By Lorrie Ross
Staff Writer
Clay County’s non-profits provide residents and visitors with lots of chances to help others. Many of them, like Hinton Rural Life Center offer plenty of learning options. As mentioned in the June 19 edition of the Clay County Progress, Hinton Center is the area’s oldest non-profit and has an array of educational opportunities, as well as ways to help others in the community.
Enjoy splitting logs? Hinton’s firewood ministry volunteers call themselves Woodchuckers. The award-winning firewood ministry offers free firewood for those having trouble affording it. Anyone who enjoys cutting wood, loading wood or organizing wood pickups or deliveries, is welcome to volunteer. The firewood ministry also accepts hardwood donations and can often send volunteers to collect. Email Jeremy Jenkins about the firewood ministry: Jeremy@hintoncenter.org.
Another important ministry is Christmas Care of Clay County, which Hinton makes happen with the help of local partners. Using local donations, the program provides new clothing as Christmas gifts for children. Parents and guardians are able to shop for their children or they may use volunteers to help. Applications for this program are available every October at Hinton and also other places like Matt’s Ministry, Clay County Food Pantry, social services and Clay schools.
Hinton’s Safe and Healthy Housing Assessments and Home Repairs program offers home assessments and repairs for Clay, Cherokee and Towns County residents. Because Hinton wants to see the community’s health and safety improve, home safety and housing checks have no financial requirements. For actual repairs or home safety issues to be addressed, there must be extenuating circumstances or financial need.
As part of its efforts to make a long term impact on rural poverty and help create thriving communities, Hinton Center provides many educational opportunities. Some are occasional events, while others are ongoing. These are most common:
• House on Wheels is a mobile unit with seasonal information and tips for safe and healthy home repairs.
• Leadership Chatuge Community Builders was started by Dr. Jackie Gottlieb, Hinton CEO, because she believes thriving communities are built by community members, who are dedicated and well-equipped. The 12 weekly leadership development classes for local residents provides engaging activities, networking opportunities, expert presenters and discussion to build students’ knowledge of area services, culture, history, economic development, assets and challenges.
• The Educational Tool Barn has interactive learning stations on home maintenance and safety. There are informative posters, statistics highlighting dangers, technology and objects to demonstrate potential home hazards and examples of ways to address the issues. Hinton staff is happy to provide tours and presentations for school, civic and church groups. The space is also available for group events and meetings and events. Funded by The Duke Endowment, the Tool Barn shows how research plays an important role in guiding Hinton’s work to help improve the community’s quality of life.
• Rural Poverty Simulation teaches a better understanding of challenges faced by those living in rural poverty. This large-group activity includes hands-on simulations as participants form “families” to experience their unique challenges living in daily poverty and interacting with agencies, businesses and more. Many who have completed the simulation say they have gained better insight into rural poverty. The program is researched based experiential approach to increase awareness and understanding of rural issues of poverty, showing structural issues which lead to and sustain rural poverty. PovSim may be scheduled for groups or purchased for use off-site.
Missions, retreats and special events are constants at Hinton Center. During summers, lots of groups visit for local mission work to partake of what the area has to offer and enjoy Hinton’s many amenities. Hinton hosts many ministerial retreats, but also special days and weekends for lay folks and professionals. For most, Chef Phillip Lallement and his staff provide meals which have been highly acclaimed. Many local residents and visitors from far way have volunteered hours or days to Hinton’s cause, walked the labyrinth, taken training or simply sat on the back porch enjoying the view of Lake Chatuge.
The on-site gift shop has various sundries, along with fair trade goods and items by local crafters. Summer hours are from 4-5:45 p.m. on Monday and Tuesday; 4-7 p.m. on Wednesday and 8-10 a.m. on Thursdays. Gift shop hours vary the rest of the year, depending on guests' attendance. In fall 2025, there are plans for a special indoor Christmas market. To arrange a special open time, call the after-hours number (828) 371-2892.
Once again, all of this seems to affirm the mission of Hinton Center:
“Inspired by Jesus Christ, Hinton Center serves individuals, congregations and rural communities through retreat ministries, educational opportunities and missional outreach.”
To learn more, schedule a tour or make a reservation, call: (828) 389-8336 or email: info@hintoncenter.org. Hinton Center is located at 2330 Hinton Center Road in Hayesville. Visit: www.hintoncenter.org for details.