JEFFERSON, N.C. — With temperatures plummeting and the aftermath of Hurricane Helene still challenging western North Carolina families, the need for utility assistance has never been more critical. That's where Care Network comes in.
Five years ago, a generous donor challenged the Ashe Food Pantry, which has been around for 40 years, to do something different.
"We had a generous owner who stepped forward and gave us $75,000 for five years. So that's 75,000 times five years to start a new nonprofit," Michael Sexton, the executive director, told WCNC Charlotte. "He said, 'The only thing you have to do, is do something different. Don't just buy food.'"
In lieu of food, Sexton identified energy assistance.
"And from my experience of working in the pantry, I knew that the most frequently requested item other than food was, 'I need help on my electric bill,' or 'I need help with heating costs.' So that's how the Care Network started."
The organization works in coordination with Ashe County's Department of Social Services.
"The Department of Social Services starts the process with a budget. Each client has to fill out a budget and they help them to see where all their money is going," Sexton explained. "That's a very informative process. Then that budget and information is sent to me and we fulfill the request directly with the vendor that's involved."
Sexton said the challenge now, is that the five years of funding is up.
"This is the beginning of the sixth year. So it presents a huge challenge in funding because now we have to come up with our own funding if we are going to keep this program going," he said. "And in the aftermath of Huricane Helene, it's very important that we keep it going because requests are at an all-time high."
The organization has a typical annual budget of $75,000, according to Sexton. Last year, they helped 140 clients with heating assistance and electrical assistance. Sexton hopes to raise $75,000 for the next year.
When WCNC Charlotte heard about the group's mission to make an impact in the community, WCNC Charlotte partnered with the Tegna Foundation, the Parham Family Fund and Steel Skin Realty and gifted the Care Network a $10,000 grant.
"$10,000 will probably do like 30 fillups on fuel tanks," Sexton said. "An average electric bill is $125. So divide 125 into 10,000 and that's quite a few electric bills that can be paid. So, yeah, it'll have a definite impact on people."
And with more brutal winter months still ahead, WCNC Charlotte viewers through the "Share the Warmth" campaign stepped in to help with the distribution of critical winter items.
"The temperatures are very low and the sleeping bags, blankets will come into play big time," Sexton continued. "People are still requesting generators and we haven't had any recently here so it couldn't come at a better time."
For Ashe County families interested in assistance, Sexton said the first step is to reach out to the Department of Social Services.
The community can support Care Network and the Ashe Food Pantry in multiple ways.
"Advocate for us," Sexton said. "Just get the word out that we're here because we are a new nonprofit in Ashe County. That's one thing."
You can find more on their other programs and how to donate on their website and Facebook page.
