In September 2024, Hurricane Helene brought unprecedented devastation to Yancey County, significantly impacting our schools and community. All schools were forced to close for seven weeks due to extensive damage, and one school was destroyed beyond repair. Nearly 200 students and 40 faculty members from Micaville Elementary were displaced, creating extraordinary challenges for teaching, learning, and daily routines.
Despite these hardships, Yancey County Schools demonstrated remarkable resilience. As reopening approached in November, educators and staff worked quickly and creatively, transforming media centers, gyms, and shared spaces into temporary classrooms. Their adaptability and commitment ensured that students could continue learning during an incredibly difficult time.
In the weeks following the storm, numerous individuals and organizations reached out to support Yancey County Schools, its students, and families. One such organization was VS America, an educational furniture manufacturer for K-12 schools, colleges, and libraries based in Charlotte, North Carolina. VS America recognized that rebuilding learning environments required more than replacing damaged furniture—it required restoring a sense of normalcy, stability, and hope for students and staff.
In early December 2025, a dedicated team from VS America arrived in Yancey County to deliver and install more than 1,500 new pieces of furniture across three elementary schools, supporting PreK through third-grade classrooms. The donation replaced outdated, worn, and storm-damaged furniture with modern, durable pieces designed to support active and engaging learning. These new furnishings have helped create safe, welcoming classroom environments that will serve students and teachers for years to come.
“We are deeply grateful for the extraordinary generosity VS America has shown to our district,” said Dr. Heather M. Cox, Assistant Superintendent of Yancey County Schools. “This gift of new PreK–3 classroom furniture will truly transform our learning environments. Our hearts are full of gratitude for everyone who made this possible, and we cannot thank VS America enough for their investment in the students of Yancey County.”
This initiative was made possible through close coordination by VS America and the generous support of Windmill Transport, which provided freight services at no cost to ensure the furniture arrived safely and on time.
The support from VS America and Windmill Transport is a powerful reminder of what can be accomplished when organizations come together with compassion and commitment. Their generosity has helped restore not only our classrooms, but also a renewed sense of hope for our school community. Yancey County Schools is deeply thankful for this partnership and remains committed to providing high-quality education in learning spaces that reflect the strength and resilience of our students, staff, and community.
