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 a YMCA membership. These memberships help them maintain their independence, develop new friendships, and find their place in our community.
For more information on YMCA Outreach or to partner with the YMCA of Avery County on a community project contact Sheila Bauer at 737-5500
What We Do
Our Outreach programs are designed to serve all ages with an emphasis on serving Avery County Seniors. Our programs include brining healthy living programs to outreach sites throughout the county, perform home visits to assess daily living needs, deliver hot meals and aid in helping them maintain their independence to stay in their homes.
“About six years ago, in the Avery newspaper, I read about an Outreach Program happening in the community that included exercise. As a newcomer to the area this was exactly what I was looking for as a way to be active and meet new people. After a year, Sheila Bauer convinced me to try her Stretch, Tone, and Balance class at the Williams YMCA. I LOVED it! I met people who have become some of my lifelong friends. We do celebrations, holidays, and live life together all because of my experience with the Outreach Program at the Williams YMCA.”
2019 National Senior Health & Fitness Day Volunteers
Maintaining Independence
Community Outreach maintains the mindset of helping Avery Seniors stay in their own homes and live independently. Outreach volunteers help with home visits, general home assessments, meal deliveries, transportation to and from medical appointments, and much more!
2019 National Senior Health & Fitness Day Volunteers
National Senior Health and Fitness Day
National Senior Health & Fitness Day is an annual health and wellness event for older adults. The 30th annual event is set for Wednesday, May 31, 2023. This will be the first time in 3 years that the Williams YMCA will be able to resume celebrations for this yearly event! The goals of National Senior Health & Fitness Day are to promote the importance of regular physical activity and to show what local organizations are doing to improve the health of older adults in their communities. Join us to learn about all of the resources available in Avery County for older adults!
English Video
Spanish Video
Healthy Opportunities Pilot Program
The Healthy Opportunities Pilot Program (HOP) is a unique program being offered in 18 counties across Western North Carolina and in 15 counties in Eastern North Carolina. HOP delivers whole-person care through coordinated physical health, behavioral health, intellectual/developmental disability, and pharmacy products and care models. It addresses the full set of factors that impact health (both medical and non-medical) and performs localized care management at the site of care, in the home or community. The HOP program is open to most Medicaid-managed care enrollees who meet additional criteria.
For more information about the HOP program please visit the Impact Health website.
The Williams YMCA of Avery County’s Outreach Team works with Impact Health to identify and connect Medicaid patients with services that address the social determinants of health, leading to improved health and wellness for our communities. For services that we do not have the capacity to meet we work with other Human Service and Community Organizations around the area to meet the needs of these patients. Currently, we provide services in the Housing, Food, and Transportation domains. We look forward to offering services in the Interpersonal Safety domain in 2023! To learn about how the YMCA can help you please contact Sheila Bauer, Community Outreach Director.
If you believe you are eligible for the Healthy Opportunities Pilot Program please call the number on the back of your Medicaid card to speak with your Care Manager.
| Housing Services | Food Services | Transportation Services | Interpersonal Safety |
| Housing Navigation, Support, and Sustaining Services | Linkages to community-based food resources (e.g., SNAP/WIC application support) | Linkages to existing transportation resources | Case management/advocacy for victims of violence |
| Housing quality and safety inspections and improvements | Nutrition and cooking education | Payment for transportation to support access to pilot services (e.g., bus passes, taxi vouchers, ride-sharing credits | Evidence-based parenting support programs |
| One-time payment for security deposit and first month’s rent | Fruit and vegetable prescriptions and healthy food boxes/meals | Evidence-based home visiting services | |
| Short-term post-hospitalization housing | Medically tailored meal delivery |
The Walk-Fit Program
Led by Sheila Bauer, the Walk-Fit program is a great way to catch up with new and old friends while improving your cardiovascular endurance. This program will meet outside where participants can choose how far and how fast they want to walk.
For more information or to register for the program, contact Sheila Bauer.
Community Hiking Trips
Our Community Outreach programs are designed to serve all ages with an emphasis on serving Avery County Seniors. As we age we tend to shy away from activities that we use to for fear of injuring ourselves. Our Community Outreach programs provide opportunities for seniors to regain their confidence and maintain their independence.
Community Hiking Trips gives everyone an opportunity to get outside and enjoy the fellowship of good friends while being active. You’ll have a blast climbing up and down hills, over logs, and on occasion a picnic lunch. Volunteer Trail guides are available to assist in navigating the trails. Everyone who joins surprises themselves at how much they can do and are eager for the next hiking trip.
Registration is required.
Who: Anyone
When: The last Wednesday of each month, May – October 2023
Where: A different trail is selected each month
Cost: Offered at no cost to YMCA Members and Non-Members.
What do I need to bring? Comfortable and safe shoes, walking sticks or assistive devices if desired or needed, your own lunch, and water.
To find out how you can get involved in the next hiking trip or with our Community Outreach Department email Sheila Bauer.
Avery Community Engagement Program
A partnership of Appalachian Regional Healthcare System, Mayland Community College, Western Youth Network, and The Williams YMCA of Avery County
What is the Community Engagement Program?
The Community Engagement Program is a collaborative effort to bring essential and applicable workforce training to Avery County Residents at low or no cost. The program will allow anyone entering the workforce for the first time, someone who is looking for a boost for that next promotion or is thinking about switching career fields to gain skills highly sought after by employers in our area.
What is involved in the program?
Participants are asked to review the optional trainings below, register, and complete any pre-work before the in-person training. At the end of the training, you will receive a certificate of completion. Participants will be asked to complete a short survey at the end of each training to serve as feedback for the presenters and program designers.
