In a place like Cashiers and Highlands, showing up matters.
It’s what this community does best. We show up for neighbors, for schools, for families. We rally around one another in ways that make this place feel not just beautiful, but deeply connected.
And for young people growing up here in our mountain communities, that sense of connection can make all the difference.
At Big Brothers Big Sisters of Western North Carolina, mentorship has always been at the heart of that connection. A caring adult showing up consistently for a young person–offering encouragement, guidance, and simply being present–can change the trajectory of a life.
But in recent years, something has become increasingly clear. Sometimes, showing up isn’t always enough.
This year, a young girl joined one of our group mentoring programs. Everything around her was new—her school, her peers, even the rhythms of the day.
When we first met her, she was incredibly quiet. She kept to herself, spoke very little, and stayed on the edges of every group activity. Even when support was offered, she rarely engaged.
Week after week, she came… but didn’t participate.
And yet—she kept showing up.
Even when a young person isn’t ready to speak, they are still listening. Still watching. Still deciding if this is a space where they belong.
Mentorship creates that space.
Consistency builds the trust.
But what helps a young person take the next step forward often requires something more.
That understanding led to CARES.
CARES–Creating Access to Resources, Events, and Support–strengthens mentoring relationships by ensuring young people and their families have access to what they need to truly thrive. It doesn’t replace mentorship. It surrounds it.
During a recent group session in Cashiers, one of our mentors introduced a simple activity: journaling.
She shared it as a way to process thoughts, express feelings, and create something fully your own.
At first, this young girl did what she always did—she stayed quiet.
But then something shifted.
She picked up her journal.
She began decorating it.
And slowly, she leaned in.
For the first time, she joined the conversation.
It wasn’t perfect. It didn’t need to be. But it was hers.
Moments like these are at the heart of CARES.
Because while mentoring builds the relationship, CARES helps create the conditions where growth can happen—through experiences, access to resources, and support that meets young people where they are.
In practical ways, CARES can look like many things.
It might be a mentor recognizing a need and having a pathway to connect a young person or family with additional support. It might be access to resources once out of reach. It might be a workshop that builds confidence, life skills, or simply reminds a young person they are not alone.
And in communities like ours, those supports matter.
Access to services can be limited. Transportation can be a barrier. And for many families, simply knowing where to turn can feel overwhelming.
CARES helps bridge that gap–quietly, intentionally, and always rooted in relationships.
Sometimes, the impact shows up in ways you don’t expect.
After that group session, we saw her outside–walking and talking with a group of peers. Not on the outside looking in, but right in the center. Laughing. Engaged. Connected.
Since then, she’s begun building relationships beyond the program—finding her place not just within the group, but within her broader community.
When asked about the program, her answer was simple:
She looks forward to it every Monday.
That’s the power of connection–supported in the right way, at the right time.
And it’s an invitation to all of us.
For those who call Cashiers and Highlands home–whether year-round or for part of the year–there is an opportunity to be part of something that reaches beyond a single moment of generosity.
You don’t have to have all the answers.
You just have to be willing to show up—and be part of a community that ensures every young person has the chance to feel seen, supported, and connected.
Because when mentorship is strengthened by access, resources, and care, something powerful happens.
Young people don’t just get by.
They begin to thrive.
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