A heart for helping the Swannanoa Valley

Lois Nix retires as president of Hand In Hand after 17 years

Fred McCormick
The Valley Echo
March 29, 2023

Hand In Hand of the Swannanoa Valley, a nonprofit organization that raises money to support students in the Owen District, celebrates the retirement of Lois Nix, standing in the center of the front row. Nix was one of six original founders of Hand In Hand, which has raised more than $250,000 for local students since 2006. Photo by Fred McCormick

Growing up in the Swannanoa Valley, Lois Nix learned a lot about her hometown, but one particular lesson shaped her future.

“I’ve lived here for 85 years,” said Nix, one of six people who partnered with local churches to form the nonprofit Hand In Hand of the Swannanoa Valley in 2006. “Our mother and daddy had 10 children, but there was always enough of whatever we had that mother would share with anyone else. She told us to help others, and I guess it’s just a way of life.”

On March 27, as she retired from her position as president of the organization she founded, Nix has no plans to stop helping students in the Owen District.

Retirement is nothing new for Nix, who ended her professional career two decades ago, after serving as the director of the Swannanoa Valley Christian Ministry for 26 years. Her desire to assist neighbors in need, however, remained strong when she began volunteering at Black Mountain Primary School.

“My granddaughter was in school there at the time,” said Nix, a longtime member of Tabernacle United Methodist Church. “Our pastor, at the time, asked a committee I was on to think about something we could do to help people in the community. I called him one day, after being at the school, and told him about some things I had seen, and how I thought we could help.”

Through her work at the SVCM, Nix had long been familiar with the hardships facing families throughout her hometown, but she gained new insight from her experiences in the classroom.

“It wasn’t uncommon to see students coming to class without school supplies,” she said. “At that time, it was basic items like paper, pencils and things like that. It’s obviously really hard for kids to be successful in school if they don’t have the things they need.”

The issue was one Nix felt could be addressed by local churches.

“I reached out to several churches, and they were all supportive of finding a way to get necessary supplies to our local students,” she said. “The rest, I guess, is 17 years of Hand In Hand history.”

A group of dedicated volunteers began to arrange fundraising efforts, including community lunches and school supply drives while spreading the word to friends, families, neighbors and fellow church members. Nix and fellow members of the nonprofit’s board established relationships with the six schools in the Swannanoa Valley in an effort to identify the biggest needs.

“We just knew we were going to try to help however we could,” she said. “We also knew this has always been a generous community, and if we made people aware of the problem, many of them would want to support these kids.”

Board members of Hand In Hand of the Swannanoa Valley surprise founder Lois Nix with a retirement party on March 27. Photo by Fred McCormick

Her instincts about the caring nature of Swannanoa Valley residents had long been sharp, according to Lorraine Moore, who worked under Nix at SVCM and later joined her on the board of Hand In Hand.

“I had just retired from the VA Medical Center, and had been home about six months and realized I was too young,” Moore said, recalling her introduction to Nix. “I went down to the Ministry, and was one of 11 people to apply for a part-time position there. Lois hired me, and that was one of the best things that ever happened to me. I learned more working for the SVCM than I ever did working for the government.”

She vividly remembers the first lesson she learned from Nix.

“She told me to err on your side, don’t err on the side of people who need help,” Moore said. “In other words, if someone said they have a need and I was unsure about it, just give them what we can afford to give them.”

Around this time, she learned just how accurate Nix was when assessing the generosity of the local community.

“People fuss about people moving here from other places, but so many of them come here with the means to support others, and that’s what they do,” Moore said. “I learned a lot about this place, and the Lord, from Lois, and I appreciate her so much.”

By the time Moore joined Nix at Hand In Hand, the nonprofit’s efforts were gaining momentum. A $10,000 donation last fall marked a milestone for the organization, which has now given more than $250,000 to Black Mountain Primary and Elementary, Owen Middle, Owen High and the Community High School.

“The needs have increased over the years, and last year we were able to help two seniors attend a field trip to Washington, D.C.,” Nix said. “Because of the generosity of this community, we’ve been able to grow in so many ways.”

While Nix, who will continue working with Hand In Hand after retiring as president, has long recognized the generous spirit of the Swannanoa Valley, she never imagined the organization of churches and volunteers would help so many students.

“We’re a small Christian organization made up of people who care about these kids,” she said. “Jesus taught us to help others, and we’re just doing what He told us to do.”