A Word From The Board: Bob Washburn
Although Bob Washburn is High Country Caregivers’ newest board member, he is certainly not new to making an impact on his community. Bob is passionate about serving others and being an exemplary leader. He became acquainted with the HCC through another board member in 2019. Bob’s initial reaction when told the organization supported grandparents raising […]
August Spotlight: The Brown Family
For this month’s Kinship Family Spotlight, we would like to highlight one of our oh so wonderful Watauga County families, the Browns. The Browns have been with High Country Caregivers since the beginning. Barbara and Eric Brown are raising their two grandchildren, Leo and his older sister Elsie. Upon my first time meeting this family […]
A Word From The Board: Shelley Tarbutton
Shelley lives in Boone with her husband Kent. They have three adult children and two grandchildren. Shelly was introduced to High Country Caregivers after Shelley’s mother Pauline had a stroke at age 91. Pauline moved into Shelley and Kent’s home, where she was cared for by them for two years. HCC offered respite vouchers for […]
June Spotlight: Caregivers Angela & Nathan
Angela and Nathan were newly engaged and shopping for wedding bands when she got the call on November 18th. Her 7-year-old nephew, James, was being removed from his latest foster home. While Angela and Nathan had met James and were hoping to take him in, this was a moment of decisive action. “There was no […]
A Word From The Board: Jerry Moore
“Always do more than what is expected.” Coach Jerry Moore These simple words are more than a motto for Coach Jerry Moore, this phrase represents the true path of this man’s life. During Moore’s 23-year career as Head Coach of Appalachian State University, he led the Mountaineers to the NCAA Division I-AA Football Championship in […]
April Spotlight: Diane Bouchelle
Diane Bouchelle and Ella are a perfect pair it seems. Ella, now nearly a year old, squeals with laughter as her grandmother flips her in the air and tickles, her making cooing noises as they play. All in all, it’s a miracle Diane can play with her granddaughter at all. Before she was born, Ella’s […]
March Spotlight: Hawk’s Nest Field Trip
This fall we received a referral from a Yancey County elementary school counselor. She told us about a grandmother in her seventies raising her 5-year-old, energetic granddaughter because of the daughter’s substance abuse. The grandmother is not in great health and does not have the energy to take her granddaughter out and about. The child […]
January Spotlight: Julia Call
Like so many things in life, Julia Call’s life changed with a phone call. Nearly 10 years ago, Social Services called her to ask if she wanted to take her four grandchildren. “They were going to put them in foster care if we didn’t take them.” She was stunned, but immediately agreed. She had no […]
Interview: A Case for “Relatives as Parents”
Melinda’s journey with her twin granddaughters began from their birth in October of 2016. Their parents love them, but due to addiction and other issues they are not capable of raising the girls. Melinda stepped up and began to raise her grandchildren as her own. Melinda works as a private duty nurse and provides for […]