It's no secret, most of us would like to stay in our own home as we age. Yet, sometimes our loved ones just need a little extra help to remain comfortable at home. That's where Always Best Care can help....we are dedicated to exceeding expectations....always.
They say that your golden years are the best years of your life. For most older Americans, that's how it should be - a time to relax, reflect, and live life in a familiar place. After all, senior citizens in the U.S. have worked tirelessly to build a better economy, serve their communities, and raise families.
However, as seniors grow older, completing daily tasks like showering and enjoying activities such as visiting Black Mnt Fire Tower in Black Mountain, NC gets harder without someone by their side. Unfortunately, many older Americans aren't able to rely on their adult children for help. The reality in today's world is that family members do not have the skills or time to dedicate to caring for their parents. That's where Always Best Care Senior Services comes in.
Our in-home care services are for people who prefer to stay at home as they grow older but need ongoing care that family or friends cannot provide. More and more older adults prefer to live far away from long-term, institutionalized facilities and closer to the place where they feel most comfortable - their home. Home care in Black Mountain, NC is a safe, effective way to give your loved ones the care they need when they need it the most.
Home Care Services
Service AreasSince 1996, Always Best Care has provided non-medical in-home care for seniors to help them maintain a healthy lifestyle as they get older. We are proud to have helped more than 25,000 seniors maintain higher levels of dignity and respect. We focus on providing seniors with the highest level of in-home care available so that they may live happily and independently.
Unlike some senior care companies, we genuinely want to be included in our clients' lives. We believe that personalized care is always the better option over a "one size fits all" approach. To make sure our senior clients receive the best care possible, we pair them with compassionate caregivers who understand their unique needs. That way, they may provide care accordingly without compromising their wellbeing.
The Always Best Care difference lies in life's little moments - where compassionate care and trustworthy experience come together to help seniors live a fruitful, healthy life. Whether you are an aging adult that can't quite keep up with life's daily tasks or the child of a senior who needs regular in-home services, Always Best Care is here to help.
“I am a current client of this provider I like my caregiver. They've made my experience positive”
“I am a current client of this provider I feel comfortable with them so far. I don't”
“ABC has provided care for my client for 5-6 years. They have been great! Melisa”
“Always Best Care for Seniors has served my clients well based on feedback received. They”
“I am a current client of this provider Belinda has done everything I have asked and”
“I am a current client of this provider They are courteous, polite, kind and hard-working. It helps”
“I am a current client of this provider I liked the intake interview lady. Mary, the”
“I am a current client of this provider I like that they are flexible and the”
“The team with Always Best Care were instrumental in the assistance with my mom during”
“I'm a new hire and the office staff is wonderful, informative and thorough. I feel”
“I am a current client of this provider I couldn't have a life without them. They”
“I am a current client of this provider This helps us both be more refreshed and”
“I am a current client of this provider They have helped tremendously with her sadness. I like”
“Always Best Care was always responsive to our family’s caregiving and respite needs. They created”
“I am a past client of this provider They have helped the most with just providing”
“I am a current client of this provider They help the most by talking to him. They're”
“I am a current client of this provider They provide me with company. They make you feel”
“I'm so happy to have such a professional and reliable agency that I can refer”
“Always Best Care Seniors Services provide the personal touch in-home care! From our initial”
“Highly professional and very caring. A great company”
“I love this company. They are always very responsive. They truly care about the ones”
“Wonderful service, very helpful, great communication.”
“All their caregivers are nice, show up, rarely late, and very helpful and kind. They”
“I am a current client of this provider They give me the peace of mind. They are”
“My husband has dementia. They have helped me continue to work and feel comfortable in”
“I am a current client of this provider I like my caregiver. They've made my experience positive by sending me Barbara.”
“I am a current client of this provider I feel comfortable with them so far. I don't have any problems getting things done when the caregivers show up.”
“ABC has provided care for my client for 5-6 years. They have been great! Melisa and Autumn have given extra effort and care to assist with managing my client's needs. I don't know how I would have made it without them.”
