10/28/2026
You’ll soon see Burke County’s new Library van out on the road with a message we hope will make a difference for children right here at home:
**Every child deserves a place to belong.**
Did you know more than 200 Burke County children are in foster care? Some of these children are living more than three hours away in other North Carolina counties. That means long days traveling back to Burke County to spend time with their families and attend appointments. We need more local foster parents so these children can stay closer to their families, their schools, and the community they know.
Fostering means opening your home and providing a safe, stable place for a child who temporarily cannot safely remain with their family. It means being there for the everyday things—meals, homework, encouragement, and someone to count on—while their family works toward a safe return home whenever possible.
Our Library van already travels between the Library’s three locations every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, carrying books and materials along Highway 70 between Hildebran and Morganton. What better way to share this message than a rolling billboard already serving our community three days a week?
“Our Library van connects our three locations, and now it will help connect people with an opportunity to make a difference,” said Library Director Jim Wilson. “We hope someone sees this van, starts thinking about fostering, and decides to learn more. We’re proud the Library can play a part in helping our local children.”
This is a great example of our Library, Department of Social Services, and foster care partners working together. Each has a different job to do, but we share a commitment to Burke County's children and families.
“We need more foster families right here in Burke County so children can stay close to the people and places they know,” said DSS Director Korey Fisher-Wellman. “You don’t have to have all the answers to make that first call. We want people to ask questions, learn about fostering, and find out how they can help.”
Hopefully, this van catches the eye of someone who has considered fostering but hasn’t taken that first step. Maybe it starts a conversation on the way to work or around the dinner table. That conversation could make a difference in a child’s life.
Burke County is all in on helping our foster children grow locally, and we need more local families to help make that happen. If you’ve thought about becoming a foster parent, call 828-764-9600 or visit blackmountainhome.org/burkecounty. Let’s help more Burke County children find a place to belong close to home.
