ECA is about more than just home demonstrations

ASHEBORO — From donating to Hurricane Helene victims to making neck pillows for nursing homes, the Randolph County Extension Community Association fulfilled its mission in 2025.

So what exactly is the Extension Community Association, or ECA?

A volunteer organization under NC Cooperative Extension, the group was formed at the state level in 1920 as the NC Federation of Home Demonstration Clubs.

In 1966, the name was changed to the NC Extension Homemakers Association.

A final name change occurred in 1999 when the organization became the NC Extension and Community Association.

The mission of NC ECA is delineated in the state bylaws: 

“The purpose of this Association shall be to empower individuals and families to improve their quality of living through continuing education, leadership development and community service.”

There are four ECA clubs in Randolph County: 

■ Archdale/Trinity.

■ Balfour.

■ Life Long Learners.

■ Ramseur.

While the clubs meet locally, they also come together for special events such as the annual appreciation dinner, the most recent held on Dec. 9, 2025.

Long-time member Ann Hamlet said recently, “We had our year-end appreciation dinner last month at the Ag Center, where we now meet. We are volunteers working with the Ag Department.”

Since the Randolph County Agricultural Center opened in the fall, Cooperative Extension has moved its offices there and groups such as the ECA and 4-H clubs meet inside.

The ECA members regularly make things such as neck pillows for seniors at assisted living facilities. They’re also involved with cultural arts programs.

During the Dec. 9 meeting, Hamlet said, the ECA presented a symbolic check to the county representing the group’s 4,599 hours of volunteer service. They also donated 1,199 items with a value estimated at more than $18,000 to charitable causes.

This year the ECA clubs recognized Hamlet and Doris Davis for their many years of service.

During the annual meeting, the ECA clubs gave Ray Cockrell of the Boys & Girls Home of Lake Waccamaw $1,000 in addition to “mountains of clothing, etc., for babies.”

And if that were not enough, the Randolph County ECA clubs donated money to Hurricane Helene relief efforts.

Randolph ECA clubs help with Helene recovery

Although Hurricane Helene is history, its footprints are still evident in Western North Carolina.

In Swannanoa, the Alan Campos Mobile Home Park sits in a valley between two lakes and the Swannanoa River. When Helene hit, the 25 homes at the bottom of the hill were destroyed as the water rose to the ceiling in many structures.

It took the combined efforts of CORE, BeLoved Asheville as well as several other agencies to have all the families moved back into their homes by March of 2025. 

One of those assisting was the Randolph County ECA.

The four clubs, Archdale/Trinity, Balfour, Life Long Learners, and Ramseur, that constitute the Council, met last November and discussed hurricane relief. From friends, they had learned of the heavily damaged Alan Campos Mobile Home Park and how local efforts were assisting the park. 

The council voted to send $1,000 towards their efforts. At the same time, another $1,000 was sent to the local representative of Helping Hands.

A few weeks ago, Kim Lemons, ECA advisor, visited the area and recorded the progress that had been made at the camp, where many of the residents were also homeowners.

Although a volunteer organization, ECA exists in the community to empower individuals and families to improve their quality of life.