Imagine waking up on one of those sharp Appalachian mornings—the kind where the cold settles into your bones before you even step outside. You reach for your warmest, coziest jacket… and realize all you have are cotton sweatshirts, a thin cardigan, maybe a denim jacket that won’t stand a chance against the wind.
For many families in our community, that isn’t a thought experiment—it’s reality. Winter coats are expensive, and when every dollar has to stretch, they’re often not the first purchase. That’s exactly why Cookies and Coats, held during Reynolds Community Night, matters so much every single year.
And this year? It was something truly special.
When the Doors Opened, the Community Filled the Hallways
By early evening, the hallways of Reynolds Middle School were full—families with strollers, teenagers laughing with friends, little ones darting between classrooms, grandparents greeting neighbors they hadn’t seen in a while. Every corner of the school felt alive. Food was shared, cookies were decorated (and quickly eaten), and conversations stretched long past quick hellos. The meal was such a hit that we even had to order extra pizza—don’t worry, everyone ate.
Outside, the cold Appalachian air settled in early. Inside, though, people lingered. Families stayed late because the 
school felt warm in every sense of the word—welcoming, comfortable, and safe. It wasn’t a space where you had to look alike, sound alike, or come from the same place. It was a space where everyone belonged simply because we all call these mountains home.
As families moved through the building, they found more than a meal and a place to gather. Over 250 freshly cleaned winter coats were shared, along with hats, gloves, and hoodies—each one made possible through an incredible network of partners and volunteers. From the NC Medical Society Coat Drive at the Grove Park Inn, to Swannanoa Cleaners donating the cleaning of every single coat, to resource team members laundering eight full bags, this was community effort layered upon community effort. Six Key Club students from A.C. Reynolds High School—guided by PTSA Vice President Marsha van Rijssen—sorted and organized every coat with care before families arrived, making sure everyone could find something that fit and felt right.
Before and After
More Than a Night—A Community School in Action
As the night unfolded, it became clear that Cookies and Coats was about far more than winter gear. Volunteers filled the building—serving food, checking families in, helping children pick out coats, translating conversations, and making sure no one was overlooked. In total, over 300 people attended, including more than 100 families who were brand new to Community Night at Reynolds.
Through a partnership with BeLoved Asheville, 160 families also received grocery gift cards—support that landed exactly where it was needed. One family summed it up best: “You have no idea how much this means to us.”
This is the power of Community Schools. They allow schools to become true hubs of care, where partnerships connect, volunteers step into meaningful roles, and families experience support without barriers or judgment. On one cold night, Reynolds Middle School became a place of warmth—not just because of coats and hot food, but because of connection, generosity, and shared belonging.
When we invest in Community Schools, we invest in moments like this—hallways filled with laughter, tables shared by neighbors, and a community that shows up for one another, just because this is home.