Since 2018, the YMCA has been working with the local Mitchell Wellness Initiative group with the goal of bringing a YMCA and healthy living programs to Mitchell County. In late 2018 the YMCA surveyed the people of Mitchell County to identify the facility and program needs. More than 1,300 people responded with interest in bringing a YMCA to Mitchell County. Although the road to a physical facility was long, this did not stop our early development and implementation of Healthy Living and Community Outreach Programs. This was further propelled, alongside the start of our After School programming, when our Healthy Living Center on Upper Street opened in 2020.
Fast forward to July 2025 our doors at the A.M.Y. Wellness Foundation YMCA of Mitchell County opened, and we are still dedicated to delivering several Healthy Living and Community Outreach Programs throughout Mitchell and Yancey Counties. Learn more about our efforts below!
Want to collaborate? Email Katie Willet at [email protected]
Serving All
True to our mission of putting Christian principles into practice through programs that build a healthy spirit, mind, and body for all, each year the YMCA of Avery County, through our Community Outreach Programs, provides community members with YMCA memberships, delivers food boxes and meals to those in need and provides other essential services to those in our community!
What We Do
Our Outreach programs are designed to serve all ages with an emphasis on serving Mitchell and Yancey County Seniors and Hispanic/Latino Families. Our programs include bringing healthy living programs to outreach sites throughout the county, performing home visits to assess daily living needs, delivering hot meals, aiding in helping them maintain their independence to stay in their homes, and gaining access to essential services that are not historically available to the Hispanic/Latino community. We also work closely with our community partners to strengthen the Mitchell County Community. With these partnerships, we have been able to construct and maintain the Riverside Story Trail, assist with youth and health events around the county, and more!
At the YMCA we are committed to serving everyone in our community! Through the LatinX Community Outreach program, we have been able to connect with more than 2,000 people across Avery, Mitchell, and Yancey Counties over the past three years.
Below is how we connected with and supported the Hispanic/Latino Community in our 3 County Service Area. Stay tuned for updates and new opportunities!
Food Delivery/ Pick-Up Events
In partnership with Mitchell Giving Gardens, CULA, TRACTOR Food and Farms, and many more the outreach team were able to set up four different events for community members to receive a food bag filled with local produce, dairy, and meat. At the events, attendees learned about the food that was in their bags and how to prepare them using recipes from the area.
Healthy Living
Community Health Worker Assitance
Our bilingual rural Community Health Worker (CHW) serves as a trusted bridge between community members and health, social, and community services. Anabel provides health education, outreach, and resource navigation in the languages spoken by the community, helping individuals understand health information and access care. CHWs address barriers such as transportation, limited healthcare access, food insecurity, housing needs, and difficulty navigating service systems. Anabel conducts follow-up visits, connects residents with local resources, and supports participation in programs that improve health and well-being. By building relationships and communicating across language and cultural differences; Anabel being a bilingual CHW helps increase access to services, improve health outcomes, and strengthen trust between residents and providers.
