Please be sure to check out our Volunteer Opportunities guide, too, and learn how you can help the social service organizations in our community!

Animal Compassion Network a local nonprofit organization placing rescued and abandoned dogs and cat into approved permanent homes. Volunteers are the backbone of Animal Compassion Network. Volunteers are needed for adoption events, fostering animals, fundraising events, and special events. For more information, call 828-258-4820.

Join Animal Compassion Network for Adoption Events at the new PetsMart at the Super Wal-Mart Plaza on Bleachery Blvd.!
CAT ADOPTIONS
1st and 3rd Sat. - 11AM-3PM
All other Sat. - 1PM-3PM
Every Wed. - 6PM - 8PM
DOG ADOPTIONS
1st and 3rd Sat. - 11AM-3PM

The Arc of Buncombe County provides support and advocacy for individuals with developmental disabilities.

Asheville Area Habitat for Humanity
Come join with community volunteers and Habitat partner families as we work together to build decent, safe and affordable houses for families living in inadequate housing. Opportunities are available at our construction site or in the Habitat Home Store, which helps to fund the houses. Volunteer Orientations are held on the second and fourth Wednesdays of every month at 6:00 p.m. More information available at 251-5702 or adonlan@ashevillehabitat.org. for more information.

Asheville Humane Society needs help from anyone who loves animals. Call 253-6807 for more information.

Pet Adoption Events
2nd and 4th Saturdays, 11AM-3PM
Dog adoptions at PetsMart on Swannanoa River Rd.

Big Brothers Big Sisters of WNC matches youths ages 6 to 15 who are primarily from single-parent families with an adult mentor who can help develop positive personal growth by enabling the youth to develop a long-term, consistent friendship with an adult role model.

Blue Ridge Center provides counseling for yourth and families, including substance-abusing adolescents; family preservation services for high-risk families; and specialized services for severely emotionally disturbed children. Psychological testing available for youth and adult clients. 257 Biltmore Ave., Asheville., 828-258-2597

Buncombe County Partnership for Children (SmartStart) encourages local partnerships which set goals that benefit our community's families and children.

Buncombe County Council on Aging is a non-profit corporation consisting of senior citizens groups, organizations, and individuals that provide services to older people. Visit this site to find a list and descriptions of local programs for older adults.

Buncombe County Friends for Animals operates an animal shelter which is run as an adoption center for animals; their focus is humane care and population control. Check out their photos of "animals seeking humans" and consider adoption.

Coalition of Asheville Neighborhoods 
CAN meets on the 2nd Monday of each month, 7:00pm-9:00pm at the Oakley Community Center, 749 Fairview Rd., behind the Fire Station and below the Library. Open to the public. Bring your issues, ideas, and energy.

Eliada Home is a non-profit agency dedicated to helping children succeed. Located on a historic 200-acre campus in the mountains of Western North Carolina, Eliada serves children and families through a diverse spectrum of programs and services, including residential care, child development services, foster care, community support services, therapeutic recreation, and many others.

Family Self-Sufficiency
This is a wonderful program administered by the Asheville Housing Authority; it assists families in creating and acting upon a plan that leads them to economic independence.

Girls on the Run
Girls on the Run is a life-changing, experiential learning programs for girls age eight to thirteen years old. The programs combine training for a 3.1 mile running event with self-esteem enhancing, uplifting workouts. The goals of the programs are to encourage positive emotional, social, mental, spiritual and physical development.

Goodwill Industries provides vocational development and support for disadvantaged and disabled individuals. Services include vocational assessment, work skills development, job placement, job coaching and career training. Clients develop work skills while doing work for local industries and work toward non-subsidized job placements.

Guardian ad Litem Program of Buncombe County
The Guardian ad Litem Program of Buncombe County seeks dedicated community volunteers to serve as advocates for abused and neglected children whose cases are going through the court system. Volunteers investigate each child's case and make independent recommendations to the Court for services, focusing on the best interests of the child. Program staff provides the necessary training for all volunteers. Call 251-6130 for more info or to volunteer.

Hands On Asheville-Buncombe
Hands On Asheville-Buncombe is a program of United Way of Asheville and Buncombe County which provides a link for individuals, families, and corporate, civic or faith-based groups to join together to engage in meaningful volunteer projects in Asheville and Buncombe County while supporting the nonprofits in our community. One person. One day. One hour. It doesn't take long to make a lasting difference in your community. At Hands On Asheville-Buncombe, we believe everyone has time to care.

Helpmate provides short-term, emergency shelter for battered women and their children, counseling services for victims of domestic violence, including a 24-hour crisis line, individual counseling, and support groups. Also ffers professional training and public education i recognizing, treating, and preventing domestic violence.

International Link serves as a non-profit central resource for assistance in addressing language and cultural barriers for Western NC's foreign-born population, as well as a center for cross-cultural exchange. International Link also serves as a liaison to employers, educators, health care and human service providers.

Literacy Council of Buncombe County is a great organization to volunteer for. They offer tutoring in basic literacy skills as well as assistance for individuals for whom English is a second language.

MANNA FoodBank provides food to more than 347 member agencies throughout Western North Carolina who serve 9,000 meals each day, 365 days per year. Please volunteer or donate today!

Meals On Wheels of Buncombe County is a largely volunteer-run, Meals on Wheels provides low-priced home-delivered meals to an average of 350 local persons daily.

Mountains Housing Opportunities provides safety-related home repairs for low-income homeowners, including elderly, disabled, and families with children. MHO also works to move homeless members of our community into permanent housing and links them with the services, training, education, and employment opportunities that will help them succeed in permanent housing.

Our Voice provides support and counseling for survivors of sexual assault. Our Voice also has a growing educational department which offers programs to local schools and organizations. They have a well-designed training program for volunteer advocates and a very friendly staff.

United Way of Asheville and Buncombe County allocates Community Fund dollars to 85 local health and human service programs, impacting the lives of more than 60,000 people in our community.

United Way's 2-1-1 Call Center
2-1-1 is a nationally accredited information and referral service. 2-1-1 uses a comprehensive database of local, state, and national resources to link callers to community resources. Services include needs assessment, referral to health and human services, assistance in accessing services, advocacy, and follow up. Callers can be linked directly to volunteer opportunities through the Volunteer Center by calling 2-1-1. A 24-hour service, 2-1-1 provides after-hours coverage for several key agencies: Western Highlands, Buncombe County Department of Social Services - Adult and Child Protective Services, Helpmate, and Our VOICE. The 2-1-1 Call Center is a partnership among United Way, Ingles Markets and Buncombe County.

WNC AIDS Project
Client Services provides assistance to clients Monday through Friday 9AM - 5PM. The service approach is based on empowerment, assisting clients to access the needed services required to maintain their quality of life. There are volunteer opportunities at WNCAP to fit just about anyone. Anything from general office work, "Buddy" system, or Fundraising to name a few.

World Market Place helps low income craftpersons in developing nations by marketing their handicrafts.