“Always Best Care for Seniors has served my clients well based on feedback received. They take the time to assess the needs of caregivers and care recipients alike and establish a detailed person-centered plan of care that addresses the care needs and wellbeing of the care recipient. This approach builds rapport and confidence with the caregiver and emphasizes respite for the caregiver while meeting the care recipients’ needs.”
“I am a current client of this provider Belinda has done everything I have asked and more. Belinda has gone above the call of duty.”
“I am a current client of this provider They are courteous, polite, kind and hard-working. It helps keep him interactive with people.”
“I am a current client of this provider I liked the intake interview lady. Mary, the nurse, is very encouraging. Their presence is helpful because I can't be there.”
“I am a current client of this provider I like that they are flexible and the people that they provide have been good so far. They have removed a lot of stress from my life.”
“The team with Always Best Care were instrumental in the assistance with my mom during her decline and eventual passing. They were thoughtful, kind, supportive, considerate and readily available. Mary, one of the nurse managers at the Asheville location, was so supportive it is as if she became family. She would come without hesitation as I navigated through this difficult time offering tremendous support. She not only foresaw what was needed, but understood what I needed and catered to that need. She is a tremendous asset to your team! I am forever grateful for her.”
“I'm a new hire and the office staff is wonderful, informative and thorough. I feel like this will be a most rewarding opportunity.”
“I am a current client of this provider I couldn't have a life without them. They do the cooking and everything for me. One was a poor caregiver and the other was good.”
“I am a current client of this provider This helps us both be more refreshed and get breaks from each other. I like the fact that they seem to be a Christian-based organization. That comes through with the care that is provided.”
“I am a current client of this provider They have helped tremendously with her sadness. I like how I can call, get a person and not just a recording.”
“Always Best Care was always responsive to our family’s caregiving and respite needs. They created a thorough and detailed individual care plan with us that addressed all of our concerns and caregiving requirements. Our caregiver Elaine was fantastic. She is genuinely caring, compassionate, friendly, and engaging. My father was always excited when Elaine came to the house. They would talk for hours, laugh, play games, do puzzles, look at photo albums, and watch all kinds of sports together including tennis, football, soccer, and basketball. He said that Elaine made the best peanut butter and jelly sandwiches too. She even stopped by to check on us after hurricane Helene to make sure that we were ok. I fully recommend Always Best Care to any family needing respite and caregiving services for their loved ones. They are truly the Best!”
“I am a past client of this provider They have helped the most with just providing me really good care and there was a never struggle with them. I liked that Always Best Care was always very kind and worked with me very easily.”
“I am a current client of this provider They help the most by talking to him. They're very good about doing what they are supposed to be doing.”
“I am a current client of this provider They provide me with company. They make you feel comfortable.”
“I'm so happy to have such a professional and reliable agency that I can refer my caregivers to and know that they will receive the service they need to assist with the care of their loved ones with dementia,”
“Always Best Care Seniors Services provide the personal touch in-home care! From our initial call inquiring about services, to meeting the owner Jim Smeaton to discuss our unique family needs, to the caring compassionate and understanding caregivers we are thoroughly impressed. Its such a relief knowing our loved ones are receiving the care they deserve.”
“Highly professional and very caring. A great company”
“I love this company. They are always very responsive. They truly care about the ones that they care for.”
“Wonderful service, very helpful, great communication.”
“All their caregivers are nice, show up, rarely late, and very helpful and kind. They are reliable, and the caregivers are sweet and attentive.”
“I am a current client of this provider They give me the peace of mind. They are always able to be reached and are willing to work with you.”
“My husband has dementia. They have helped me continue to work and feel comfortable in knowing my husband is safe with excellent care. The office listens, really hears and is helpful to support and meet needs. Our caregiver, Chip, has become family. He was very personable, attentive to needs, brings extra in music, stories, making sure to pay attention to the patient and give accordingly. He is always kind and gracious. We are blessed to have them.”
