Blue Ridge Community Action provides variety of services to Burke

Located at 800 N. Green St. in Morganton, Blue Ridge Community Action (BRCA) has stood as a beacon of hope and support to local residents for nearly six decades.

Started in 1965 with a mission to combat poverty and uplift the community, BRCA offers many services that cater to the diverse needs of the residents of western North Carolina.

The cornerstone program that BRCA provides is the Head Start initiative. This program serves children from birth to age five, offering early childhood education, health, nutrition, and parental involvement.

The goal is to foster stable family relationships and enhance children’s physical and emotional well-being. For many working families, Head Start is the opportunity to ensure their children are kindergarten-ready.

All three BRCA centers with childcare — two in Burke County and one in Caldwell County — received a 5-star rating from the North Carolina Division of Child Development and Early Education.

A 5-star rating is the highest ranking that can be awarded and reflects the highest quality in teachers, innovative policies, parental involvement, and curriculum.

In addition to educational support, BRCA offers early intervention services through developmental screenings, including occupational, physical, speech, and play therapy allowing children to receive the necessary support on location.

The organization also provides kids with free dental, hearing, and vision as well as daily nutritious meals — breakfast, lunch, and a snack.

BRCA’s commitment goes beyond children to include individuals and families navigating the challenges of generational poverty.

Aryn Smith, Community Service Director, emphasized, “We see that there are a lot of resources for families with young children, but we deal a lot with generational poverty, and so you have a single 19-year-old navigating the world on their own and those resources don't really exist for them because they don't have young children.”

This insight and the information from BRCA’s Community Needs Assessment are what helps the organization to create innovative programs and bolster family support systems.

“Our mission is ‘helping people, changing lives’ which is goal-oriented for the client,” Smith stated. “Whatever barriers are currently in their life, we work to try to eliminate them one by one, empowering them to change their own lives,” she said.

BRCA’s Family Support program offers individualized case management, financial literacy education, and employment support.

The organization understands that breaking the cycle of poverty requires more than just immediate aid; it necessitates empowering individuals with the skills and resources needed to become self-reliant.

Case Manager Mindy Goss emphasized the struggle of young adults to get involved in programs because they are unaware of the available resources, or don't understand the application process for assistance like food stamps or WIC.

She emphasized the importance of educating clients about community programs. “Simply providing clients with a resource guide can have a huge impact,” she said.

Energy efficiency is another area where BRCA makes a significant impact. Their weatherization assistance program helps low-income households reduce energy costs by an average of $300 a year.

Services include insulation, weather stripping, and HVAC repair, which can lower utility bills and also create safer and more comfortable living environments.

Recognizing the unique challenges faced by senior citizens, BRCA offers specialized programs to support these vulnerable populations.

BRCA provides an adult day care and the Senior Community Services Employment Program so that seniors can live independently and with dignity.

Smith elaborated on BRCA approach, explaining that the services they provide are a community partnership. “We understand that we can't provide every service, so we educate ourselves and build rapport with local and state organizations so that we can send clients to where they will get the best care.”

“Our goal for most clients is to pair them with a case manager to just walk the path with them, to be a resource, and to help navigate different resources,” Smith continued. “We often act as a research hub for folks because we want clients to be at work so they can't call the housing authority, so we are able to make those phone calls to assist clients in receiving service and making referrals on their behalf.”

Goss also stressed the importance of teaching life skills.

“With generational poverty, if our clients grew up with parents who did not know how to do something, then our client may not know something either, like brushing their teeth twice a day or the things that go into healthy nutrition,” Goss said.

“The knowledge and support we can provide can make a significant impact,” she added.

Volunteers play a crucial role in the organization, whether through direct service as foster grandparents or passively through donations, community involvement, and ownership that all strengthen the impact of BRCA’s services.

The organization is governed by a tripartite board, composed of representatives from the public and private sectors as well as the low-income community, which can include parents of enrolled students.

This governance structure ensures that diverse perspectives guide the organization's efforts.

As BRCA looks to the future, it remains committed to working with local organizations and community leaders to expand its services and adapt to the evolving needs of the community.