WAMY receives Cannon grant

Angela Miller, executive director of WAMY Community Action Inc., announced that WAMY has been awarded a $25,000 grant by The Cannon Foundation Inc. of Concord.

“The funds will be used towards the purchase and installation of a commercial grade electric lift in the new Family Resource Center (FRC) owned by WAMY and OASIS Inc.,” Miller said. “The grant from The Cannon Foundation will give us additional resources to allow handicapped persons, the elderly, families with strollers, and other community members access to the upper level of the center, where our large multi-purpose community room will be located.”

The Cannon Foundation was created in 1943 by the president and chairman of Cannon Mills Company, Charles A. Cannon of Cabarrus County. The Cannon Foundation serves most North Carolina nonprofits, focusing their efforts in the geographical areas of Cabarrus County, the Piedmont region and rural areas of North Carolina. Its focus lies in health care, education, human and social services, arts and culture, historic preservation and environmental concern.

WAMY Community Action Inc. was founded in 1964 and has served more than 30,000 families in Watauga, Avery, Mitchell and Yancey (WAMY) counties in its 44 years of existence.

“WAMY created many programs that eventually spun off to become self-sustaining or operated by other groups including: Community Centers (now Senior Centers), Rural Transportation Systems, HeadStart, Summer Youth Corp and Craft Centers,” Miller said.

“Today, we operate multiple programs serving the low-incom e, elderly and disabled in our four county service area: Total Family Development offers support services to families who are committed to becoming self-sufficient; Weatherization Assistance offers services to ensure energy savings to low-income households; our Micro Loan Program offers loans and technical assistance to future entrepreneurs who cannot obtain funding from traditional lending sources; Supportive Housing offers rental assistance and case management to homeless and disabled individuals and families; Avery Amigos provides translation and interpretation services along with on-going emotional support to Latino families in Avery County; Avery YO! is our afterschool program that provides an educational, social and active afterschool environment to students in grades 4 through 12 who are considered ‘at-risk.’”

Rachel Deal of Crossnore is the current board of directors’ chairwoman.

WAMY provides services, awareness, solutions and empowerment to individuals and families from disadvantaged circumstances within their service area. To learn more about WAMY Community Action and the new Family Resource Center, call WAMY’s administrative office at (828) 264-2421.