Home is where the heart is. While that saying can sound a tad cliche, it is especially true for many seniors living in America. When given a choice, older adults most often prefer to grow older at home. An AARP study found that three out of four adults over the age of 50 want to stay in their homes and communities as they age.
When you begin to think about why, it makes sense. Home offers a sense of security, comfort, and familiarity.
The truth is, as we age, we begin to rely on others for help. When a family is too busy or lives too far away to fulfill this role, in-home senior care is often the best solution. Home care services allow seniors to enjoy personal independence while also receiving trustworthy assistance from a trained caregiver.
At Always Best Care, we offer a comprehensive range of home care services to help seniors stay healthy while they get the help they need to remain independent. As your senior loved one gets older, giving them the gift of senior care is one of the best ways to show your love, even if you live far away.
To give our senior clients the best care possible, we offer a full spectrum of in-home care services:
If your senior loved one has specific care needs, our personal care services are a great choice to consider. Personal care includes the standard caregiving duties associated with companion care and includes help with tasks such as dressing and grooming. Personal care can also help individuals with chronic conditions like diabetes.
Common personal care services include assistance with:
Sometimes, seniors need helpful reminders to maintain a high quality of life at home. If you or your senior has trouble with everyday tasks like cooking, our home helper services will be very beneficial.
Common home helper care services include assistance with:
Using this kind of care is a fantastic way to make life easier for you or your senior loved one. At Always Best Care, our talented caregivers often fill the role of a companion for seniors. That way, older adults can enjoy their favorite local activities, such as visiting Veterans Park in Black Mountain, NC with friends while also receiving the care they need daily or weekly.
Common companionship services include:
According to AARP, more than 53 million adults living in the U.S. provide care to someone over 50 years old. Unfortunately, these caregivers experience stress, exhaustion, and even depression. Our respite care services help family caregivers address urgent obligations, spend time with their children, and enjoy nearby activities. Perhaps more importantly, respite care gives family members time to recharge and regroup. Taking personal time to de-stress reduces the risk of caregiver burnout. So, if you've always wanted to eat at the local Que Sera or visit Swannanoa Valley Museum & History Center, don't feel bad. Doing so is great for both you and your loved one.
At the end of the day, our goal is to become a valuable part of your senior's daily routine. That way, we may help give them the highest quality of life possible. We know that staying at home is important for your loved one, and we are here to help make sure that is possible.
If you have been on the fence about non-medical home care, there has never been a better time than now to give your senior the care, assistance, and companionship they deserve.
Always Best Care in-home services are for older adults who prefer to stay at home but need ongoing care that friends and family cannot provide. In-home care is a safe, effective way for seniors to age gracefully in a familiar place and live independent, non-institutionalized lives. The benefits of non-medical home care are numerous. Here are just a few reasons to consider senior care services from Always Best Care:
According to AARP, 9 out of 10 seniors prefer to age in place within the comfort of their own home. With in-home care, seniors have a way to stay at home, receive the care they need, and maintain a sense of independence, improving overall wellness.
If you or a member of your family have assumed the role of caregiver for your senior loved one, you know how stressful the job can be. Between caregiver burnout and constant worry, being a family caregiver is hard. In-home care relieves your burden and gives you peace of mind knowing that your older family member is in expert hands.
Unlike nursing homes, where the staff and residents rotate frequently, seniors can foster new friendships and build bonds with their caregiver. Seniors who socialize on a regular basis are often happier, which fosters positivity and leads to increased wellbeing.
No two seniors need the same kind of in-home care assistance. That is why each of our Care Plans is tailored to meet our client's individual needs. We offer plans that cover everything from light housekeeping to more involved duties like transportation to doctor's appointments. Our Care Coordinators will work closely with you to develop a personalized plan to ensure your senior's needs are exceeded.
Always Best Care offers a full array of care options for patients at all levels of health. With our trusted elderly care services, your loved one will receive the level of care necessary for them to enjoy the highest possible quality of life.
Request More Information
While it's true that some seniors have complicated medical needs that prevent them from staying at home, aging in place is often the best arrangement for seniors and their families. With a trusted caregiver, seniors have the opportunity to live with a sense of dignity and do so as they see fit - something that is unavailable to many older people today.
