•Holiday Shopping at IAM

•Meet Amy Cook

•Thank Your Boys and Girls Club

•Who are our Neighbors?

Dear Friends,

During this 2023 Season of Giving, I am excited to share an extra special story that continues to unfold.  

Thanks to a unique Community Foundation fund, IAM is helping a single dad who has suffered several years of severe hardships that began when his wife left him and their five school-aged children and took the family’s only vehicle. Determined to provide for his kids, the dad worked extra hard at his job and received a promotion. His caring landlord allowed him to hold off paying rent until he purchased a reliable vehicle. 

The dad recently learned about IAM and came to see if we could help him with some of the overdue rent. IAM caught him up on all of the overdue rent. What’s more, this hard-working father is finally able to provide the care his child with a heart condition needs, receive the dental work he couldn’t afford to end years of mouth pain and help the other children get caught up on medical and dental care. They are picking out clothing and shoes and warm winter jackets at IAM’s clothing closet. Our pantry is providing the family with nutritious food to help the kids do well in school and supplying personal hygiene items. The tears of joy and relief that streamed down this father’s face when he learned IAM could help in such an impactful way are unforgettable. He so wanted to be back on his feet and stabilized.

More joy! Please join me in a mighty shout-out laced with prayers of thanksgiving to the Knights of Columbus from Immaculate Conception Catholic Church – some of our biggest heroes! Today they delivered more than 2 tons of greatly needed food to IAM for our annual Holiday Food Drive.

A heartfelt thank you to all who have donated to IAM in some way during 2023. As high food and gasoline costs and the second-highest rents in North Carolina continue, IAM needs your donations more than ever. We have seen a 20 percent increase in new families seeking assistance and falling into poverty this fall. 

Please help us by donating to IAM on our website, by mailed check or at our pantry door so we can continue to care for the children and adults who so badly need our help. Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukah and Happy Kwanza. Let’s take a cue from Tiny Tim who exclaimed, ‘God bless us, Every One!’

Blessings,

 *Mary, a single mom, came to IAM for rent assistance for herself and her middle school-aged child. She lost a full-time job with benefits for taking too much time off to care for her child who suffered from suicidal ideations. She has been trying to make ends meet by driving for some of the food delivery services to spend more time with her child, who was undergoing therapy.

 IAM assisted Mary with rent, helped her get her food stamps increased and counseled her to apply for benefits through the Healthy Opportunities Pilot through her Managed Medicaid. She was also encouraged to come back to IAM for food to help her pay the rent during her child’s recovery. Her action plan included her applying for two part-time jobs.

She left IAM feeling encouraged and relieved that she would not be evicted from her home. She had renewed hope.

*Not her real name

IAM’s Mobile Pantry has been serving our neighbors throughout Henderson County for over one year now and it has been a huge success in the fight against food insecurity in our community!

So far in 2023, the IAM Mobile Pantry traveled to various locations 42 times. During those visits we’ve served 2,883 families comprised of 12,530 individuals.

Offering traditional and Latino foods, IAM’s Mobile Pantry provides free nutritious food for a week for each household member. See our monthly schedule here.

The holiday season is upon us and the IAM Thrift Store is the ideal place to find that perfect gift. Store Manager Kathy Yaw and her staff have transformed the store into a winter wonderland! 

Open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday at 119 Jack St. off Four Seasons Blvd. and just behind IAM’s offices. All sales benefit IAM!

IAM is also excited to welcome Amy Cook as our new Development Director/HOP Coordinator! Amy was raised in Henderson County and attended Hendersonville High School. Amy has been in Birmingham, Alabama for the past 33 years where she most recently worked for WMU Foundation where she served as Director of Operations.

“I am very excited about returning to the place I have always considered as my home," says Amy. "I am very eager to serve the residents of Henderson County through the efforts of IAM.”

Please help us welcome Amy Cook to IAM and back home to Henderson County!

Thank You Boys and Girls Club!

We are grateful to the K-kids and Torch Clubs at the Boys and Girls Club of Henderson County for sharing 30 snack bags with IAM to distribute to the children of families that visit our pantry.

Pictured L-R: Lili Miquel, Adrian Barbosa, Izaiah Campos, and Matthew Burrell.

Our neighbors include the working poor, struggling senior citizens, single moms, disabled veterans and many others in overwhelming financial crisis. Our neighbors are facing unprecedented food insecurity as food costs soar. The cost of housing in Henderson County ranks among the most expensive in North Carolina. Prices for gasoline, prescription medicines, and utilities all continue to escalate. In short, our most vulnerable neighbors are facing financial hardships on many fronts.

IAM serves residents of Henderson County every year to help meet their basic needs including food, clothing, medical, transportation, and financial assistance when a crisis hits. In 2022, one in 11 households in Henderson County reached out to IAM for assistance. Last year, IAM served more than 16,080 of our Henderson County neighbors. In 2023, the need has increased even more due to economic factors beyond their control. 

Thank you for helping IAM be at the forefront of helping those facing an immediate crisis find the support they need to preserve their health and to ultimately make Henderson County a better place for all of us to live. 

Impact of Your Gift

(Equivalent nutrient-dense meals for our neighbors in need)

$1,000 – provides 320 meals

$500 – provides 160 meals

$250 – provides 80 meals

$100 – provides 32 meals

$50 – provides 16 meals

$25 – provides 8 meals