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What Is WAMY Community Action?
Since 1964, WAMY Community Action has been a cornerstone of support for families across Watauga, Avery, Mitchell, and Yancey counties. What began as part of President Lyndon B. Johnson's War on Poverty has grown into a comprehensive network of programs serving over thousands of individuals each year.
Today, WAMY's work spans four core program areas:
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Housing Development — WAMY has 6 housing programs, from weatherizing homes to repairing failing heating systems, WAMY helps low-income households stay safe, warm, and affordable.
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Youth Development Program-has grown and transformed over the years to better serve our community. The "Support Our Students" program offers scholarships to send children to summer camp, while parents can focus on their work and stability.
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Family Development — Through intensive case management, emergency financial assistance, WAMY helps families build pathways toward self-sufficiency.
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Food & Nutrition — Through the Avery County Community Garden and Little Free Pantries, WAMY helps families have access to fresh, healthy food.
Understanding Our Fiscal Year — And Why It Matters
A fiscal year is simply a 12-month period that an organization uses to plan its budget and measure its financial health. For WAMY, each fiscal year represents a new opportunity to assess community needs, allocate resources, and deliver meaningful impact. WAMY's fiscal year runs July 1-June 30.
Join Our Monthly Giving Program
When WAMY was chartered in 1964, nearly all of our funding came from the federal government. For decades, that structure allowed us to serve thousands of families across the High Country without asking much from the community itself. But times have changed. Government grant funding has become less predictable and sometimes subject to sudden interruption. That's why, over the years, we've made a deliberate and necessary shift: building a broader base of support that includes individual donors, local businesses, and community partners. It's not just a financial strategy — it's a reflection of what community action was always meant to be.
Think about the subscriptions you pay for each month — Netflix, Spotify, a favorite magazine. For much more than $10, you get something that adds value to your life, consistently and reliably. A monthly gift to WAMY works the same way, except the value goes far beyond your household. For $10 a month — just $120 a year — you help keep our Little Free Pantry stocked, our case managers funded, and our weatherization crews on the road. You become a steady, dependable part of the safety net that thousands of your neighbors count on. And unlike a streaming service, your subscription here doesn't just entertain — it changes lives.
We've been doing this work for over 60 years because this community has always found a way to show up for its most vulnerable members. We're asking you to show up again — not with a one-time gift, but with a commitment. Subscribe to give monthly, just like you would for any service that matters to you. Because to the family that stays warm this winter, or the mother who keeps her job because childcare is covered, your $10 a month matters more than you know.
Ready to Make a Difference?
👉 Become a Monthly Donor Today
Even $10 a month makes an impact. Set it up once, and your generosity keeps working — month after month, year after year.
Questions? Contact Allison Jennings, Director of Philanthropy, at allison@wamycommunityaction.org or 828-264-2421.
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