In-home care makes it possible for millions of seniors to age in place every year. Rather than moving to a strange nursing home, seniors have the chance to stay at home where they feel the happiest and most comfortable.
How much does a senior's home truly mean to them?
A study published by the American Society on Aging found that more than half of seniors say their home's emotional value means more than how much their home is worth in monetary value. It stands to reason, then, that a senior's home is where they want to grow old.
With the help of elderly care in Black Mountain, NC, seniors don't have to age in a sterilized care facility. Instead, they can age gracefully in the place they want to be most: their home. In contrast, seniors who move to a long-term care facility must adapt to new environments, new people, and new systems that the facility implements. At this stage in life, this kind of drastic change can be more harmful than helpful.
Institutional care facilities like nursing homes often put large groups of people together to live in one location. On any given day, dozens of staff members and caregivers run in and out of these facilities. Being around so many new people in a relatively small living environment can be dangerous for a seniors' health and wellbeing. When you consider that thousands of seniors passed away in nursing homes during the COVID-19 pandemic, opting for in-home care is often a safer, healthier choice for seniors.
Aging in place has been shown to improve seniors' quality of life, which helps boost physical health and also helps insulate them from viral and bacterial risks found in elderly living facilities.
For many seniors, the ability to live independently with assistance from a caregiver is a priceless option. With in-home care, seniors experience a higher level of independence and freedom - much more so than in other settings like a nursing home. When a senior has the chance to age in place, they get to live life on their own terms, inside the house that they helped make into a home. More independence means more control over their personal lives, too, which leads to increased levels of fulfillment, happiness, and personal gratification. Over time, these positive feelings can manifest into a healthier, longer life.
More independence, a healthier life, and increased comfort are only a few benefits of aging in place. You have to take into consideration the role of cost and convenience. Simply put, it's usually easier and more affordable to help seniors age in place than it is to move them into an institutional care facility. According to the US Department of Housing and Urban Development, seniors who age in the comfort of their homes can save thousands of dollars per month.
In-home care services from Always Best Care, for instance, are often less expensive than long-term solutions, which can cost upwards of six figures per year. To make matters worse, many residential care facilities are reluctant to accept long-term care insurance and other types of payment assistance.
With Always Best Care's home care services, seniors and their families have a greater level of control over their care plans. In-home care gives seniors the chance to form a bond with a trusted caregiver and also receive unmatched care that is catered to their needs. In long-term care facilities, seniors and their loved ones have much less control over their care plan and have less of a say in who provides their care.
In-home care is a valuable resource that empowers seniors to age in place on their own terms. However, a big concern for many families and their loved ones is how much in-home care costs. If you're worried that in-home care is too expensive, you may be pleasantly surprised to learn that it is one of the most affordable senior care arrangements available.
Typically, hiring an Always Best Care in-home caregiver for a few hours a week is more affordable than sending your loved one to a long-term care facility. This is true even for seniors with more complex care needs.
At Always Best Care, we will work closely with you and your family to develop a Care Plan that not only meets your care needs, but your budget requirements, too. Once we discover the level of care that you or your senior need, we develop an in-home care plan that you can afford.
In addition to our flexible care options, families should also consider the following resources to help offset potential home care costs:
When you or your senior loved one needs assistance managing daily tasks at home, finding a qualified caregiver can be challenging. It takes a special kind of person to provide reliable care for your senior loved one. However, a caregiver's role involves more than meal preparation and medication reminders. Many seniors rely on their caregivers for companionship, too.
Our companion care services give seniors the chance to socialize in a safe environment and engage in activities at home. These important efforts boost morale and provide much-needed relief from repetitive daily routines. A one-on-one, engaging conversation can sharpen seniors' minds and give them something in which to be excited.
At Always Best Care, we only hire care providers that we would trust to care for our own loved ones. Our senior caregivers in Black Mountain, NC understand how important it is to listen and communicate with their seniors. A seemingly small interaction, like a short hug goodbye, can make a major difference in a senior's day. Instead of battling against feelings of isolation, seniors begin to look forward to seeing their caregiver each week.
