asheville.com volunteer guide

The following organizations have recently been contacted and are in need of volunteers:

Affordable Housing Coalition
During the past ten years, AHC has been privileged to work with the people of Asheville and Buncombe County by providing those in search of a new home the housing counseling, educational and supportive services they needed to accomplish their goals. Please learn about each of our direct services by clicking on the Programs page, or call, 828-259-9216.

AIDS Project needs enthusiatic volunteers for the buddy program, transportation, office administration, reception, public speaking, fundraising, committee work, community outreach and home repair through programs affiliated witht the WNC AIDS Project. For more information call 252-7489 ext 15.

The American Red Cross is looking for a youth volunteer coordinator for the Asheville-Mountain Area Chapter for 5 to 8 hours a week. Individuals who work well with middle and high school age students and who want to make an impact on the quality of life for youth in Buncombe County should apply. Call 258-3888 for more information.

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. For more information, call 828-258-4820 or email volunteers@animalcompassionnetwork.org.

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

Volunteer opportunities include:
Foster Care
Adoption Fairs
"Fun" Raising Events
Marketing/Advertising
Public Education
Clerical/Office Work
Community Outreach (Staff ACN Booths)
Pet Food Donation (Pickup/Distribution)
Cat Care at PETsMART
Phone Team
Animal Care or Retail Sales at Pet Harmony

Asheville Area Arts Council has many volunteer opportunities for anyone who enjoys people, appreciates art and has some time available. For more information, call 828-258-0710.

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 brusso@ashevillehabitat.org. for more information.

Asheville Community Theatre is looking for volunteers! Our ushers, set and costume builders, actors, singers, and box office helpers are all volunteers! Volunteers are encouraged to participate in every area of production. Basic instruction and guidance is offered to each individual. If you are enthusiastic about learning a new skill, we will teach you! For more information, please visit http://ashevilletheatre.org/volunteer/volunteer.html or contact Jenny Bunn at 254-2939 x 21.

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

Girl Scouts Carolinas Peaks to Piedmont is seeking adult volunteers to serve as outreach leaders, troop leaders and event coordinators. Outreach leaders serve 8 weeks for 2 hours each week working with girls. Troop leaders are also needed to guide groups of girls through badge earning, community service projects and more for at least a year commitment. Event coordinators plan and implement events for girls in Henderson County.

Pet Adoption Events
Pet Supplies Plus Adoption Days
Every 2nd & 4th Friday, 11am-3pm, at Pet Supplies Plus on Hendersonville Rd.
Adoption cost is $50-100, which includes spaying/neutering, starter vaccinations, microchipping, one month of free veterinary insurance, and all the other perks you receive when adopting from the Asheville Humane Society's Adoption Center, including a coupon book from PetsMart valuing $300.

Are you part of the pet-loving public?
Then you'll be glad to know that the Asheville Humane Society is building a new adoption center!
Click here for more information!

Ever consider providing a foster home for a cat or kittens (or dogs & puppies)? It's a truly rewarding experience and a lot of fun! Brother Wolf pays for all expenses; as the foster parent, you would bring the pets to and from adoption events (held every Wed and Sat - you're not required to attend each), take him/her in for medical care like vaccinations or spay/neutering, and of course provide lots of love and attention. Consider this wonderful experience and you'll truly save the life of a homeless pet. Please contact Jackie at solemn78@hotmail.com for more information. Brother Wolf is a no-kill rescue; all of our cats, kittens, dogs and cats live in foster homes until they are adopted. We look forward to hearing from you!

Come join our cat care team in caring for our cats and kittens awaiting their forever homes while they spend time in the Adoption Center at PetSmart on Bleachery Blvd, Asheville. Volunteers needed to scoop litter, provide fresh food and water, clean, and spend time loving and socializing the babies. Morning and evening shifts available; this is a great opportunity to help homeless animals in your community! All of our cats and kittens live in fosters homes and Brother Wolf is a no-kill organization - our animals stay with us until they find their forever homes. Please contact Peggy at peggyhodge@charter.net with questions or to sign up. We look forward to hearing from you!

Asheville Vistior Center at the Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce is looking for volunteer to help greet tourist visiting the area. Positions currently available Saturdays and Sundays. Call 258-6100 for more information.

Books are Needed at the Horizon Academy, the on-site school serving Eliada Homes. They need books appropriate for children and teens including biographies, classics, fiction, science fiction, how-to-books, social issues, spiritual, sports and expecially books dealing with contemporary teenage issues. Drop off donations at the Main Campus at 2 Compton Drive in Leicester or call 254-254-5356 for more information.

