Youth

One year ago, our public schools became hubs of hope — serving as charging stations, water distribution sites, resource centers and helicopter landing pads for rescue workers. Our schools reminded us that they are more than classrooms: They are the foundation of our community. That same spirit of resilience and care continues today. We invite you to stand with the Asheville City Schools Foundation, helping us do whatever it takes to ensure every Asheville City Schools student, educator and staff member can thrive.

Asheville Museum of Science is Western North Carolina’s hub for hands-on science learning and exploration. Each year, thousands of children, families and lifelong learners engage with our exhibits and programs — from fossil digs and water tables to STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and math) camps, science talks and community science events.

AMOS is growing to meet the needs of our region. We are working to raise funds to expand our downtown museum with new exhibits and spaces designed to spark imagination, fuel discovery and prepare the next generation of scientists, engineers and innovators.

Celebrating our 50th year in Western North Carolina, Caring for Children supports children and families through the Respite Scholarship Program, providing assistance to pay for child care; the Angel’s Watch program, providing a temporary placement in a host home during family crises; and therapeutic and family foster care services when needed.

Founded in 1975, Caring for Children was originally based on a community need to provide emergency support to children due to abuse, neglect or risk factors in Western North Carolina. Caring for Children has evolved into an organization with diverse programs and services that meet the needs of more than 200 children and families annually. In August 2014, Eckerd Connects partnered with Caring for Children, which enables both organizations to expand and provide high-quality services to vulnerable children and their families across North Carolina. 

We’re actively recruiting individuals and families across WNC to become full-time or short-term foster parents — people who are ready to make a lasting difference in a child’s life.

Children First/Communities In Schools works to empower both children and families by keeping students on track for academic success and supporting well-being through a whole-child, whole-family approach. Our student support specialists work in K-6 schools to support students with improvement goals related to attendance, behavior, coursework, parent engagement and social-emotional learning. Our learning centers provide after-school and summer enrichment programming for children within their own neighborhoods. Family resource centers offer food boxes, school supplies, emergency financial assistance and more. 

Helping At Risk Kids (HARK) serves Buncombe County’s most vulnerable children and youths: those in court-ordered protective custody, kids aging out of the foster care system and youngsters without stable housing. We fund basic, emergency and child-specific enrichment needs as identified by social workers and school counselors.

The Mountain Child Advocacy Center is a vital resource for children and families in Buncombe County who have experienced abuse and trauma. We provide a safe, child-focused environment and work in partnership with law enforcement, child protective services, and medical and mental health professionals to reduce trauma during a child’s most vulnerable moments. Our no-cost services include advocacy, evidence-based trauma therapy and prevention education for both children and adults. Even our therapy dog, Peace, helps children on their healing journey.

The mission of OpenDoors Asheville is to strengthen community by eliminating opportunity and achievement gaps for students through education. When students are equipped with a broad range of academic interventions and experiences, they have the social, emotional, cognitive and physical skills to support their classroom, college and career success. Strong students become strong leaders, in turn strengthening the community.

Read to Succeed Asheville/Buncombe (R2S) is a Black-led independent literacy nonprofit on a mission to help close the race-based opportunity gap. We do this through community-powered literacy programming that engages children, families and community partners. R2S programs serve children from birth to age 5, along with elementary school students and their families through community literacy training, one-to-one and small-group tutoring, guest author visits and live read-alouds, culturally responsive book distribution, kindergarten-readiness support and more!

Verner Center for Early Learning is a nonprofit agency providing high-quality, affordable early care and education to over 200 children — birth to 5 years old — throughout Buncombe County. Through holistic learning environments, we strive to help build a community where every individual (child, family, staff and faculty) has the opportunity to thrive.