Select Homes gives back at Broyhill

2021-12-30 09:31:30 By : Ms. Polly Yan

Dec. 27—When Select Homes of WNC isn't busy managing its over 400 properties throughout Western N.C., the company is giving back to the local community.

Select Homes of WNC raised over $5,000 this year that will go exclusively to Broyhill, a Baptist Children's Home facility.

Broyhill is a temporary home for displaced children waiting to be returned home or sent to a more permanent foster home. Broyhill is comprised of four group cottages that house 10-12 children and two house parents.

This year, Select Homes chose to provide their funds to Broyhill by giving each child a $75 gift card to buy what they need: toiletries, clothing, etc. The funds also provided $300 to each cottage for everyone to enjoy a Christmas dinner together.

"This is our heart project," said Michele Rogers, owner/property manager of Select Homes.

A few months prior to Christmas, Rogers sends a letter to all of her property management clients, as well as posts on their social media, asking for donations for their annual Christmas give-back project.

About four years ago, Bob and Flora Thompson, who moved to WNC in 2014, decided to do a little bit more by making bags for all the kids so that they all would have something special under the tree.

Broyhill sends them the age and gender of each child, and the Thompsons buy backpacks for every one of the children, filling them with age-appropriate toys, clothing and toiletries.

This year, the Thompsons received 48 names and went to work putting them together.

"If you looked at our house, it looks like the inside of a store," said Bob Thompson, "But for us, it's just about trying to let those kids have something a little special at Christmas."

Flora hits the after-Christmas sales and they spend the year putting together the items they'll need to fill the bags. Flora even personalizes the backpacks and other items with the child's first name. Last year, she gave personalized blankets in each bag.

"It's about the kids seeing somebody took the time to make it special," said Flora Thompson.

While the Thompsons said they feel blessed in their own lives, it's their Christmas present to each other to put together a little something special for the kids at Broyhill.

"Some of the kids have never slept in a bed. Some of them just have a trash bag [of personal items]," said Flora Thompson, "The sad part for me is that you see the same names over and over again."

Going on four years, the Thompsons have no intentions of slowing down. Flora has already visited Walmart for their post-holiday sales, buying up supplies for next year's bags. It's knowing they're helping the kids, and the dedicated staff at Broyhill, that make it all worthwhile.

"I think the people [at Broyhill] are angels walking on earth," said Flora Thompson.

Select Homes and Broyhill's relationship is no accident.

"We've done a different service project every year. About five or six years ago, we picked Broyhill," said Rogers.

Even though it may seem that $75 gift cards and large Christmas dinners are a regular occurrence, Rogers remembers when how lean it was when they first started.

"The first year that we did it, we started with $25 for each child," said Rogers. "Then each year the word got out."

Rogers' connection to Broyhill was fate. Some years ago, Rogers and her husband, Rick, lived across the street from two house parents at Broyhill.

"They were here for two weeks and gone for two weeks. They even had children of their own," said Rogers.

It wasn't until she later asked her neighbors where they go every two weeks that she learned they were house parents at Broyhill.

"They would go buy toiletries for kids that didn't have enough. Even though it's a paid position, [house parents] go above and beyond for those kids."

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