As the holiday season approaches, Buncombe County Health and Human Services is encouraging community members to help fulfill holiday wishes for local foster youth and adults. Each year, the department collects wish lists from children in foster care and adults who may not have a support network, aiming to bring some cheer during the holidays.
For foster youth, supporters can select gifts directly from an Amazon Gift Registry. Items purchased are shipped straight to the department’s office for distribution. “Our Social Work services staff is dedicated to meeting the needs of our foster youth, and having your support means so much to us and our kids. You are not just providing gifts this holiday season; you are telling someone that they matter and that they are important!” according to Buncombe County Health and Human Services.
Questions about purchasing a gift for a child can be directed to Amber Cook at [email protected].
The Adult Wish Tree program also returns this year after being paused last year due to Tropical Storm Helene. This initiative identifies older adults and adults with disabilities in need of basic items such as clothing or personal care products. Community members can sponsor an adult by selecting a recipient online, after which they will receive instructions for gift drop-off on December 3, 4, 5, and 8 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m.
“The adults on the Wish Tree have been chosen because they are not expected to have anyone give them a gift this year. Please consider selecting an adult to sponsor this holiday season. It is a privilege to be able to show an older or disabled adult that our local community cares for them,” states Buncombe County Health and Human Services.
Questions about sponsoring an adult can be sent to Alison Banzhoff at [email protected].
Academic readiness remains a focus in Buncombe County as well. In the 2022-23 school year, only about 28.5% of senior students taking the science portion of the ACT were considered ready for college, while juniors performed slightly better at 30.1%. For reading, approximately 41.1% of seniors met college readiness benchmarks compared with 43.2% of juniors. Math scores showed lower readiness rates: 25.6% among seniors and 32.7% among juniors (source: https://www.dpi.nc.gov/).
Buncombe County Health and Human Services thanks those who choose to support individuals needing extra care during this time.
