Giving in Transylvania County: How Lake Toxaway Charities Makes a Difference
It was a sunny November day when Chip Brown, co-executive director of Lake Toxaway Charities, met us outside the Sharing House in nearby Brevard. A hub of no-cost food, clothing, financial assistance, and the only public shower in Transylvania County, the Sharing House was the first of three LTC-supported agencies Chip showed us that day.
Standing in the Sharing House’s free pantry, Chip explained, “Lake Toxaway Charities’ vision or mission is to support the hungry, the homeless, abused women and their children, the educationally and medically deprived.” To fulfill this vision, LTC’s all-volunteer team raises donations and gains in-depth knowledge of Transylvania County, working closely with the directors of fifty agencies to provide support and empower them to carry out their own missions effectively. At each agency we visited, Chip and Frank Stark, co-chair of the grant assessment committee, greeted the directors with the warmth and familiarity of longtime neighbors—explaining to us the significance of each organization to the community.
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Just one block away, we were welcomed into the family section of the Haven of Transylvania County, a shelter designed to feel like a home—complete with toys, a comfortable living room, and a large kitchen for families to share. Right beside the Haven, we visited Bread of Life: a kitchen providing free, nutritious freshly cooked meals and to-go pantry staples for all.
“The thing I love the most about serving—and I’ll get emotional—is coming here to a place that impacts people every day,” Chip said. “When you visit an agency like the Sharing House or the Haven or Bread of Life, it changes your life, and you want to give back more.”
In this video, hear directly from Chip, Frank, and the directors of these three agencies. To learn more about Lake Toxaway Charities and how all their donations support residents of Transylvania County, visit their website here.
