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 Mabry Mill in Quaker Gap, 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 Quaker Gap, 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.
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“We have had a great start with Always Best Care. They send daily caregivers to”
“Cody was incredibly helpful with finding just the right assisted living home for our Dad. He listened to our concerns, and matched him perfectly with the right place. Aside from being friendly, he even went above and beyond to help me find the right recliner for Dad. I would highly recommend Cody with Always Best Care Senior Services.”
“⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Excellent Senior Care Provider! I highly recommend this senior care provider to anyone looking for compassionate and dependable care for their loved ones. The team is caring, professional, and dedicated to making sure each resident receives the attention and support they deserve. They go above and beyond to create a safe, comfortable, and welcoming environment. Their commitment to the well-being of seniors and their families truly makes a difference. It’s reassuring to know that there are care providers who treat every individual with dignity, kindness, and respect. Thank you for all that you do! Highly recommend this wonderful senior care provider! Thank you Cody Edwards!”
“I reached out to Cody and he was amazing and a life saver I had both of my parents in need of a asst living who are in their 90’s and he was able to place them and help me navigate the nightmare of paperwork, of moving out of state, and all the medical issues I recommend him for anyone who is going through this”
“Cody Edwards has spent the last two months helping our family as we walked a difficult journey with a sick loved one. He worked very hard to help us in spite of challenges and setbacks. He has a great attitude, always positive and solution-oriented! Laurie Hopkins, Hickory NC”
“Cody was extremely helpful finding an assisted living facility for our loved one. His guidance and knowledge made an extremely difficult situation easy. He was able to work with our schedule and set everything up. We thank you so much for all your help and for the follow up.”
“Always Best Care (ABC) is a top-notch reliable sitter service covering the Piedmont Triad in NC. Their internal staff is professional and efficient. They are always happy to answer any questions or concerns and they always respond in a very timely manner. ABC has quality sitters who will provide excellent care for your loved one with compassion, whether in a home or in a care facility. Always Best Care is appropriately named because they have “always” provided the “best care” to my mother-in-law, who has dementia. They have been helping her daily for the past three years. We are grateful for ABC’s help!”
“I worked with Karla Dixon on a referral. Karla was very involved and helped facilitate the meeting and tour. Loved working with her and look forward to our partnership in the future!!!!”
“I’ve seen firsthand the excellent care Always Best Care Senior Services provides. Their team is professional, compassionate, and truly dedicated to the well-being of those they serve. I highly recommend their services to anyone who may need them!”
“The staff here are compassionate, professional, and truly go above and beyond. You can tell they genuinely care about their clients and their families.”
“5 stars all the way—professional, compassionate, and reliable. You can tell they genuinely care!”
“Great work provided by this company, and great staff to execute their goals!”
“To see the work this company puts in to make sure their clients needs are met, means a lot to the community. Having care you can trust means the world to the families in need. From the first interaction over the phone to a smiling face that greets you at the door, this company is great for in home care!”
“Not only is the care they provide outstanding, but the support from the front office is just as impressive. It’s comforting knowing you can call and talk to someone who genuinely cares and helps guide you through everything.”
“It’s rare to find a company where both the caregivers and the office staff are this compassionate. From day one, the entire team made us feel comfortable and answered so many of our questions with guidance.”
“Kaitlyn Jones is absolutely the best. Hands down!”
“Quick responses, clear communication, and a very friendly admin team. Everything was handled efficiently and professionally.”
“Cody was very helpful getting tours setup for my daughter and me to tour independent living facilities. He contacted the facility and got all the needed information. He kept us well informed of what to expect. I appreciated his services. Cody is very caring.”
“We thoroughly enjoyed working with Cody while exploring independent living facilities for my mom. He spent time talking with us to learn what my mom was looking for in a place to live during the next chapters of her life and shared a variety of options. He scheduled and accompanied us on the tours. Cody was thorough, patient, kind and answered all of our questions. Even though my mom chose not to pursue independent living at this time, we appreciated the time Cody spent working with us and he will be the first call we make when/if she decides to pursue this route in the future. Thank you Cody!!!!”
“Great care for your loved ones!”
“They have a good work team very satisfied with their care”
“Always Best Care will not disappoint! They truly provide the best service for all of your in home care needs!”
“Always Best Care Services has been a wonderful experience, and Leslie Christian was especially helpful throughout the process. She was kind, professional, and took the time to answer questions and make everything feel easy and comfortable. It’s clear that she truly cares and wants to provide the best support possible. I would definitely recommend Always Best Care Services to anyone looking for dependable and compassionate care.”
