A Day At Black Mountain Home For Children

By Sally Hilton
Have you ever seen the hands and feet of God at work? If not, you will when you visit Black Mountain Home for Children.    
                            
A retired Gastonia Presbyterian Church pastor began the children’s home as the Mountain Orphanage in 1904 which outgrew its first two locations to the current campus in 1923 in Black Mountain, North Carolina. Black Mountain Home for Children serves newborns through college age. They are licensed to serve all children in North Carolina and have served several from Gaston County.

Children are placed there through the court system or social services after it is determined their homes are unsafe. Many children come from abusive situations including physical, emotional, sexual and are faced with a wide array of hardships, including homelessness, neglect, hunger, abandonment and drug exposure.

A safe home environment is provided to the children through their Campus-Based Cottage Care and their Independent Living Village. Since the beginning of the Independent Living Village in 2008, the graduation rate of 89% for the youth at Black Mountain Home exceeds the national average of youth in foster care, which is 52%.

​Plan to join our church family on Saturday, May 20 to learn more about Black Mountain Home. You can sign up by filling out the form below. Volunteer opportunities are available for all ages.  Transportation will be available for those who would prefer not to drive separately and lunch will be provided.  Meet at the church by 7:15 am so we may leave no later than 7:30 am. We plan to arrive at Black Mountain around 9:00 am.  If driving separately, the address is 28 Tennoca Dr, Black Mountain, NC. We are meeting at the RV Park behind the thrift store.

Information to know: 

• Meet at the church: 7:15 
• What to wear: long pants, access to long sleeve shirt, closed toe shoes, bring refillable water bottle, gloves
• NO PETS ALLOWED