Understanding the nuances of senior care is just one of the reasons why our care providers are so great at their job.
Unlike some senior care companies, our caregivers must undergo extensive training before they work for Always Best Care. In addition, our caregivers receive ongoing training throughout the year. This training ensures that their standard of care matches up to the high standards we've come to expect. During this training, they will brush up on their communication skills, safety awareness, and symptom spotting. That way, your loved one receives the highest level of non-medical home care from day one.
While it's true that many seniors prefer to age at home, sometimes in-home care isn't the best fit. For those seniors and their families, choosing an assisted living facility makes more sense. Unfortunately, finding the optimal care facility is easier said than done in today's day and age. That's when Always Best Care's assisted living referral services begin to make a lot of sense.
Assisted living is a form of housing intended for seniors who require varying degrees of medical and personal attention. Accommodations may include single rooms, apartments, or shared living arrangements. Assisted living communities are typically designed to resemble a home-like environment and are physically constructed to encourage the independence of residents.
At assisted living communities, seniors receive help with daily activities such as bathing, dressing, and eating. They may also benefit from coordination of services with outside healthcare providers, and monitoring of resident activities to ensure their health, safety, and well-being. Caregivers who work at assisted living communities can also provide medication administration and personal care services for older adults.
Other services offered within assisted living communities can include some or all of the following:
At Always Best Care, our representatives can match your senior's emotional, physical, and financial needs with viable assisted living communities nearby. Results are based on comparative data, so you can select the best choice for you or your loved one.
Always Best Care works closely with local senior living communities to gain valuable knowledge that we then use to help seniors and their loved ones make informed decisions. This information can include basic care and rent, resident availability, and services provided. Because Always Best Care is compensated by these communities, we provide senior living referral services at no extra cost to you.
Some of the most popular assisted living communities to consider in our area include the following:
For many seniors, moving into a senior living community revolves around how and when they want to make a transition to more involved care. Some seniors are more proactive about transitioning to independent living. Others choose to remain home until their care needs or other requirements are satisfied. Remember - our staff is here to help. Contact our office today to learn more about assisted living communities and how we can find a facility that exceeds your expectations.
The first step in getting quality in-home care starts with a personal consultation with an experienced Always Best Care Care Coordinator. This initial consultation is crucial for our team to learn more about you or your elderly loved one to discover the level of care required. Topics of this consultation typically include:
A discussion of your needs and how our trained caregivers can offer assistance in the most effective way
A draft of your care plan, which includes highly detailed notes and a framework for the care that you or your senior will receive
Discuss payment options and help coordinate billing with your insurance provider
Our caregivers are trained to spot changes that clients exhibit, like mental and physical decline. As your trusted senior care company, we will constantly assess and update your Care Plan to meet any new emotional, intellectual, physical, and emotional needs.
If you have never considered in-home care before, we understand that you and your family may have concerns about your Care Plan and its Care Coordinator. To help give you peace of mind, know that every team member and caregiver must undergo comprehensive training before being assigned to a Care Plan.
At the end of the day, we only hire the best of the best at Always Best Care. Whether you need home care in Black Mountain, NC 24-hours a day or only need a respite for a couple of hours, we are here to serve you.
When you're ready, we encourage you to contact your local Always Best Care representative to set up a Care Consultation. Our Care Coordinators would be happy to meet with you in person to get to know you better, discuss your needs, and help put together a personalized Care Plan specific to your needs.
BLACK MOUNTAIN, N.C. — A unique mural in Black Mountain is drawing lots of attention to local shops ahead of a new art gallery’s grand opening.Many families have stopped in front of the mural to take photos."The mural outside has brought a lot of business to the store and the town because before it was just a blank yellow wall, so now it’s this gorgeous, beautiful Black Mountain mural, and many, many people come to take their picture there," said Debbie Hinten, the Team Lead at Sassafras, a bookstore...
