The Appalachian Women’s Fund (AWF) is known throughout the mountain area for doing good deeds and fundraising for local women and children who have been identified as needing a helping hand.

In an attempt to broaden the network and provide opportunities for community service and fundraising to ASU students, two young women – both natives of the area and current sophomores – have decided to start a chapter of AWF on the ASU campus.

Hannah Copeland and Lucy Binning hope to raise awareness on campus of the need for help, specifically with women and children, in the local community. 

The chapter should be in full swing and on the list of clubs at ASU by the fall. They are presently awaiting their chance to go before club council to prove why their idea is important and that such a club is necessary. To date, the duo has already enlisted 20-plus students who have expressed interest in the club and are willing to devote time to promoting it.

Agreeing to serve as club advisor, Susan McCracken is the director of ASU graduate school, research, and sponsorship programs, and currently is working toward her doctorate in educational leadership. She has expressed excitement about the opportunity to work with such great young women on a mission.

The women and children who will be their primary focus, as is true of the original AWF, are those who been through tough situations, including homelessness, poverty, abuse, and neglect. These women and children have received aid from a network of other community organizations, but need more help than can be provided.

For example, when a woman and her family moves out of OASIS, AWF has helped them get back on their feet by providing household necessities, support for counseling programs or educational endeavors. 

Hannah and Lucy are counting on the interest and assistance of other ASU students in the effort to perform service work and fundraising to help meet these and other needs of women and children.

Hannah and Lucy share a goal of increasing support in our community to assist many programs within Watauga County and surrounding counties that help young girls build self-esteem and confidence. In turn, these compassionate college students know that every little bit will help others succeed in this ever-changing world.

Hannah and Lucy point to statistics that prove girls who are exposed to domestic violence are more likely to attempt suicide, abuse drugs and alcohol and run away from home.

Hannah states, “We really want to help girls overcome these issues and grow from them so that will not be their fate.”

The dynamic duo cites several women representing the AWF who have helped them achieve their goals of forming the campus chapter. Hannah’s mother is involved and helped her see that there is a definite need for what they are attempting to do.

“Nancy Ashline has also been extremely helpful to us by being there every step of the way and helping us get the resources we need to get this club up and running.”

For more information about the AWF, visit it on Facebook or at www.appalachianwomensfund.org or simply call (828) 264-4002.