Brooke Smith

January 26, 2021 Proram

Brooke Smith is the Director at Mountain Projects, a community based non-profit organization, founded in 1965 as a Community Action Agency.

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The Agency provides vital services to the elderly, disadvantaged and general public in Western North Carolina. There are two offices: one in Waynesville and one in Sylva. Mountain Projects started as part of the “War On Poverty” with a $52,000 Office of Economic Opportunity grant and a pilot summer Head Start program.Since then the agency has grown to an annual budget of eleven million dollars, a staff of 140, and provides a broad diversity of services to the community in response to its changing needs.

Brooke stated that during the Pandemic there has been an increase in abuse and neglect in Haywood County. There hs been more homelessness and more children placed in foster care. The Head Start program has been operating safely during the Pandemic, but at a lower percentage of attendance. This program helps prepare children for kindergarten. There are many needs . Other services that Mountain Projects provides are housing assistance, children’s services, food service,stransportation, prevention, and more. Call or go to the website to see how you can help.