Give A Little Something This Season

For many people, childhood Christmas memories are filled with reflections of colorful lights dancing on frosty windows, warm gingerbread cookies and hot cocoa, a flickering fire in a well-appointed hearth, and delighting in the wonder of what might be inside the festive boxes stacked high under and around the tree. Songs were written about the feelings those memories can bring: comfort and joy. But, the older we get and especially the more involved we become in our communities, the more we see that, unfortunately, not everyone’s trip down memory lane this time of year is quite as merry and bright.

This time of year can present unique challenges for many families. There is often additional financial pressure from increased utility bills, a desire to provide traditional holiday meals and treats that don’t easily fit into the grocery budget, replacing outgrown winter clothing, and gifts to go beneath the tree. In the best of circumstances, balancing life and holiday pressures can be daunting; trying to do it all when ends just won’t meet can be heartbreaking for parents. Sadly, children often sense and understand more of what is going on around them than we might think. Thankfully, there are many organizations out there, some very close to home, that build a bridge for those who want to help but may not know exactly where to start or which needs are most pressing.

Something Good To Eat

Food security is among the highest priorities for families in need this time of year. Many families rely on school meals, but when the holidays arrive and school is out, that is often an additional strain on an already strained budget. To ease the pressure of putting food on the table three times a day, families in the Highlands-Cashiers area can access multiple organizations that are ready to help satisfy hungry tummies.

The Community Table in Sylva believes no one in Jackson County should go to bed hungry. In 2024, they served just shy of 16,700 meals, totaling over a quarter of a million pounds of food. According to their statistics, over 50% of children in Jackson County qualify for free or reduced lunches in school, and over 25% of Jackson County’s children face food insecurity every day. www.communitytable.org

Fishes and Loaves in Cashiers has, at the time of writing, served just shy of 8,500 meals in 2025 alone. According to their website, they’ve only seen needs grow year over year. Families can come into Fishes and Loaves and pick out what is most helpful to them and what their children enjoy, rather than relying on prepacked boxes. In addition to addressing everyday needs, Fishes and Loaves will provide holiday meals to families facing food insecurity, including a turkey and all the trimmings. www.fishesandloavescashiers.org

Something Cozy and Warm

It’s no secret that it can get bitterly cold in these mountains in the wintertime. It’s also no surprise that children often outgrow their winter coats and warm clothing every year, a pace that is difficult to match when money is tight. When temperatures drop but prices do not, getting a new coat, some sweaters, or even a new blanket can be stressful for many families with young children. But there is hope and help out there if you know where to look.

Highlands Emergency Council is a great resource for local families facing hardship. By accepting donations of pretty much anything a family might need, they provide household items, personal hygiene items, food - in fact, they fed over 700 families in the month of October – financial assistance, and clothing for all members of the family. Everything is given free of charge to local people who need it. highlandsemergencycouncil.com

Something to Unwrap Beneath The Tree

While it is of the utmost importance for children and families to be properly fed and clothed for the holiday season, there is something to be said for what it can do for a child to have a few gifts under the tree–and a lot to be said for what it can do if they don’t. Whether right or wrong, the holiday season has become synonymous with gift-giving, often excessively. While one child might rightfully and innocently delight in sharing with his or her friends about getting a lavish present, another might worry about getting anything at all.

Sadly, many children of all ages may develop feelings of shame, guilt, or even inadequacy as they may not fully grasp or even be aware of the financial hardships their family faces. This can sometimes make children question their worthiness or whether they are loved. No child should ever face such burdensome thoughts, especially during a time of year that is supposed to be filled with excitement and wonder.

City On A Hill is a coalition of area churches that came together in 2018 to help meet the needs of children. Their two main focuses are the Backpack Project, which provides school supplies, and their Christmas Angel Tree Project, which, as the name suggests, supplies gifts to children at Christmastime.

“Unfortunately, not everyone sees the poverty in our community. I work with the Food Pantry as well, and I have been in our school system. Our numbers have grown every year, and I expect them to do so this year as well. At the food pantry, the increase has been about 30 percent this year,” says Betty Morris, one of the founding members of the coalition. She notes that they are working with the Rotary Club to help with the increased needs.

The Christmas Angel Tree Project is, of course, their biggest focus this time of year. They do accept monetary donations to cover the costs of acquiring items, or donors can sponsor a child by picking up an Angel Tree form, which lists everything one would need to know about a child to give them a great Christmas: their favorite colors, their interests, clothing and shoe sizes, and a wishlist. City On A Hill estimates that sponsoring a child costs roughly $125, but the joy and smile it brings is priceless.

Financial, toy, clothing, stocking stuffer, and candy donations to City On A Hill can be made through any of the following area churches–and all area churches are invited to participate: Cashiers Baptist Church, Christ Church of the Valley, Christ Anglican, Cashiers United Methodist Church, Cashiers Baptist Church, Good Shepherd, Grace Community Church, Glenville Wesleyan Church, Yellow Mountain Baptist Church, or St. Jude Catholic Church.

The Literacy and Learning Center provides an incredible year-round resource for families around the Highlands-Cashiers Plateau. All of the programming they provide is free of charge, whether it is giving 3- and 4-year-old children a solid foundation before they enter kindergarten, after-school and tutoring programs for school-age children, or even the ESL, GED, and general tutoring programs that they offer for adults.

“Many families do not have the time or resources to give their children the boost that others receive, and that uneven foundation only grows over time, leading to unnecessary and unfortunate disadvantages in adulthood. We were fortunately able to quickly address the need for early learning by opening a new Pre-K program. Seeing more students begin Kindergarten with the skills needed is very rewarding,” says Anna Norton, former programs manager and current marketing director for TL&LC.

In keeping with The Literacy and Learning Center’s mission to instill a passion for reading from a young age, they also partner with The Dolly Parton Imagination Library, which provides an age-appropriate book to a child each month from birth until their 5th birthday. And at Christmastime, TL&LC gives away 2000 books during the local parade. theliteracyandlearningcenter.org

The Cashiers Festival of Trees

The Summit Charter School Foundation held the 2025 Cashiers Festival of Trees on Thanksgiving weekend, November 28 through November 29. With attendance and participation growing each year, the area-favorite festival had outgrown the Summit Center alone and expanded across the high school campus.

Guests embraced the holiday spirit by viewing and bidding on decorated Christmas trees and decor with accompanying gifts and experiences. They also enjoyed a variety of holiday activities, created free personalized children’s crafts, celebrated literacy in the Dolly Parton Imagination Library Storytime Nook, embarked on a holiday scavenger hunt, shopped for one-of-a-kind gifts, and more. Cashiers Valley Real Estate served as the Presenting Sponsor, and Ingles Markets as the Media Sponsor.

While raising funds for Summit Charter School remained the primary focus, the event also served up a spirit of giving. Participating local nonprofits received 80 percent of the final sale price of their items, creating a collaborative initiative that supported worthy community causes. summitschool.org/festival-of-trees

Something to Think About

It’s hard to imagine our neighbors and friends may face tremendous unseen needs at any time of year, especially during Christmas. But many families, especially those with children, hope for the generosity of others in order to provide Christmas cheer. A small gift to one of the above organizations makes a large impact on the community and could very well be the start of a local child’s best Christmas ever.

If you would like to give a little something this season, please visit the websites or churches listed above to learn how you can help through donations or volunteerism.