Featured Photo: Educators at Sand Hill-Venable Elementary School hold up helpful items received in care packages from Biltmore Church.
Story/Photos By: Benjamin Rickert, BCS Communications
As schools work to meet student needs during the pandemic, a long-supportive ally of local education is making efforts to assist. Classrooms across Western North Carolina will feel the impact of the generous “Biltmore Church Loves Schools” initiative this August, which worked to identify and meet tangible classroom needs, as well as encourage teachers as they face unique challenges this fall.
As part of Biltmore Church’s effort, 1,500 Western North Carolina students will receive school-supply backpacks with 900 designated for Buncombe County elementary schools. In Buncombe, Henderson, Transylvania, and Macon counties, 1,500 teachers total will receive a care package including helpful and encouraging items like tissues, hand sanitizer, pens, coffee pods, a plant, and an #828strong mug. The church also raised $32,000 to purchase a number of automated Swivl cameras for remote learning classroom use, hand sanitizer for 400 classrooms, and other needs in Buncombe County.
“We’re locking arms. It’s like everybody is on one big team,” said Missions Pastor Curt McClure. “We’re just thankful we can be a part of it.”
Along with Missions Intern Clay Carreno, McClure visited with Superintendent Dr. Tony Baldwin and Assistant Superintendent Joseph Hough last week to share the details of their fundraising effort. McClure explained that the motivation was to bring the community together, encourage teachers, and to put their beliefs and values into action.
“Biltmore Church has been there for our teachers and students for a very long time,” said Dr. Baldwin. “Thank you.”
On August 29, Biltmore Church will also send groups of volunteers to about 20 BCS campuses to assist with outdoor tasks like weeding, mulching, and landscaping. Additionally, the BCS Family Resource Center will begin using the church’s Arden campus to distribute food boxes this week.
Carreno hopes the gift boxes for teachers will help some to find encouragement when they need it.
“We hope this is supportive and helpful for the time that you’re going through,” he said. “We see you. We love you.”
___
Looking for more? In December, Biltmore Church hosted an
Employability Seminar for BCS students.