Sunday evening we passed into North Carolina and made our way to the Camp Yonahnoka, home to Eseeola Lodge, and the location of our dinner with the staff of Crossnore School and Children's home. This beautiful mountain retreat served as a lovely backdrop for the festivities with gorgeous mountain views and a sunset to remember.
After a wonderful meal and a fun fashion show of handmade Crossnore woven garments we made our way to Blowing Rock for the evening and to rest up for the next big day.
Crossnore School and Children's Home was established in 1913 in Avery County North Carolina by Dr. Eustace and Dr. Mary Martin Sloop. One of the teachers happened to be a DAR member from Illinois and she recommended that Dr. Mary Sloop to consider approaching NSDAR for financial support, and the rest is history. In 1924 Crossnore became a DAR approved school. On campus are both a thrift shop and a weaving room, which provide funding for the school. A residential facility, the average number of children served cross programs is 1300, with an average of 315 living on the campus.
The next morning the red carpet was literally rolled out for our departure from the buses to the entrance of the auditorium. We were treated to a patriotic musical show presented by the students once inside. Due to the nature of the work they do at Crossnore and the children in their care, photographs of the children on campus are not allowed. Once the program was complete the participants were allowed to tour the campus, the Marjorie Williams Academy (K-12), residential cottages, and of course the weaving cabin and showroom. I was happy to be able to introduce Mrs. Reynolds to Mr. Nathaniel Hensley, a new teacher that the TSDAR helped financially last year with gift cards when he needed materials to restock his classroom.
After lunch in the dining hall, tour participants headed to the Chapel where we learned more about the foster care system and ACES (Adverse Childhood Experiences) from Shenandoah Chefalo, author of Garbage Bag Suitcase. I was so happy to be able to share with her the work we are doing in Tennessee with our Blessing Bags inspired by the work done with foster children at Crossnore and Tamassee. Sloop Chapel is also home to a beautiful fresco work that embodies the idea of protected and caring for children with the images of bringing the little children to the feet of Jesus.
Again our time was short lived at Crossnore, but for the daughters that had never visited before it was a glimpse at the work we are doing to change lives for the better and for a life time.
Next up – Tamassee DAR School.
In Service,
Cecile
