WHO Women (Women Helping Other Women) featured in New York Times Dining and Wine Section Article

For a small American mountain town, Burnsville, NC, has made significant waves in the non-profit world. In a previous blog, we highlighted Empty Bowls, whose school teacher/artist originators call Burnsville home and began that nonprofit that has spread worldwide and raised millions of dollars for the relief of hunger. They have now segued that spirit of communal cooperation into a local effort to grow and provide fresh produce to needy residents with their Dig In garden program.

While there are many other mission groups of lay people, doctors, students, and others from our community who reach out both locally and globally to help others in organized efforts, the one we wanted to highlight today is WHO Women, a nonprofit that was started here in Yancey County to help women who are victims of domestic abuse or who need a boost to turn their lives around.

It was the old "what goes around comes around" philosophy that came into play when WHO Women received their own boost from a recent New York Times article in the Wine and Dining Section.

The custom-made, award-winning fruitcakes and other delicacies (handcrafted by local women benefitting from the work of this nonprofit) were featured in the Times article, "Holiday Gifts That Give Back." Over 3,000 orders came in for the small bakery located on Cane River School Road just west of Burnsville on December 7th (for Christmas shipping) after the brief mention of the fabulous fruitcakes and other offerings. According to our local Yancey Common Times Journal, the orders continued coming in so rapidly that the traffic stalled the website. Founder Mat James said Marketing Director, Ali Randolph, was taking calls constantly on her cell phone and telling customers to send their orders to her email address instead.

The Founder/Director does not take a salary, all profits go toward growing the business so it can create more jobs, fund more scholarships for women, and provide more education and assistance for women who need help getting their lives back on track. They receive advice and support from the NC Department of Commerce and have received some equipment grants.

The all-natural, preservative-free fruitcakes have even made the "Best Fruitcakes in the World"list. According to the website,"our Berry & Nut Cakes are much more than a combination of the finest ingredients that can be purchased. "Love can build a bridge" and love can also bake award winning products. Our Berries Cherries N' Nuts won third place in the 2007 Best of Atlanta Gourmet Show." They also offer dry mixes for dip, soup, chili, breads, nuts and jellies. All recipes are original and developed in the bakery kitchen by Mat and her staff. Since 2005 these products have been shipped all over the country and world."

The Cove at Celo Mountain is surrounded by historic American small towns steeped in this tradition of giving back to the community. We are located near Asheville, just off the Blue Ridge Parkway in the Pisgah National Forest. Mountains, rivers, streams, creeks, trout ponds, incredible hiking trails, winter and summer mountain sports, and servant-heart people are in ample supply. Visit with us on our special discovery package.