The Buncombe County Council on Aging needs individuals who enjoy public speaking and who have good people skills to talk to civic groups and clubs about the services the Council on Aging offers to the 60+ age group. Training provided. Call 258-8027 for more infomation.

The Carolina Mountain Land Conservancy is a non-profit land trust looking for volunteers to assist with fundraising and event coordination, administrative support, invasive species removal, and database entry. Learn about the craft of land conservation and help to protect wildlife, farm, and water resources in Henderson and Transylvania Counties. Call our office at 828-697-5777 for more information.

The Center for New Beginningsis looking for volunteers to provide awareness in our community about the organization as well as volunteer in different aspects of the organization, we will be explaining who we are, what we provide and for volunteers to learn about victim services in Western North Carolina. Volunteers Promote Center for New Beginnings, Educate the Community, Help with Special Events, are some of the ways YOU can volunteer. Please visit our website www.centerfornb.org as this is an opportunity for you and our community to learn and provide a service.

The Child Advocacy Center sponsors a Help Young Parents program that needs individuals who are interested in spending time with new mothers, helping them to understand their newborn and how to properly care for them. Training is provided for volunteers. The Child Advocacy Center is also seeking volunteers to assist in their office and in their community outreach program. For more information, call 254-2000.

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.

Four Seasons Hospice affirms life and provides holistic care in harmony with the goals of individuals with chronic, serious, or life-limiting conditions while offering support to their families and loved ones. If you would like to volunteer your time and talents with Four Seasons Hospice & Palliative Care, please call 828-692-6178. We have many volunteer opportunities, including administrative work, patient care, mailings, special events, etc.

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. Please call us today at 251-6130 if interested. Next FREE evening training session begins January 15, 2008. You will be glad you called!

The Health Adventure
Asheville's premier science and health museum. Turn your own energy into electricity for a light bulb, crawl through a model of a human artery, walk (if you can!) through a "dizzy tunnel", spend quality time with TAM (Transparent Anatomical Model) to learn about what goes on under your skin, and much, much more! Volunteer opportunities abound year-round at this unique museum in the heart of downtown Asheville. Lead interactive activities on the museum floor, work behind the scenes on scrapbooks and craft materials used in programs, help maintain our exhibits and technology or intereact with our guests in our newest exhibit, "Grossology"! Whatever your interests or availability, we have a great opportunity just right for YOU. Give us a call for more information or to schedule a time to meet with us and join the fun at The Health Adventure! Contact Sara McCord, Volunteer Coordinator, at 828-254-6373 x309 or sarahm@thehealthadventure.org.

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.

WNC March of Dimes March of Dimes is seeking volunteers to assist with office work-making phone calls, filing, research. Flexible hours and days. Please call 828-258-1234.

The Later Years COMPASS program, needs volunteers to donate 10-14 hours per month to help plan, develop and implement life enrichment programs for seniors. This volunteer opportunity is ideal for persons who like working with seniors and want to plan activities such as music appreciation, creative writing, pottery, exercise or life review.

Lead Poisoning Prevention works to proactively promote lead-safe environments for all residents of Buncombe and Henderson Counties through public education, home inspections, and professional trainings. Short-term, long-term, and ongoing opportunities are available.

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. Desperate for volunteer drivers in the downtown and Enka-Candler areas to deliver a hot nutritious lunch to the elderly and homebound. Call 253-5286 for more information.

Medical Interpreters Needed
The ABC Kids project is developing an interpreter bank of "on-call" interpreters to go with patients to their doctor appointments. Applicants must be proficient in English and Spanish, written and oral, and have some training in medical interpretation or a willingness to be trained. For more information, call 828-274-2267 or email linda@bcmsonline.org.

Literacy Council believes in lifelong learning. For more informattor, call 828-254-3442.

The North Carolina Arboretum has many volunteer opportunities which include interpretive guiding in the gardens, greenhouse and trails, grounds maintenance, assisting staff in areas such as nursery, bonsai and interior plantings, visitor services as well as clerical and library support. The Arboretum is located on a beautiful 426-acre site southwest of Asheville. If interested in volunteering, call Patty Lyons at 665-2492.

Our Voiceprovides support and counseling for survivors of sexual assault. Their volunteer advocate program enables the center to provide services on a 24-hour basis. Volunteers receive extensive training and are on call 3-4 times per month. The center can also use volunteer assistance with their educational programs and for office tasks. For more information, call 252-0562.