BLACK MOUNTAIN, N.C. — A unique mural in Black Mountain is drawing lots of attention to local shops ahead of a new art gallery’s grand opening.
Many families have stopped in front of the mural to take photos.
"The mural outside has brought a lot of business to the store and the town because before it was just a blank yellow wall, so now it’s this gorgeous, beautiful Black Mountain mural, and many, many people come to take their picture there," said Debbie Hinten, the Team Lead at Sassafras, a bookstore in downtown Black Mountain.
Hinten says she’s noticed many customers walk into the shop after taking photos in front of the mural outside one of their entrances.
"All of the tourists that come by that are photographing themselves in front of this, and then that is proliferating all over the internet, is massive in terms of just cultural influence and actual economic dollars," said Jonathan Bidwell, one of the artists commissioned to bring the mural to life.
The artwork was done by a designer in Atlanta named Ben Rupp; however, Bidwell was asked to bring the design to life and adapt it to the environment of Black Mountain.
"I had to make some adaptations, slight changes to the design just to sort of fit it to the wall," Bidwell said.
The mural was commissioned by Cherry Street Gallery, an art gallery preparing to open, and was painted on the side of the gallery.
They finished the mural in late July, and then Bidwell came back a week ago to add a protective clear coat.
"I love it, I was just admiring it when I was walking by," said Thomas Barker, a Black Mountain resident.
The Gallery Director at Cherry Street Gallery says they are looking to open by the end of the month.
Editor’s note: This article was updated at 4:07 p.m. with additional photos from the Black Mountain No King rally. No Kings rallies are underway across Western North Carolina. Xpress will be updating this post with additional photos throughout the day. Gatherings in Marion and Hendersonville have wrapped up.Ongoing or upcoming rallies are listed below.451 ViewsWe share your inclination to get the whole story. For the over 30 years, Xpress has been committed to in-d...
Editor’s note: This article was updated at 4:07 p.m. with additional photos from the Black Mountain No King rally.
No Kings rallies are underway across Western North Carolina. Xpress will be updating this post with additional photos throughout the day. Gatherings in Marion and Hendersonville have wrapped up.
Ongoing or upcoming rallies are listed below.
451 Views
We share your inclination to get the whole story. For the over 30 years, Xpress has been committed to in-depth, balanced reporting about the greater Asheville area. We want everyone to have access to our stories. That’s a big part of why we’ve never charged for the paper or put up a paywall.
We’re pretty sure that you know journalism faces big challenges these days. Advertising no longer pays the whole cost. Media outlets around the country are asking their readers to chip in. Xpress needs help, too. We hope you’ll consider . For as little as $5 a month — the cost of a craft beer or kombucha — you can help keep local journalism strong. It only takes a moment.
The comments section is here to provide a platform for civil dialogue on the issues we face together as a local community. Xpress is committed to offering this platform for all voices, but when the tone of the discussion gets nasty or strays off topic, we believe many people choose not to participate. Xpress editors are determined to moderate comments to ensure a constructive interchange is maintained. All comments judged not to be in keeping with the spirit of civil discourse will be removed and repeat violators will be banned. See here for our terms of service. Thank you for being part of this effort to promote respectful discussion.
ASHEVILLE, NC – Ole’s Guacamoles, a brand with nearly two decades of history in Western North Carolina, is making a comeback after Hurricane Helene flooded their locations in Asheville and Black Mountain in September 2024.The family-owned business is led by Ole and Elena Delatorre, and Elena shared that they will re-open in Black Mountain at 401 E State St, Black Mountain, NC 28711 in the next month or so.Additionally a new location is under construction at 4 Sweeten Creek Rd, Asheville, NC 28803, w...
ASHEVILLE, NC – Ole’s Guacamoles, a brand with nearly two decades of history in Western North Carolina, is making a comeback after Hurricane Helene flooded their locations in Asheville and Black Mountain in September 2024.
The family-owned business is led by Ole and Elena Delatorre, and Elena shared that they will re-open in Black Mountain at 401 E State St, Black Mountain, NC 28711 in the next month or so.