“Absolutely fantastic caregivers, support staff and management. If you ever need any assistance CALL ABC. They were absolutley fabulous for our family.”
“If you ever get Alexis on the phone, you’re in for a great experience. She’s funny, lively, and full of great energy. I actually caught myself laughing during the call, which almost never happens when calling places. Just a genuinely positive person who makes the conversation easy and enjoyable. Loved the energy! -cora”
“We have had a great start with Always Best Care. They send daily caregivers to help my mother and always follow their well-thought out care plan. Their program is very organized and they are great with communication. Our caregiver, Allison, is especially fabulous ... she is ABOVE and BEYOND. She is so thorough, creative, and thoughtful. We feel very lucky to be on her list!”
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 Hanging Rock State Park in Quaker Gap, 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 River Birch Lodge or visit Historic Bethabara Park, 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.
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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 Quaker Gap, 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 Quaker Gap, 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 Quaker Gap, 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.
The Quaker Gap Community Association has turned 70! As we celebrate America’s 250th year of independence, we should also recognize the remarkable achievement of a wonderful, rural community here in Stokes County. Established Feb. 7, 1956, the community center was built on Flat Shoals Road in the shadows of the Sauratown Mountain range which includes Wolf Rock, Cook’s Wall, and Hanging Rock State Park. As described by Lewis Carroll, community member and historian, the Quaker Gap Community Association was a spinoff of what his pare...
The Quaker Gap Community Association has turned 70! As we celebrate America’s 250th year of independence, we should also recognize the remarkable achievement of a wonderful, rural community here in Stokes County. Established Feb. 7, 1956, the community center was built on Flat Shoals Road in the shadows of the Sauratown Mountain range which includes Wolf Rock, Cook’s Wall, and Hanging Rock State Park. As described by Lewis Carroll, community member and historian, the Quaker Gap Community Association was a spinoff of what his parents and their friends created as “The Birthday Club.” No, not like Hollywood’s “Breakfast Club”, but this came to be as a group of couples who met monthly for a meal and fellowship to celebrate birthdays while their children established a camaraderie that lasted their lifetimes. Lewis describes The Birthday Club “as the nucleus—the only association already in existence when rural community associations began such as this one.”
Peggy Mitchell Tedder explained to me how Quaker Gap community members would meet in the basement of the Quaker Gap Baptist Church parsonage, and the group was determined to build a community hub. Eldridge Blakely “Buck” and Nina Ferguson Tedder donated the land; building materials were supplied by community members; timber was prepped with the assistance of Numie Tedder’s sawmill; and labor (a true labor of love) was provided by several men in the community. Women met the need for laborer refueling with meals also made with love. I cherish the photograph that froze time, capturing my grandfather, Paul Kiser, Newt Carroll, Edwin Sizemore, and Buck Tedder working on the rooftop of the structure that has allowed Quaker Gap Community members and guests to enjoy activities and fellowship for these 70 years and will continue to for years beyond the writing of this article. Who knew that 3rd and 4th generation community members would continue the legacy of building communities, including a grandson-in-law who is one of the directors of the Stokes County chapter of Habitat for Humanity. Such skills, values, and compassion will continue to pass down for generations to follow. Five generations have been blessed by the Quaker Gap Community Association.
Inside those walls and in its park, Scout and 4-H meetings have been held. Scouts enjoyed camping and exploring the creek and other blessings of nature. The Quaker Gap Clovers 4-H Club not only enjoyed presentations by Hanging Rock Park Rangers, a firefighting chef, animal rescue organizations, but they performed service projects and learned to network and collaborate as young as age five. My daughter was nominated and served as the 4-H meeting Snack Coordinator before she could read and write. Now she is planning her path to a college degree in agriculture. Over the years, 4-H leaders included Peggy and Jimmy Tedder, Alma Hall Tedder, Athena Vanhoy Weavil, April Woodard Bowman, and myself.
My big brother and Scout, Kenny Kiser, has fond and even freezing memories of camping in the 70’s across the state from Carolina Beach to Mount Mitchell. It was the temperature that was problematic closest to home at a mere 9 degrees in the hollow behind the Quaker Gap Community Building, in bottomless canvas tents, without luxuries like HVAC units or air mattresses, but Kenny lived to reminisce and tell about it. Troop 419’s leaders over time were Gurney Allen, Keith Johnson, Dan Nance, Billy Kreegar, Brent Carroll, Jeff Weavil, and Nubin Greene.
