History

Historical Snapshot

Blue Ridge Community Action, Inc. (BRCA) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation organized in 1965 as a Community Action Agency to provide programs serving area low income residents. Since 1965, the agency maintained its three-fold mission: 1) provide programs and services which enable families to move out of poverty positions; 2) provide programs and services which reduce the suffering caused by poverty; and, 3) advocate for change in policies, institutions, and practices which cause and maintain poverty in our communities.

Within the context of this three-fold mission, BRCA has developed a variety of programs which are designed to meet multiple needs of low income families. While the geographic service area for BRCA is not limited, agency programs primarily serve residents of Burke and Caldwell counties.

In addition to the direct services and skills development programs, BRCA staff and Board members are also members of area policy making groups and represent sectors of private industry. These individuals advocate on behalf of the agency for change in those institutions and policies which create and/or maintain poverty in our communities.

The agency has been successful in financially structuring program service delivery to maximize local private sector funds and, where feasible and appropriate, generating self-supporting income streams for programs. The combination of public grants to directly aid individuals and income generating programs has given BRCA the flexibility as a non-profit organization to develop and expand programs to meet the needs of our communities.