Additionally a new location is under construction at 4 Sweeten Creek Rd, Asheville, NC 28803, with hopes to open by Thanksgiving or Christmas.
After Helene destroyed two of the brand's locations, the team quickly pivoted, opening a temporary location at 502 W State St, Black Mountain, NC 28711, just six weeks later. “We are very busy. We are very fortunate. We were only unemployed or not working for six weeks,” Delatorre shared. That space continues to operate while permanent rebuilds move forward.
The new location on 4 Sweeten Creek Rd will feature a small dining room and a bar. New items will be on the menu when they re-open, like protein lovers options with low carbs, a street foot inspired selection, and margarita flights.
Re-opening in their full service dining space on 401 E State St, the Black Mountain unit will feature their expansive dining room, a large private room, and a new outdoor bar. They will also serve the new menu items and drinks in this location.
The Black Mountain rebuild will also feature stonework to protect the building from future flooding.
Founded in 2006 in Black Mountain, NC, Ole’s Guacamoles was built on the Delatorre family’s passion for authentic Mexican food and community. Over the years, the restaurant expanded to Asheville, NC, and Johnson City, TN.
Follow Ole’s Guacamoles on Facebook for updates on the Asheville opening and menu previews.
SEPT. 19, 2025 - Pictures of kids fromBlack Mountain Home for Children. (Photo: WLOS Staff)BLACK MOUNTAIN, N.C. (WLOS) — A Black Mountain children's home is in the running for a national grant from Chick-fil-A's Inspiration Grant program."We have the opportunity to be able to acquire up to $350,000," said Jimmy Harmon, president of Black Mountain Home for Children. “And that’s really where we need people to step in and help us with that.”Supporters can download the Chick-fil-A app on the...
SEPT. 19, 2025 - Pictures of kids fromBlack Mountain Home for Children. (Photo: WLOS Staff)
BLACK MOUNTAIN, N.C. (WLOS) — A Black Mountain children's home is in the running for a national grant from Chick-fil-A's Inspiration Grant program.
"We have the opportunity to be able to acquire up to $350,000," said Jimmy Harmon, president of Black Mountain Home for Children. “And that’s really where we need people to step in and help us with that.”
Supporters can download the Chick-fil-A app on their phone and vote for Black Mountain Home for Children at this link.
The home currently cares for more than 80 children living at the 200-acre property that has served the community since 1904.
"We have 86 children in care right now," said Harmon. "That's through residential care, foster care, and independent living. What we do as a ministry is we just really want our kids to have an opportunity to have a home."
Harmon estimates that a huge landslide and flooding caused by Helene led to more than $10 million in damage. The slide wiped out cabins, and a youth group doing mission work narrowly escaped the cabins because of an evacuation right before the slide.
Harmon said the home's dining hall was destroyed, which was a major central gathering place where events could be held and revenue could be added to help the home.
Longtime Chick-fil-A Asheville franchise owner Larry Meadows is trying to help. He and his wife, Gail Meadows, have already worked to donate thousands to help the home over the past several years, including after Helene.
At Meadows' Hendersonville Road Chick-fil-A location, there is a sign on the door about Black Mountain Home for Children, hoping to help them get more votes for the national grant.
"We just felt that we wanted to get on board and recommending them for the Truett Cathy (Chick-fil-A's founder) grant is something we wanted to do," said Larry Meadows.
Nationally, 30 nonprofit organizations are competing for the large grant. Many of them will receive smaller grants, which range up to $200,000.
Last year, more than 625,000 votes were cast in the grant contest.
"You can help select a grant winner in the Atlantic coast region and then Black Mountain Home. Because we start with a 'B,' we're right there at the top. It would help us out dramatically because that's one piece of the algorithm they have to determine the winner are the votes. We would be so grateful," said Harmon.
