Welcome to HARK website!

Helping at Risk Kids, Inc. (HARK) serves vulnerable children and youth in Buncombe County who are currently in protective custody under the state’s social service system such as in the foster care system or youth aging out of foster care. We also serve children and youth in school who don’t have stable housing and qualify for the McKinney-Vento program. The needs of these children and youth are identified by caring social workers in Buncombe County, both in the schools and our local Health and Human Services. The social workers as well as volunteer Guardians ad Litem see the unmet needs and desires of these kids that HARK can help to fulfill. Our vision is that these vulnerable children and youth will have the support they need to succeed and to grow up in a safe, stable, and nurturing environment.

We are a non-profit (501(c)(3)) organization composed of a mostly-volunteer group of individuals.

Why do we need your help?

The Buncombe County Health and Human Services has resources to fulfill the children’s basic necessities. But what about a child’s desire to take music or dance lessons, or to go to summer camp, or go on a class trip? How about holiday gifts, or a prom dress, or tutoring? Youth who are aging out of the foster system may need a computer to aid with school or help with car repair to get to a job. These are the sorts of things HARK helps to fund that can bring normalcy to these kids’ lives and help them succeed.

School social workers turn to HARK to help homeless students and their families who need interim housing when they’re in between housing solutions, or facing eviction. HARK provides short relief housing for families facing a night or a week with no place to go.

 

400+

foster and court involved children

in Buncombe County

Please donate now to help these vulnerable children

Your donation allows Helping at Risk Kids (HARK) of Buncombe County to provide the basic needs – baby supplies, school supplies, car seats, beds, warm clothing, shoes, as well as those extras – a camping experience, music lessons, a bicycle – that normalize a child’s life and build confidence and self-esteem. These are simple things that so many children in Buncombe County take for granted. Please help us provide for these innocent children.

We Appreciate Our Sponsors

  • Habitat for Humanity