 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:
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 By David McFadden
Ana Meyer joined the staff of First Presbyterian Church Gastonia on April 12 as our new Financial Assistant. Ana is a CPA and has a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from Florida International University. Ana’s career encompasses bookkeeping for several small businesses, accounting for a CPA firm as well as being an IRS Revenue Agent. Ana and her husband, Brian, relocated from South Florida to the Mount Holly area 3 years ago to be closer to their children, William, his wife Kaylee and daughter, Elizabeth. Ana is looking forward to being a grandmother as William and Kaylee are expecting their first child in July. Our present financial assistant, Nancy Moore, will still be in the office training Ana, but will reduce her hours as she is looking forward to the birth of her first grandchild in May. We want to thank Nancy for all that she has accomplished here at First Presbyterian as we transitioned to our new accounting system and for training Ana prior to her departure.  By Carol Brittain Presbyterian Women mark your calendar for May 8 at 12:00 noon for our annual birthday luncheon. We will enjoy fellowship and lunch in our fellowship hall. Make your reservation with Mot at the reception desk in person, by phone, or by filling out the sign up below. The cost of the meal will be $8.00. Our speaker will be Rev. Ellen Crawford True, a native of Nashville Tennessee. Rev. True has been Senior Pastor and Head of Staff at First Presbyterian Church Concord, N. C. since June 2021. She received degrees from Davidson College in North Carolina and Union Presbyterian Seminary in Virginia and has served churches in North Carolina and Pennsylvania. Ellen is married to David True. Their daughter Abby is a student at Davidson College. |