Community Partners
Community Engagement Training Options
| Community Organization Name | Course Title | Course Description | Course Contact & Registration Information |
| Appalachian Regional Healthcare System | Information Coming Soon | Information Coming Soon | Information Coming Soon |
| Mayland Community College | Resume Workshop – March 24th & 25th | This workshop is designed to assist individuals in creating a professional and effective resume, or improving the one you already have. Transform your resume into a powerful tool that will get you interviews. Learn different resume formats and the advantages and disadvantages of each. Crafting your summary statement, tailoring your resume to a specific job, and ways to get your resume past automated Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS). | Email Ted Ollis at tollis@mayland.edu or Call him at 828-766-1297 |
| Mayland Community College | Personal Budget & Workshop – Living on a Limited Budget | This course covers budgeting strategies designed to assist individuals living on a limited income. Learn how to focus on the essentials and identify the difference between “wants” and “needs”. Setting goals, credit card basics, and the value of benefits will also be covered. Students will leave the class with a personal budget.
NOTE: This is a condensed version of the class. Not all class materials will be covered. | Email Ted Ollis at tollis@mayland.edu or Call him at 828-766-1297 |
| Mayland Community College | Interview & Job Application Workshop | This Interview and Application Workshop prepares individuals to differentiate themselves competitively during the job selection process. Individuals who complete the workshop will be able to articulate their skills and interests, present themselves professionally, and gain confidence for any future interviews and/ or applications. You will learn what to do before your interview is scheduled, specific interviewing techniques, and have the opportunity to practice the most common interview questions. Individuals will be able to maneuver through areas of the job application in order to complete it successfully. | Email Ted Ollis at tollis@mayland.edu or Call him at 828-766-1297 |
| Western Youth Network | Youth Mentoring | WYN’s volunteer mentoring program helps youth between the ages of 6 and 17 in Avery County who need a little extra support and guidance. We do this by connecting them with a mentor who can be their role models, cheerleaders and friend. This training is for those interested in becoming a volunteer mentor to an Avery youth. It is a three hour long session to train an adult (age 20 and up) how to mentor with a trauma informed perspective. The potential mentor will learn strategies to connect with a youth and their family and about adverse childhood experiences and resiliency. This training will also build knowledge of different mentoring styles and how to work with youth that may have some difficult challenges in their lives. Those interested in mentoring after the training can follow through with a background check, interview and references. | Email Haley Mckinney or Carla Parker at mckinneyh@westernyouthnetwork.org or parkerc@westernyouthnetwork.org |
| Williams YMCA of Avery County | American Red Cross – Babysitting Course | American Red Cross babysitting and child care courses can help you provide quality care to children of all ages. Developed by experts in the industry, our online and in-person courses are available to those ages 11 and older, and include topics such as choosing age-appropriate activities, basic child care, like bottle feeding, child behavior, leadership, professionalism, safety, starting a babysitting business, and more. Babysitting Basics: Created for those ages 11 and older, our online babysitting training course can help you learn how to provide care for infants and children, understand what to do in an emergency, choose age-appropriate activities, recognize and handle a range of behaviors, learn how to start your own babysitting business, and more. | Email Erica Shingleton, Recreation Director at Ericas@ymcaavery.org |
| Williams YMCA of Avery County | American Red Cross – CPR and AED Course – March 24th & 25th | American Red Cross CPR training classes give you the information and the skills you need to help adults, children and infants during cardiac emergencies. Whether you choose 100% in-person or blended learning CPR classes, our world-class instructors deliver the most up-to-date information that’s engaging and effective, preparing you for the moments that matter.
The purpose of the courses in the First Aid/CPR/AED program is to help participants recognize and respond appropriately to cardiac, breathing and first aid emergencies to know to give immediate care to a suddenly injured or ill person until more advanced medical personnel arrive and take over. The First Aid/CPR/AED program is available in two delivery formats: classroom (instructor-led) and blended learning, featuring online simulation learning followed by an in-person skills session. This program offers the flexibility of selecting First Aid, CPR and AED courses for adults, children and infants to meet the various training needs | Email Erica Shingleton, Recreation Director at Ericas@ymcaavery.org |
| Williams YMCA of Avery County | American Red Cross – Lifeguard Certification Course – March 24th & 25th | The primary purpose of the American Red Cross Lifeguarding course is to provide entry-level lifeguard participants with the knowledge and skills to prevent, recognize and respond to aquatic emergencies and to provide professional-level care for breathing and cardiac emergencies, injuries and sudden illnesses until emergency medical services (EMS) personnel take over. This program offers a choice of Lifeguarding/First Aid/CPR/AED courses to meet the various training needs of a diverse audience. | Email Erica Shingleton, Recreation Director at Ericas@ymcaavery.org |
Avery Mentoring Program
A partnership of Western Youth Network and The Williams YMCA of Avery County
What is a mentor?
A compassionate adult role model and advocate who helps a youth in need or caring guidance grow up to be their best.
What would a mentor do?
A mentor commits to spending about two hours per week for one year with a specially-matched mentee. Go fishing together, take a walk, make a meal, or do whatever everyday fun things you both enjoy doing, and just listen to each other.
Why do it?
Someone need you. PLUS, it works! Young people involved in mentoring programs improve academic performance, school attendance, and behavior. Most of all, they know someone cares about them being the best they can be! Also, mentors and mentees receive a complimentary Y membership, so you can be healthy together!
Community Support
We collaborate with other local agencies and organizations to provide a wide array of support to those who need us the most. It is through these partnerships that our Community Outreach programs are able to serve the residents of Avery County.