Reaching back further in time, Lewis Carroll told me about how he excelled in his time as a Scout, so much so that as an adult, he was driven to continue the organization for the development of boys into young men as community leaders and charitable business leaders. He remembers successful Scouts such as Ronnie Tedder and Jimmy Ashby and described to me how he wanted give Stokes County insight as to what our youth could achieve. To bring his dream to life, Lewis sought out community volunteers and leaders at Quaker Gap Baptist Church, Hawpond Church of Christ, and Friendship Baptist Church. He collaborated with gentlemen including Bill McGee, who led the development of a Scout troop in Germanton, Hanes Wood, who could bring a vote to pull on the purse strings at Quaker Gap Baptist Church, as well as leaders Harvey Edwin “Bud” Tedder and Otis Tedder, plus Buck and Joel “Joe” Tedder at Hawpond Church of Christ. Lewis’ charisma and leadership qualities honed at R J Reynolds-Archer and at Carroll Signs and Advertising were instrumental in bringing together the group that created a “top-notch scout troop.” Lewis has plenty of proud moments, one of his proudest is his achieving both the Eagle Scout and Explorer Scout Awards—young Lewis being the first-known recipient of both awards in the county.
Richard Johnson recollects hearing about the Quaker Gap Community Building coming to fruition while he was away from his homeplace on North Friendship Road serving in the Air Force. When I asked Richard to help me with some community history, he said that he was away at “State College,” (NC State University) when his father, Harvey “Harv” Johnson began his service as Stokes County Sheriff in 1950 and continuing to 1966. Richard chuckled as he described how one weekend home from college, Sheriff Johnson was called by the jailor very late one night to come the Stokes County Jail because all inmates and the jail trustee were intoxicated! (Please stay tuned for a future article about how creative criminals could pass liquor through jail cell bars.)
Births and birthdays were and still are celebrated. Families still hold reunions and pass down love and legacies, and most likely pie and casserole recipes. Chicken stews with B-I-N-G-O continue to make for wonderful entertainment. There is no better bingo caller than Mr. Jimmy Tedder! Halloween carnivals included penny pitches and cake walks. Haunted houses in the basement and haunted trails in the park were created for the older kids. The sound of chainsaws through the trees and being chased in the dark park by a masked Tedder was just as frightening as if it the chainsaws had working chains. I still have my first-ever raffle prize, a light-up Jack-o-Latern in a top hat, now over 40-years-old. Many of us can remember the excitement of the Easter egg hunts and waiting for a surprise visit from Ms. Donna Tedder in the hippity-hoppity bunny suit!
Fundraising has evolved for the Quaker Gap Community Association, the most fascinating to me, but before my time, was neighbors growing and hand-cutting sugar cane to make molasses. Peggy described to me the elaborate steps involved in getting to the finished product. Each spring you will find the biggest event as the BBQ Chicken Dinner fundraiser, in which community members of all ages gather to craft the best dinner on earth. Tickets sell out every year, and as Gareath Meadows told a chief district court judge who traveled from Elkin, “No tickey, no chickey.” Would you believe that the judge who was turned away stopped for gas at “the crossroads” and ran into a gentleman with extra tickets? Imagine the joyous drive down Highway 66 to Flat Shoals back to the Gap and the sigh of relief when His Honor had his BBQ plates in hand.
The community building was truly a hub as intended and serviced Quaker Gap as a place for community members to meet to teach, learn, and pass on information, make plans for outreach, and discuss concerns. Extremely significant are 70 years’ worth of community meetings with guest speakers, most often from Stokes County Cooperative Extension. For a time, the Home Demonstration Club met, and as Peggy describes it, I imagined a grown-up home economics class, with a wide variety of topics like canning, and membership in this club of neighbors and friends would be so much more enjoyable than looking up recipes, “how to’s,” and DIY’s in isolation. Technology sure has created luxuries and simplified life but has cost us “the simple life.”
Regular meetings and its officers, directors, and trustees have kept the Association active and alive. Lewis is confident that the Quaker Gap Community Association is the longest-running rural community organization in the state of North Carolina and may be the last in existence. Fourth-generation meeting and event attendees accompanied by their children, make up five generations of this 70-year legacy.
I hope you have enjoyed this article and find that it captures accurate, local oral history and applauds association members and those serving in officer, historian, building and grounds roles, past and present. Each is an important part of the Association’s and community’s legacy. There are more adventures and memories to come thanks to this continued labor of love in Quaker Gap. Please email me at [email protected] with memories, additions, and corrections. I am looking for more stories about incredible Stokes folks like Clyde and Doris Kiser, Baxter and Bea Hall, Edwin and Bertie Sizemore, Newt and Margaret Carroll, Homer and Maxie Ferguson, Bernie Edwin and Sadie Tedder… Thank you!
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