Gastonia native Stacey Bare moved to Jefferson last year with her six-year-old daughter, Amber. Soon afterward, she married Ronnie Bare, became the mother of twins, Shelly and Beau, and is expecting another baby in the spring.
Stacey has lived a busy and interesting life, saying that marriage and motherhood – in addition to volunteerism – are the highlights.
Love brought her to the mountains and it’s that love, “plus the cool weather, clean air and hospitality of the area,” that has kept her here.
During her adolescence, Stacey developed a love for volunteering – something she considers a normal way of life. She received The Governor's Award for Volunteerism while in high school and traveled the state educating kids about the dangers of drugs.
Stacey competed in various pageants and won such titles as Miss National Commonwealth, NC/SC American Royalty Overall Novice, and Miss Teen of the Nation Swimsuit Winner. She later served as a pageant consultant.
After high school graduation, she planned to seek a career in law enforcement. She attended Gaston Community College before joining the US Air Force.
“I was stationed at
Langley AFB in Hampton, VA during the 9-11 tragedy. My title was Fighter Equipment Specialist.”
Afterward, her commitment to volunteerism escalated at hospitals, nursing homes, and the court system and she did her best to support charities funding 9-11 efforts.
Becoming a mother soon afterward made her rethink her career goals. She became certified as a nursing assistant (CNA 11) and as a med tech and recently became a Medela Mom Maven, a breastfeeding advocate.
It’s her role as a mother, Stacey states, that keeps her interested and involved in the community.
“I’d really like to become a doula or a midwife some day, but for now, I’m going to stick with raising my beautiful children.”
It possibly was that maternal instinct that kicked in one winter day in 2000 – while serving in the military before she became a parent – that had a significant impact on her own life as well as that of a child and his parents. The young enlisted woman happened upon an urgent situation while on her way to the mall and saved the life of a choking toddler by dislodging a piece of candy from his throat and administering CPR when he still was unable to breathe. This act of heroism – or being "in the right place at the right time," as she puts it – was widely publicized and resulted in her receiving an award for her heroism.
As one who knows the benefits of the Ashe Pregnancy Center, Stacey has given her heart to working to help raise money for a worthy cause.
“I volunteer with them behind the scenes. Since I am still a client, I cannot volunteer in the sense of working at the center, but I do help out when they have a fundraiser.”
Center director Roger Newton says of Stacey and her efforts during Walk for Life, the organization’s most recent fundraiser in October, “Stacey has an amazing ability to call people and raise support. She has a very professional phone voice and doesn’t mind digging in the phone book and calling everyone who’s listed.”
Newton added that Stacey raised the most money (approximately $1,500) of anyone participating in the event and, by doing so, won an electric bass guitar.
Stacey is also glad to give back to the center by donating her used baby items and picking up donations from others for the center.
She is a member at Bald Mountain Baptist Church and in her free time enjoys cross-stitch, quality time with her children, playing with their Chihuahuas, yard sales, being involved in her daughter's Girl Scout Troop and school, and trying new restaurants.