Hand in Hand of the Swannanoa Valley holds annual school supply drive

Local nonprofit organization supports students in the Owen District

Fred McCormick
The Valley Echo
August 15, 2022

Local nonprofit organization, Hand in Hand of the Swannanoa Valley, will host its annual school supply drive at Tabernacle United Methodist Church, Aug. 19. The event supports the six schools in the Owen District. Photo by Fred McCormick

A local nonprofit organization is giving the community an opportunity to lend a helping hand to local students. 

Hand in Hand of the Swannanoa Valley, which was organized in 2006 to support the six schools in the Owen District, will host its annual school supply drive, beginning at 9 a.m., Friday, Aug. 19, at the Tabernacle United Methodist Church in Black Mountain. 

Supplies, including, but not limited to, backpacks, paper, pencils, crayons and spiral notebooks, will be collected near the tables outside of the church. Volunteers will sort the items by grades and the needs of each school, according to Lois Nix, current board chair and one of the six founders of Hand in Hand. 

The nonprofit has donated $250,000 to area schools since organizing 16 years ago, according to Nix. Its fundraising efforts, including lunches, throughout the year, support Black Mountain Primary and Elementary Schools, W.D. Williams Elementary, Owen Middle and Owen and Buncombe County Community High School. 

“We communicate regularly with the schools and guidance counselors in the district, so we’re aware of the specific needs of each one,” she said. “Once the supplies are sorted, volunteers will deliver them to each school.”

Nix anticipates a “good turnout” for the drive, which receives support from local churches.

“A lot of members from the (Tabernacle United Methodist Church), where we hold the drive, bring in supplies throughout the year, and the Black Mountain Presbyterian is always wonderful with collecting school supplies,” she said. “We really appreciate the support we receive from the community, and we’re glad to be doing it here.”

Hand in Hand began when a group of church members began discussing ideas to support the basic needs of students in the Swannanoa Valley, according to Nix. The organization raises money, year-round, and holds its annual school supplies drive every summer.

“We wanted to take on a mission project that wasn’t happening that time, here in the Valley,” Nix said. “We called some other churches, invited their representatives over, and started working on it. I don’t think any of us had any idea we’d raise this much money, or collect all of these school supplies every year.”

The nonprofit receives support from local residents, businesses and community organizations. 

“We were really concerned about fundraising efforts when the pandemic came,” Nix said. “But, we’ve had just as much money to give the schools these last two years as we did before.” 

Tabernacle United Methodist Church is located at 385 Tabernacle Road, Black Mountain, where a team of Hand in Hand volunteers will collect the items.

“We really need all types of supplies,” Nix said. “So, we invite the community to bring them in, and we’ll get them to those who need them.”

Donations to Hand in Hand of the Swannanoa Valley can be made by check, which can be mailed to: Hand in Hand of the Swannanoa Valley, P.O. Box 764, Black Mountain, 28711.