It feels like winter in the High Country this week--lows in the 30s, highs in the 40s, snow atop cars, grass and rooftops yesterday. Even in ordinary times, winter is a challenge for a lot of WYN's families.
But these are not ordinary times.
Power is still not restored to many Avery County residents, and families throughout our region have either lost all of the contents in their homes, their actual homes, or both. Some of our staff members are even without heat and stable housing right now.
But inside the walls of WYN's sites, it is warm. You can hear the laughter of staff and students alike as they play board games, watch movies and eat lunch. There are coats here for them to wear when they go outside. There is a sense of normalcy in an otherwise uprooted environment.
It's been over 3 weeks since schools have been open. WYN's Ashe County afterschool program (now a day-long program) is temporarily operating out of Mt. Jefferson Presbyterian Church since their other site is being used for disaster recovery. Watauga's afterschool program (also day-long now) is operating out of WYN's administrative offices since our other location suffered water and mold damage. Alleghany County programs are finally returning to normal after a period of day-long emergency programming.
Nothing much feels safe or normal anymore except for the faces of the afterschool staff and their familiar laughter. And our mentors when they show up at their mentee's house in spite of broken driveways. They serve as an oasis of comfort, armed with needed supplies. We've even heard of stories of mentors who are engaging their mentees in clean up efforts since they are not in school.
We are all tired, mentally foggy, on edge and not exactly sure what the future looks like, but we have each other, and when we're all nestled into a warm place together and enjoying one another's company, our moods improve and we can make it through another day.