Pack Place Education, Arts and Science Center
Downtown across from Pack Square, Pack Place Education, Arts and Science Center houses Three Centuries of Pack Square, and is the home for the Asheville Art Museum, Diana Wortham Theater, Colburn Gem & Mineral Museum, the Health Adventure and the YMI Cultural Center. A great place to volunteer. Just pick the area of your interest, and work away.

828-253-3227

RiverLink
RiverLink is an exciting place with an abundant amount of opportunities in which to get involved. If you would like to be involved in the work of restoring our watershed as a place to live, work, and play then come join our team. We rely on the help of volunteers and gratefully appreciate the talent, skills, and interests that our volunteers bring to the table.

Quality Forward
Quality Forward is a non-profit organization of concerned volunteers dedicated to creating a clean and green Buncombe County. Since 1976, Quality Forward has promoted anti-litter, recycling, pedestrian and planting efforts through grassroots activities, school programs and public awareness. Volunteers can contribute through participation in playground construction, community clean ups, plantings, and education in the schools and community. 828 254-1776 for more information.

RAISE is a radio reading service for the blind. Volunteers are recorded reading from the Asheville Citizen-Times and other area newspapers, keeping listeners informed about news and events in the community. Recordings are made weekday mornings. Please call 251-2166 or e-mail info@raisewnc.org to volunteer to read or inquire about service.

RSVP - The Volunteer Center for Those 55+
Life is a continuing journey with never-ending opportunities to learn, give, and grow. Come join other retirees in your community volunteering to make a difference and experience new and exciting ways to stay active and involved. The Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) at Land-of-Sky Regional Council is here to assist people age 55 and better find meaningful volunteer opportunities with partnering local non-profit agencies in Buncombe, Henderson, Transylvania and Madison Counties. Working with 120 non-profit agencies RSVP offers over 600 volunteer opportunities from short term to ongoing, there is something for even the busiest retiree. All it takes is just a few hours a week. You know what you have to offer, we can help you find an outlet. Call us and lets us find the right volunteer opportunity for you. For more information, please contact RSVP Coordinators Patti or Vicki at 828-251-6622 or toll free at 1-800-727-0557.

Salvation Army Boys and Girls Club needs between 500 and 700 volunteers between now and the end of the year to assist as bell ringers and to help with the Christmas Angel Tree program. Last year they helped over 3000 of our neighbors with these programs! To volunteer, call 253-4723 to speak with an extraordinary volunteer coordinator, Dawn Morton.

Second Bloom
What a great idea it is to recycle flowers! That�s what Second Bloom is all about. Second Bloom collects perfectly good flowers that are headed to the landfill and spread them around to appreciative residents in nursing homes, rehab centers and Hospice.

Stoneleaf Theatre Festival Seeks Volunteers
the second Festival of North Carolina Theatre is coming to Asheville May 26-June 4, 2006. Volunteers needed for house managers and ushers, backstage and in the administrative office. For information and a volunteer form, email Lucia Del Vecchio, Adminstrative Coordinator, at lucia@nctc.org.

In addition, the United Way is now supporting a new Volunteer Center which matches an individual's skills and interests with community needs. There are many opportunities for you to share your time and talents. Below are listed just a few. If you have interest in any of these or you'd like to learn about other volunteer opportunities, please call Jacquie Buttles who directs the Volunteer Center at (704) 255-0696.

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.

WNC Alliance Volunteer Opportunities
Tabling volunteers at Southern Energy & Environment Expo Friday thru Sunday, Aug. 22-24, representing WNCA, signing up members, explaining issues, etc. Free admission for volunteers the day they work. Various shifts available. Training Aug. 6 & 13 at WNCA (29 N Market, Ste. 610). (rachael@wnca.org). Other tabling events also coming up.

Membership mailing volunteers needed mid-August (folding, stuffing envelops, sorting, etc.). Lots of fun. Refreshments provided. At WNCA, 29 N Market, Ste. 610. Traing on-site. (rachael@wnca.org.

Invasive weed eradication outing in mid-August outside Asheville, one morning only. Up to 20 volunteers needed. (bob@wnca.org).

Ten Thousand Villages helps low income craftpersons in developing nations by marketing their handicrafts. They need volunteers to be sales clerks, to unpack merchandise, stock shelves and help with inventory. Training is provided. Call 254-8374 for more information.