As we look back on a season filled with both challenges and incredible generosity, we are overwhelmed with gratitude. Thank you for being a constant source of hope and light in our children’s lives. Your kindness, prayers, and unwavering support are part of each smile, each moment of healing, and each resilient step forward.
Last fall, Hurricane Helene brought immense challenges—damaging our campus, disrupting daily life, and adding to the fears of our children. Yet, your steadfast prayers and generosity reminded us that we are not alone.
In John 16:33, Jesus encourages us to “be of good cheer,” even during tribulations. Your support has helped us live out this truth. Your tangible gifts and the reassurance that we are not alone have brought us joy and strength in challenging times.
We are truly grateful for your partnership in ministry. Because of your compassion, our children continue to heal, learn, and grow, knowing they are safe, cared for, and surrounded by God’s love. Thank you for showing our children what love looks like in action—steadfast, sacrificial, and overflowing with compassion.
It isn’t only felt in the big gestures—it’s in every meal shared at the dining room table, every night of warmth and safety, and every moment of encouragement. It’s part of each birthday celebration, each report card, and each step our children take toward healing from the scars of neglect, abuse, and other traumas.
Thank you for giving the gift of hope to our children. Your love is making an eternal difference.
Thank you for the countless ways you’ve supported the children entrusted to our care. Your love for them reminds us of Jesus’ words in John 16:33: “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world, you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” Your steadfast support is a witness to this truth. Your prayers, time, and gifts bring cheer and hope to children who have faced more than their share of tribulation.
Not only have you helped provide for their daily needs, but your extraordinary generosity made Christmas special for our children. Thanks to you, they experienced the true wonder and joy of the season surrounded by love and blessings. From carefully chosen gifts under the tree to unforgettable activities and outings, you helped make the holidays special.
Your help recovering from Hurricane Helene has been a lifeline. As we’ve worked to repair our campus and instill hope in the hearts of our children, you’ve been with us every step of the way. Your kindness has encouraged us and ensured our children receive the care and healing they need. Thank you for walking this journey with us, sharing your love, your gifts, and, most of all, your prayers. Your generosity fills our hearts with hope and gives our children the promise of a brighter future. We pray that your life is filled with the same love and hope you so graciously give. May this season bring our Savior’s blessings to your heart and home, and may you find joy in knowing that your care has created ripples of hope that will last for generations to come.
For God is the one who provides seed for the farmer and then bread to eat. In the same way, He will provide and increase your resources and then produce a great harvest of generosity in you. You will be enriched in every way so that you can always be generous. And when you take your gifts to those who need them, they will thank God.
2 Corinthians 9:10-11
James O. Harmon
After Helene, when our children and staff were isolated without electricity, running water, or phone service, your generosity was a beacon in the storm, reassuring us that we were not alone. Your prayers, gifts, and acts of kindness were a reminder that love brings comfort, security, and hope when it’s needed most.
After Hurricane Helene left behind a mess of fallen trees, debris, landslide, and other damage, we knew we had to figure out how to move forward. Then, people began to show up to help – both new friends and faithful ministry partners. The donations of food, cleaning supplies, animal feed, generators, fuel, Starlinks, recreation items for our kids, water filtration systems and tanks, and more reminded us of what it means to be part of a caring community. And for those of you who gave financially—whether from right down the road or across the country—thank you for helping us bounce back. We can’t thank you enough for walking alongside our children and ministry during this challenging time.
Christmas morning was nothing short of magical. It was the first time some of our children woke up to presents under the tree and stockings filled with goodies just for them. The joy on their faces as they beheld their gifts was heartwarming.
Christmas Eve was also memorable. Filled with anticipation, our kids had dinner with their house parents. Before bedtime, they read the Christmas story and learned about the true meaning of Christmas and the greatest gift of all, Jesus.
We are grateful for your help in making the holidays extraordinary for our children. All their wish lists, including those of the eight children we welcomed just days before Christmas, were filled. Your cards, gifts, and cottage presents made each child feel cherished. Because of you, they made unforgettable memories.
Thank you for sharing your light and love with our children during a season that has been stressful for them. Thank you for being part of their Christmas story and for making a difference that they —and we—will never forget.
