February 2026

The Arc Connection

If you know, you know — winter heating bills can turn a tight budget into a crisis overnight. As we move into the new year, our community has been hit hard by a stretch of extreme winter weather. While the cold affects all of us, it has created a true crisis for many of the individuals and families we serve. We are seeing a sharp increase in utility shut-off notices, with households unable to make even minimum payments because heating bills have risen so dramatically.

For families already living on the margins, these heating spikes can quickly become overwhelming. This challenge is compounded by the seasonal slowdown in tourism-related employment. During this time of year, many parents are working fewer hours, and paychecks are often half of what they are accustomed to receiving — just as household expenses are peaking.

We see the consequences of extreme weather not in statistics, but in shut-off notices and worried parents. These winter months are when the need for support is greatest.

Last year, we launched our Valentine’s Raffle fundraiser to help meet the increased number of requests we see during the colder months. Funds raised through this effort directly support our work with individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families here in Buncombe County.

There is still time to purchase a ticket and make a meaningful difference. When you participate, you’re not just entering a raffle — you’re standing alongside families who need support when it matters most. Thank you for being part of The Arc of Buncombe County community.

Stay warm. Stay safe.

Linda McDaniel, Executive Director

At The Arc of Buncombe County, we do not often ask for specific items. Instead, we work to meet families where they are — responding to urgent, practical needs that arise as part of daily life for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Recently, we have seen an increase in requests that highlight just how complex and costly accessibility can be for families:

• We are currently working to help a family in Haywood County secure an adaptive wheelchair for their child — a medically necessary chair with a price tag of nearly $5,000.

• Another family needs an adaptive bed with safety railings, essential for both comfort and nighttime safety.

• Two families are in desperate need of reliable vehicles. In one case, a family requires a minivan that can be modified to accommodate a wheelchair, making transportation to school, medical appointments, and community activities possible.

• One family is seeking assistance with installing a secure fence for their small yard, creating a safe outdoor space for a child with elopement behaviors to play and explore.

These are not extraordinary requests — they are the kinds of needs we encounter every week. Each represents a family doing their best to provide safety, dignity, and opportunity for their child, often while navigating financial strain and limited options.

Community support makes it possible for us to respond when these needs arise. Whether through financial contributions, partnerships, or shared resources, your support helps turn barriers into access and concern into stability. If you have any leads on these items, please reach out to sarah@arcofbc.org.

Partnering for Life Skills and Wellness

The Arc of Buncombe County recently partnered with Asheville High School to support life skills and wellness in Exceptional Children (EC) classrooms. Through this partnership, The Arc helped purchase a freezer that allows teachers, including Paul Graham, to expand hands-on lessons focused on nutrition and healthy living.

The freezer also makes it possible for students to take food home to share with their families, extending learning beyond the classroom and supporting overall well-being.

Welcome Our New Intern:
Alphonse Russo

We are pleased to welcome Alphonse Russo as a spring intern with The Arc of Buncombe County.

Alphonse is a senior at Mars Hill University, majoring in Social Work, and will graduate this spring. As a Bonner Scholar, he has completed more than 1,000 hours of volunteer service throughout Buncombe and Madison Counties and brings a strong interest in addressing issues related to education, hunger, and poverty.

During his internship, Alphonse will serve as an Outreach Ambassador, where his primary role will be to observe, learn from, and support the work already underway across programs and partner agencies serving the I/DD community. He will assist staff and community partners while gaining hands-on experience in collaboration, advocacy, and service coordination.

This includes supporting Project SEARCH, coordinated through The Arc of North Carolina–Asheville. Project SEARCH is a nationally recognized, nine-month internship program that provides young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities with meaningful, real-world work experience, with a strong focus on learning the often “unwritten rules of employment.”

Alphonse will also support outreach efforts with Head Start through Community Action Opportunities, focusing on early identification and connection to services for children with intellectual or developmental disabilities. Head Start is a comprehensive child and family development program serving children ages 3–5 from families with limited incomes, promoting mental, social, emotional, and physical growth while supporting parents as key partners in their child’s development.

We are grateful to have Alphonse joining our team this semester and look forward to the perspective, care, and support he brings as he learns alongside our staff and community partners.

Night to Shine:
A Celebration of Ability and Belonging

Night to Shine, sponsored by the Tim Tebow Foundation, is an annual worldwide prom experience for individuals with special needs ages 14 and older. Held each February in hundreds of churches around the globe, Night to Shine offers a red-carpet evening centered on celebration, dignity, and joy. Since its launch in 2015, the event has honored each guest as a VIP — reminding our community that everyone deserves to be celebrated, loved, and valued. Thank you so much to the local churches and sponsors who create memorable events.