Concert Raises $36K for Local Schools

Pictured, from left, are Barnardsville Elementary School Principal Jason Miller, BCS Family Resource Center Coordinator Shannon Boyd, Barn at Paint Fork owner Eddie Harwood, School Resource Officer Supervisor Lt. Kelly Ball, and BCS Superintendent Dr. Tony Baldwin.

By Tim Reaves
BCS Communications Department

An outdoor concert last month netted more than $36,000 in donations to BCS and other community school systems.

The Barn at Paint Fork in Barnardsville, in partnership with Ingles Markets, hosted its BarnToberFest outdoor concert lineup on Oct. 17, raising $36,750 from in-person attendees and online donations. Venue owner and Barnardsville native Eddie Harwood has been raising money for local schools and families for years.

“No matter what else is going on, the kids have got to be fed,” he said. “I think this year especially people wanted to do something for them, so I think that’s why it was such a success.”

BCS received a check for $10,250, which will support the BCS Family Resource Center and other initiatives to provide food and supplies to local families. Barnardsville Elementary School received a $1,500 check to support the school’s direct aid efforts in the community. Principal Jason Miller said Mr. Harwood’s fundraisers have helped the school for the last three years running.

“We use it for everything from food to shoes to helping families with their heating bills,” he said. “It’s always been great to have extra funding available for people in need. And it’s an investment by the community for the community.”

BarnToberFest provided donations to BCS and Asheville City Schools, as well as the Henderson, Haywood, Yancey, and Madison County school systems. Mr. Harwood presented novelty checks to school system representatives at a luncheon at the Barn at Paint Fork on Thursday.

Pictured, from left, are Barnardsville Elementary School Principal Jason Miller and School Resource Officer Supervisor Lt. Kelly Ball.

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