Thank you for the gifts, holiday meals, and lasting memories, including experiences beyond our campus—laughing on snowy slopes, learning to ice skate, cheering on monster trucks, and so much more.
The holidays are especially difficult for the children in our care. They miss their moms, dads, grandparents, cousins, and the familiarity of home, even those homes that weren’t healthy or safe. Hurricane Helene made it even harder. Once a place of beauty, the community around them was filled with splintered trees, buildings buried in landslides, and cars upside down in streams. With schools closed for weeks and communications down, painful memories of past experiences resurfaced.
Thank you for stepping into their loneliness with compassion and care. Your heartfelt prayers lifted their spirits, and your generous gifts brought reassurance. You showing up to help brought hope. Because of you, our children realized that their BMH family extends beyond our staff. And that family cares about them and wants them to have happy childhoods, joyful holidays, and bright futures.
These unforgettable experiences provide comfort, build confidence, teach valuable life skills, and foster lasting friendships. Your generosity didn’t just bring joy to their holidays—it helped replace painful memories of abuse, neglect, and trauma with new moments rooted in love, trust, and hope.
Thank you for giving our children more than presents— thank you for giving them your compassion, love, and the opportunity to grow and heal. We are truly grateful.
Tributes September 1-30, 2024
We deeply appreciate the people who recognized special events, honored the memory of loved ones, and expressed love and friendship by supporting our children.
Frank Aichinger
Mia Wheeler
EH (Alex) Alexander, Jr.
Johnny & Janet Robertson
Judy Cook
Kathy Patton
Jason & Elodie Covert
Eugene & Frances Lovell
Sara Crawford
Larry & Carroll Sitton
Emily DeVane
Lainill Crabtree
Robert Dodge
Mary White
Nevaeh Grace
Nick & Kendall Juhl
Robin Grattet
Stephen Lambert
Jimmy Harmon
Kat Berrier
Wes Hite
Ben & Tiffany Lillard
Grady & Sally Kennington
Levar & Katie Moore
Harold R. Lee
Joe & Edie Covert
Ryan & Ellen Machiele
Rachael Oram
Mary Beecher Mathes
Joe & Edie Covert
Steve & Ruth Neuhoff
Teresa Johnson
Lori Norris-Sutphin
Kat Berrier
Michael O’Rourke
Ryan & Ellen Machiele
Kenneth & Debbie Ray
Kirk & Linda Fuller
Julius & Louise Robinson
Johnny & Mary Robinson
Rebekah Travis
Noelle Sproul
Joel Troutman
Ben & Tiffany Lillard
Roger Upton
Jen Grigg
Debra Walters
Bonnie Henderson
Mary, Nancy, & Elaine Wilson
Gary Pace
Homer & Darlene Yeater
Fredrick & Marsha Davenport
Thomas W. Alexander
Hedrick Industries
Virginia Avery
Tom Avery
Michael Bass
Ben Goldstein & Stephanie Scarce
Douglas Braswell
Mavis Braswell
Andrew D. Bunch
Linda Brown
Pat Childers
Debbie Childers
Steve Dense
Virginia Bradford
Cherri Donithan
Toby Critchfield
Charles Holley
Bee & Martha Strain
Billy Hughes
Doris McGinnis
Robert & Donna Juhl
Randy Juhl
Thomas Lackey
Vivienne Rodriguez
Fred Martin
Sally Martin
Frank Maske
Jim Bailer
Ed & Margaret Clayton
Golda Durham
Emily Theesen
Donald E. Moore
Shannon Redmon
David L. Parks
Debbie Nowlin
Delores Price
Stan & Cherie Arant
Cynthia Roberts
Virginia Bradford
Jackie Smith
Jim Smith
Warren Sproul
Sandy Stanford
Doris Tinsley
Virginia Bradford
Hilda S. Vance
Phyllis Vance
Lois Wernicke
Carol Himes
Herbert & Barbara Kilmer
Philip & Marcia Kilmer
Fred Eugene Wier
Rhonda Wier
John S. Wilburn
Becky Wilburn
Matthew Stephen Wray
Robin & Renee Dyer
With gratitude for a beautifully lived life, we share the passing of Delores Melton Roberts, lovingly known to our staff as Miss D. For the fifteen-plus years Miss D worked at BMH, she graced our ministry with her steadfast love, tireless service, and encouraging spirit. Miss D always had a smile, warm hug, and perfectly timed bit of scripture. She carried God’s love in her heart and shared it generously with everyone around her.
