November 2025

The Arc Connection

Meeting the Growing Needs of Our Community

Each day at The Arc of Buncombe County, our team works hard to meet the increasing needs of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities—and their families. Our office has been busier than ever, with a steady rise in applications for assistance.

Our staff— myself, Joyce Tweed and Sarah Cain—respond to online applications, take phone calls, and conduct in-person intakes to ensure every request receives the care and attention it deserves. We connect individuals with community resources, attend school-based meetings as advocates for parents, and collaborate with multiple agencies to help families secure financial support. Our priority is keeping people in safe and secure housing.

Last year, we received twice as many applications as in previous years. This year, we’re already seeing not only more requests but also greater needs—families asking for help with larger amounts of assistance as the cost of living continues to rise. We do not receive local, state, or federal funding. 

That’s why we’re asking for your help.

We’ve launched our “$25 on the 25th” Campaign—a call for supporters to become monthly recurring donors at just $25 a month. Consistent giving like this provides the steady funding we need to help clients in crisis throughout the year.

And as we enter the season of gratitude, we ask that you also keep our families in mind during Giving Tuesday, December 2nd and for end of year donations.

So, who are we helping? In October we assisted, 

• Parents of children with autism, Downs Syndrome, Apraxia, Developmental Delays, Severe Hearing Loss, who needed educational support, equipment, transportation assistance, and eviction intervention. 

• Multiple families with limited resources because one parent must stay home to provide constant care.

• Individuals with intellectual disabilities who face barriers to stable, well-paying employment.

• Five mothers with disabled vehicles in need of repairs so they could transport children and grandchildren to school and doctor’s appointments.

Your support makes a real difference. Together, we can continue to provide hope, stability, and opportunity for those who need it most.

Linda

Please share with a family who may need a Thanksgiving Meal!

The Power of SNAP: Nourishing Our Families and Our Community

At The Arc of Buncombe County, we see every day how important good nutrition is for the people and families we serve. Healthy food doesn’t just fill a plate — it fuels energy, learning, and independence. That’s why the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, matters so much to our community. The federal shutdown has caused a backlog, and if it continues, November SNAP benefits in North Carolina could be disrupted or delayed. 

SNAP is a federal program that helps families with limited incomes buy the groceries they need to stay healthy. Benefits are loaded each month onto an EBT card — it looks and works just like a debit card — and can be used at most grocery stores and farmers’ markets. For many of our families, SNAP bridges the gap between “almost enough” and “enough.”

Families that include a loved one with a disability often face higher costs — medical bills, therapies, transportation, and specialized supports. SNAP helps relieve some of that pressure by ensuring the basics are covered: nutritious food on the table, fresh fruits and vegetables, and the dignity of choosing what to eat.

When families have access to healthy food, everyone thrives. Children can focus better in school, adults can stay stronger and healthier, and caregivers can breathe a little easier knowing that dinner is taken care of. And the impact ripples outward — every SNAP dollar spent in our local stores helps strengthen our Western North Carolina economy too.

At The Arc, we believe that no family should have to choose between paying for care and putting food on the table. SNAP helps make sure they don’t have to.

WLOS aired a story recently outlining the impact on Western North Carolina. To learn more check out this NC Department of Health and Human Services Information Sheet.

SUPPORTING FAMILIES WHEN
IT MATTERS THE MOST - WHAT YOU CAN DO!

WE NEED SHOPPERS AND DOLLARS!!!

Please contact Joyce at 253-1255 or joyce@arcofbc.org
for more information on how YOU can be an Operation Santa Shopper and fulfill our many wish lists. We have I/DD children and adults hoping for an amazing holiday.
To make a donation click below.

Housing stability is one of the most critical factors in helping families thrive — especially those raising children with intellectual or developmental disabilities. The Arc’s Crisis Assistance Program works alongside local partners to help families overcome housing barriers, prevent homelessness, and keep loved ones together. This month’s spotlight story illustrates that mission in action.

This month, we celebrate the incredible perseverance of a single father who fought tirelessly to reunite his family. After a long and emotional journey through the foster care system, he finally brought his three children home, including one child with autism, and began searching for a stable, safe place for them to live.

Finding affordable housing in our area proved to be one of the biggest challenges. Families that include a loved one with an intellectual or developmental disability often face extra hurdles: higher medical costs, specialized care needs, and limited access to after-school or respite services. These challenges make securing affordable, accessible housing even harder.

When this father located a home, he needed help making the down payment. Thanks to the support and partnership of The Arc of Buncombe County, Asheville City Schools, HARK, and St. Vincent de Paul, his dream of keeping his family together became a reality.

Crisis Assistance is rarely a stand-alone effort. It takes community collaboration, organizations working hand-in-hand to lift families during their hardest moments. When generous community members donate to our Crisis Assistance Program, they make stories like this possible.

We applaud this devoted parent for his determination, patience, and unwavering love. His journey reminds us that when our community comes together, we can help families find not just housing — but hope.

NOVEMBER IS:

• NATIONAL FAMILY CAREGIVERS MONTH

• DISABILITY EMPLOYMENT AWARENESS MONTH

• EPILEPSY AWARENESS MONTH

NOVEMBER

11th - VETERANS DAY
27th - THANKSGIVING DAY

Jason Gast, Attorney at Law, Child Welfare Specialist, serves on our Board of Directors. When asked about his “why” for joining The Arc of Buncombe County he shared:

I chose to serve on The Arc Board because of my experiences as a lawyer working almost exclusively with clients in need, including individuals of all ages with developmental delays. Through my work, I’ve had the privilege of meeting people in their homes and seeing firsthand how organizations like The Arc can make a meaningful difference in their lives. I hope to bring a unique and valuable perspective to the Board, shaped by these personal and professional experiences.