2024 - Strength In Community
Dear Friends,
What a year it has been! For those of us in or near Asheville, 2024 was like nothing we’ve ever experienced before. Just 12 weeks ago, my hometown and much of Western North Carolina was hit by one of the deadliest tropical systems in U.S. history. “Helene” wasn’t the biggest or even the strongest hurricane to ever make landfall, but what it did to the land - and to our neighbors - in our beautiful mountain towns, I still have a hard time finding words to describe the loss and destruction.
As the Founder and Director of KL Training Solutions, where we serve school-aged youth and manage a team of Community Health Workers, I relied on every skill I’ve gained in over 25 years of service in my community - along with a big dose of faith and courage - to navigate what Helene threw at us. The first three days after the storm were especially frightening. There was no water, no power, and no cell service. Many areas were underwater or buried in mud, while others were cut off by washed-out bridges, roads, and fallen trees. For those first few days, we had no way of knowing if the people we care about were safe.
Amid the shock, I also remember the awe of watching our community and the KLTS team rise to the challenge. By Monday, just days after the storm, our Youth Center (home to My Daddy Taught Me That and My Sistah Taught Me That) became a hub for life-saving supplies. We transformed our 5,000-square-foot warehouse into a distribution center - filling and emptying it dozens of times. We took in truckloads of drinking water, medical supplies, batteries, diapers, food, warm clothing, and even pet food. Much of it was donated by longtime supporters of our youth programs.
For 16 days straight, our team covered 16-hour shifts to unload supplies, box up essentials, and deliver them using five 15-passenger vans. We made sure families in our programs, folks in housing communities, nursing homes, and shelters got what they needed. Nearly 30 volunteers, including seven Asheville City School teachers, joined our efforts. Some staff members even used chainsaws to clear roads for trapped neighbors, while we funded a local food truck to serve meals in housing communities where public transportation was still unavailable.
After about three weeks, as the bigger relief organizations started to come through, we knew it was time to shift back to our core mission and to what we do best: serving youth with education and mentorship. With schools closed indefinitely due to power and water outages, we reopened our Youth Center—this time as a safe space for middle and high schoolers to continue their learning. Partnering with Asheville City Schools and YTL Training Programs, we provided academic support for nearly three weeks until schools could safely reopen.
This wasn’t the first time we had to pivot to best serve our youth, either. Back in 2020, during the pandemic, we set up in-person education “pods” for our kids struggling with online learning. Those lessons and partnerships taught us how to move fast and meet the moment—and that’s exactly what we did after Helene. We always tell the young people in our programs that tough times can make you stronger, and this year, we proved it. Even through all the devastation, I saw our team live that lesson, bringing hope to our youth and our community. They inspire me everyday!
As we step into 2025, and our 13th year serving in Asheville, we have some very exciting plans and goals - even as we tackle new challenges Helene left behind. With your continued support, I know we will succeed. Thank you for being part of our story and our journey. I want to wish you and your family a happy, safe, and joyful holiday season!
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
With gratitude,
Keynon Lake