At home, she loved gardening, painting, and cooking meals for others. Even after retiring, Miss D couldn’t help but continue her ministry of love, returning often to volunteer and serve the children she held so dear.
Miss D loved deeply and was deeply loved in return. Her legacy is woven into the fabric of our Home—into the lives of the children she nurtured and the staff she inspired. While her presence will be profoundly missed, we find comfort in knowing that her life was a blessing to so many, and her memory will continue to light our way.
“After Helene hit, I thought my dream of becoming a chef was over,” shared Mike, one of our Culinary Arts Apprenticeship Program students. The hurricane destroyed several buildings on our campus, including the dining hall and commercial kitchen where he and other youth had learned skills that would shape their futures. But the dream didn’t end there. With the support of generous people like you, a new plan began to take shape—a kitchentrailer that would keep our students learning, growing, and working toward certifications that lead to real jobs. For Mike, who dreams of becoming a chef, and Morgan, who just graduated and can’t wait to start, this isn’t just a kitchen—it’s a chance to build a future they never thought possible. Opportunities like this are life-changing for older youth aging out of foster care. Without support, many face homelessness, and far too few find stable jobs. But our Independent Living Program offers a different path—one where students are mentored, learn life skills, and build careers they can be proud of. When the storm destroyed our kitchen, it felt like those dreams might slip away. But hope remains. Thanks
to our generous community of support, we’re close to making a fully equipped mobile kitchen a reality—one that will keep students like Mike and Morgan on track to earn certifications, gain confidence, and create brighter futures. We invite you to help us cross the finish line by sharing your gift in the enclosed envelope or online at BlackMountainHome.org. Every gift brings our youth closer to the tools they need to succeed. Thank you for investing in their future.
Your support ensures their dreams were not washed away by the storm
To our students, this drawing is a joyful picture of hope –because acquiring this mobile kitchen allows them to get back on track learning, growing, and preparing for their futures
Estimated cost of food trailer is $100,000. Visit our website or scan the QRC to learn more.
April 24, 5:00 PM
Please help us celebrate the opening of our new Student Life Center. Located at our Ray Campbell Independent Living Village, the Student Life Center will provide classrooms, office space, kitchen and dining room, worship space, a fitness center and more for youth in our 18 and over program. We are excited to welcome our friends, donors, and community partners for this special day, the first event on our campus since the hurricane. (The Student Life Center will open at noon for tours for those who cannot attend in the evening.)
Location of event:
Black Mountain Home for Children Independent Living Village 5 Ray Campbell Drive Black Mountain, NC 28711
You don’t need to be perfect to make a difference—just willing to open your heart and home to a child in need. Convenient information sessions are offered monthly to help you learn more about being a foster family. To register, visit BlackMountainHome.org/FosterCare
After being removed from her home due to neglect, 7-yearold Emma found stability, love, and hope in the home of a BMH foster family.
There, she began to smile again, do better in school, and make new friends.
5 pm Reception
6 pm Ribbon Cutting and Thomas W. Alexander Memorial Scholarship Presentation
So that we may prepare appropriately, please RSVP for this event by scanning the QR code, visiting https://www.blackmountainhome.org/event/slc/, or by sending an email to RSVP@BlackMountainHome.org.
Financial Donations can be made by check using the enclosed envelope or online at: BlackMountainHome.org/donate
In-Kind Donations can be delivered to our office or ordered online and shipped to:
Donations at Black Mountain Home 80 Lake Eden Road Black Mountain, NC 28711
Scan to see our ministry needs list on Amazon.
https://www.amazon.com/registries/gl/guestview/2H8HO3OV3WCIK
To receive our prayer calendar, email prayer@BlackMountainHome.org
Want to make care possible for 170+ children this year? Learn more at a People With Purpose Volunteer Orientation and Tour. Follow us on Facebook or visit our website for more information and tour dates.
80 Lake Eden Road
Black Mountain, NC 28711
BlackMountainHome.org 828.686.3451