News

IAM receives $250,000 grant for to close wellness gaps

IAM volunteer Joyce Forth, a retired dietician, holds a food demonstration at IAM’s Pantry as part of the ‘Closing the Wellness Gaps’ project.

By Lightning Reports, Published: January 2, 2020

Interfaith Assistance Ministry has been awarded $250,000 from the WNC Bridge Foundation to help address emergency wellness issues that affect Henderson County’s residents in crisis.

This generous grant will launch IAM’s new "Closing the Wellness Gaps" project. “The project’s goal is to improve the overall health and well-being of Henderson County’s most vulnerable residents”, said Elizabeth Willson Moss, IAM’s executive director.
The WNC Bridge Foundation grant enables IAM to stream educational nutrition and healthy active living information to Henderson County residents as they apply for crisis services at IAM. What’s more, IAM will also provide healthy food demonstrations with simple ingredients and recipes such as marinated fresh veggies and healthy hash browns. The grant also provides IAM with much-needed additional funding to provide food, heating and power assistance and clothing to our neighbors in need.
“This grant enables IAM to serve more neighbors in need who struggle to survive,” said Moss. “It also enables IAM to contribute to improving the overall health of our community through nutrition and healthy lifestyle education. We are thrilled to be a partner in addressing this ongoing community need.”
“IAM is grateful to be one of the 44 nonprofit organizations to receive a grant from WNC Bridge Foundation’s 2019 Impact Grants totaling $3,341,836”, Moss said.
WNC Bridge Foundation is a community-based charitable organization that works to provide funds to support and assist in meeting the many health challenges that face the people of Western North Carolina. “We provide direct support and also empower carefully selected nonprofits to impact individual and community wellness in our communities throughout the WNC region,” said Scott Buchanan, WNC Bridge Foundation’s President and CEO.
IAM, Henderson County’s largest crisis services nonprofit, was founded in 1984 to serve as a clearing house for local faith congregations to assist area residents in financial crisis with food, clothing, shoes, utility bill and rent assistance. That purpose still exists but IAM is no longer funded solely by the faith community. Widespread donor support is needed to keep crisis services available.
Over the years IAM’s services have increased to include personal hygiene items, prescription assistance, linens, blankets, school supplies, transportation assistance, pet food, medical cost assistance, food for a week’s worth of three meals a day, a Working Neighbor’s Clothing Closet, unusual hardships and more. Please make donations via IAM’s website or mail checks to P.O Box 2562, Hendersonville, NC, 28792.
IAM is open for services 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday-Friday and 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday. Donations of food and clothing may be made the same hours at 310 Freeman St. Food and gently used and new clothing, linens and blankets may be dropped off during those hours at our donation door.
If you would like to volunteer with an organization that gives hope and provides basic needs to struggling local residents, please call the volunteer coordinators at 697-7029 and arrange a tour.