A child who is wheelchair-bound lives in a small trailer with no consistent water or power. She sleeps on a cot in the living room. Her only request? A fan, snacks and hygiene supplies. That was it. When asked if she wanted anything else, she said, “Maybe a restaurant voucher because that would be a treat.”

Helping At Risk Kids (HARK) is a hyper-local nonprofit with a clear mission: providing support for children in Buncombe County who are facing the most challenging of circumstances. HARK’s recipients include children in foster care, youth identified by local school systems as experiencing homelessness and teens aging out of the foster care system. The tough circumstances these kids face often go unseen … but HARK connects the community with an easy way to help.

One of HARK’s most powerful tools is the Children’s Assistance Fund (CAF). This flexible fund allows the HARK team of volunteers to respond quickly to requests for help: a pair of well-fitting shoes, sports fees, school field trips or even help keeping lights on in a child’s home. These are the kinds of needs that can’t always wait and, because of CAF, they don’t have to.

Last year alone, HARK assisted more than 1,000 local children and families — meeting needs that were often unique, urgent and overlooked. Following Hurricane Helene and local funding challenges, requests for help have amplified.

As a 501(c)(3) with a volunteer board and minimal administrative costs, HARK makes sure the majority of every dollar donated helps vulnerable kids. Through donations to its Children’s Assistance Fund, HARK provides a range of essentials spanning from beds, cribs, clothing and hygiene items to enrichment experiences such as summer camps, music lessons and sports equipment — offering kids hope, joy and a sense of normalcy.

Go to hark-bc.org to support this mission through a donation and sign up for the newsletter to learn more!