BLACK MOUNTAIN, N.C. (828newsNOW) — Western North Carolina is just a week away from the 2nd annual Black Mountain Blues Festival, an arts and culture celebration of storytelling, blues music and Appalachian history.The festival will run from Friday, Sept. 26 to Sunday, Sept. 28 in the heart of downtown Black Mountain, N.C.Tickets can be purchased as day passes, festival passes or VIP passes at www.blackmountainblues.org/all-tickets. 50% of all festival proceeds will go to support Hurricane Helene relief efforts.Mi...
BLACK MOUNTAIN, N.C. (828newsNOW) — Western North Carolina is just a week away from the 2nd annual Black Mountain Blues Festival, an arts and culture celebration of storytelling, blues music and Appalachian history.
The festival will run from Friday, Sept. 26 to Sunday, Sept. 28 in the heart of downtown Black Mountain, N.C.
Tickets can be purchased as day passes, festival passes or VIP passes at www.blackmountainblues.org/all-tickets. 50% of all festival proceeds will go to support Hurricane Helene relief efforts.
In addition to blues music, the Black Mountain Blues Festival will spotlight the history and culture of the tradition.
“We want to make sure that we’re not just highlighting music, but celebrating and helping people understand the full culture of the blues,” said festival director Atiba Berkley. “In reality, blues is the folk culture of African Americans in this country, especially Americans of the South, but also other places that they’ve found themselves.”
To honor the spirit of blues culture, festival attendees will have the opportunity to attend workshops at the Black Mountain Center for the Arts, a community non-profit arts facility located at 225 W. State St.
“We have Doug MacLeod, who will be doing some guitar playing workshops, talking about style and how to execute when you play. We have Lightnin’ Wells, who is a Piedmont-style picker primarily, but also just an amazing storyteller,” Berkley described. “Doug’s a great storyteller too, but Lightnin’ has spent a lot of time with old Piedmont-style pickers that were his friends, and that he toured with and was on the road with regionally and internationally. People like John Dee Holeman and Algia Mae Hinton. So, he is going to be sharing his experience of the culture of blues from that perspective of firsthand account.”
Wells’ workshop, “NC Blues (The Next Generation),” will be held at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 27, while MacLeod’s, “Stories and Acoustic Blues,” will commence at 4 p.m. later that afternoon.
For a full list of workshops, visit www.blackmountainblues.org/workshops.
However, even if you only attend the festival concerts, you will hear the history of the musical tradition, Berkley said.
“We’ll be having music, so people can engage with the lyrics, and with the tones and the sounds that all come from the African diaspora and have been maintained through the culture,” Berkley said. “The use of coded language is a big part of the blues. When you hear a blues song and you say, ‘You ain’t nothing but a hound dog,’ what a way to describe a cheating person, right? But why that way? And it’s because we needed to have a voice and be able to speak in ways that we could understand, but sometimes we didn’t want others to for various reasons, usually of safety.”
Layers of culture and musical heritage are baked into the blues and the blues is baked into Black Mountain. The mountain town has a long legacy with the musical form.
One of the spaces hosting concerts during the Black Mountain Blues Festival will be the Roseland Gardens Stage at White Horse Black Mountain.
“The Roseland Garden stage is designed to pay homage and bring awareness to Roseland Gardens, which was the historic Black music venue, juke joint and a picnic area for the Black Mountain area. It functioned from the ’20s all the way up to, like, 1974,” said Berkley. ”People like Bessie Smith, and Etta Baker ,and Mac Arnold and Blind Boy Fuller played there.”
Berkley and his team are working closely with BMCA and Swannanoa Valley Museum & History Center to bring historical materials to the festival.
“I think it’ll be really good for the community to learn about Roseland Gardens and that history, so that they can understand that, like, the blues was everywhere, including in the mountains,” Berkley said.
The festival will be headlined by Nik West, Robert Randolph, Chambers-DesLauriers, Eric Gales, Ra’Shad the Blues Kid and , in addition to dozens of other blues musicians, including musicians from Black Mountain and the broader Western North Carolina region.
For the full lineup of Black Mountain Blues Festival musicians, visit www.blackmountainblues.org/artists.
For more about the musicians playing the festival, read our previous coverage:
828-676-2939
