Upcoming events and things to do in Asheville, NC. Below is a list of events for festivals, concerts, art exhibitions, group meetups and more.

Interested in adding an event to our calendar? Please click the green “Post Your Event” button below.

Tuesday, February 15, 2022
Cook and Serve Meals – ABCCM Transformation Village
Feb 15 @ 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm
Transformation Village

Cook teams of 4-6 individuals are invited to bring ingredients and prepare meals onsite or bring meals that have been prepared elsewhere.  To meet our dietary standards, we ask that each meal provides a meat, vegetable and starch.

Requirements:

  • Background Check
  • Brief orientation prior to service
  • Ability to Multi-Task
  • Friendly Demeanor

Health & Safety:

  • We are asking volunteers to wear/bring their own face mask if you have not been fully vaccinated
  • Temperatures will be checked and a COVID-19 disclosure will be signed at the volunteer entrance
  • Before you even begin thinking about volunteering, ask yourself – Am I well enough to volunteer?

    Your safety and limiting the spread of COVID-19 is everyone’s main priority. We encourage you to review and adhere to the recommendations on the Buncombe County readiness site on how best to avoid COVID-19 and what to do if you think you might have it.


    ABCCM Transformation Village provides up to 100 beds of transitional housing and will provide emergency shelter beds, post Covid-19.  Transforming lives is through four developmental phases called Steps to Success including stabilization, life skills, education and reintegration.  We are honored to report that 8 out of 10 leave us with a living wage job and permanent housing.

    Transformation Village gives hope, healing, health and a home to single women, mothers with children, and female Veterans experiencing homelessness.  We provide residents a fresh start and a place to heal surrounded and supported by Christian love, trust, education and companionship.

    We are seeking energetic volunteers to prepare and serve meals for our residents for lunch and dinner. This opportunity provides you with the chance to prepare meals in our commercial kitchen alongside our trained staff while serving the women and children of Transformation Village. 

Skyland Library Knitting + Crochet Club
Feb 15 @ 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm
Skyland/South Buncombe Library

Skyland Library Knitting & Crochet Club

Bring your needles or your hooks and join us for some friendly company as you work on your current project.  No registration necessary; just come by the Skyland Library community room with a love of yarn!

Please note this is not a class — we welcome knitters and crocheters of all skill levels, but there might not be anyone on hand to teach the basics if you’ve never tried before.  Feel free to come and chat or observe, though!

Wednesday, February 16, 2022
Action Alert MANNA FoodBank
Feb 16 all-day
online
Feeding America, our national anti-hunger organizational partner, has alerted us to a time-sensitive advocacy opportunity at the federal level.
As you may know, the challenges in the food chain supply have landed particularly hard on food banks and our partner agencies. We continue to work hard to find food resources for our Western North Carolina communities, and are taking advantage of every possible channel through which to bring fresh, healthy food options into our region for the 125,000+ people a month we are collectively serving in WNC.
The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) currently helps provide fresh perishables and self-stable in-date food resources for almost 25% of the food relief partners we currently work with across WNC. This is an incredibly important food source for our region, and for food banks serving the entire nation. This food source is free to food banks and to our partners, and thus is critical in continuing to address the incredible surge in the need for food that we have seen since the start of the pandemic.
We are asking you to join us in contacting your elected representative in the House of Representatives TODAY to join a bipartisan “Dear Colleague” letter urging Congress to provide an additional $900 million in funding for food purchases through TEFAP in the 2022 spending bill. The deadline for Representatives to sign on to the “Dear Colleague” letter is February 18.
We’ve provided a template email below for your use in reaching out to your member of the House of Representatives.
Thank you for lifting your voice with us on this important issue that will help to bring additional food resources to WNC, and to support the life-saving food-relief work that our partners are doing in communities across the mountains.
Here is an easy way for you to find your representative.
TEMPLATE EMAIL
Dear [Representative]:
On behalf of MANNA FoodBank and their partner network – part of the Feeding America network of over 200 food banks and state associations and 60,000 food pantries and meal programs, I urge you to sign onto the bipartisan “Dear Colleague” led by Representatives Jimmy Panetta, Don Young, and Shontel Brown in support of an additional $900 million for food purchases through The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) in FY2022 spending legislation. The pandemic has created a perfect storm of challenges for the charitable food assistance system, leading to a national, on-average 40 percent increase in demand for food assistance across our network. TEFAP foods are vital to ensuring food banks can keep up with the elevated nationwide need for food support.
United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) foods, including TEFAP foods, are the cornerstone of the food supply for the nation’s food banks. Without the support of TEFAP, food banks like MANNA would be deeply hindered in their ability to provide pantry staples like vegetables, fruit, dairy products, and meat to our neighbors in need — especially our neighbors in rural America. TEFAP is a lifeline for communities across North Carolina. Food banks are at risk of losing over one billion meals from USDA foods provided through TEFAP, making increased investments in the program more needed than ever.
As the winter continues and families face elevated prices for everything from heat to gas to groceries, our neighbors in North Carolina cannot wait any longer for additional food support to come. Increased TEFAP funding is critical to keeping our communities afloat. We thank you for your work to act on behalf of the people MANNA is working hard to serve every day.
If you have any questions, or to sign onto this letter, please contact Sam Harris in Rep. Panetta’s office at [email protected], Kellie Chong in Rep. Young’s office at [email protected], or Julian Sham in Rep. Brown’s office at [email protected].
Sincerely,
[Your name here]
Asheville City’s Homeless Initiative: Point-In-Time Count Dashboard Launch
Feb 16 all-day
online
homelessness
Point-In-Time Count

Point in Time (PIT) Count Dashboard and Web Page Available on the City of Asheville Website

 

2021 Point in Time (PIT) count data is now available on the City of Asheville website.  The PIT data is displayed via dashboard, and presents numbers on those experiencing homelessness, either in emergency shelter, transitional housing or who are unsheltered. The 2022 Point in Time Count happened on January 25, and this dashboard will be updated with the new data later in the spring.

 

Each year, the City of Asheville, in collaboration with a number of local organizations that focus on housing insecurity, collects data on the people in our community that are experiencing homelessness in the annual Point in Time (PIT) count. The data collected are aggregated, with identifying information removed, and then are reported to the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), which requires that all communities that receive HUD funding to address homelessness conduct an annual PIT Count. This count is a one night “snapshot” that, when taken each year, can provide an overview of the population and trends over time.

 

“Understanding who is homeless in our community and what their needs are is essential in the work of ending homelessness.  We’re excited to partner with the Office of Data and Performance to share this information with the community so that stakeholders can be empowered with the data we all need to develop strategies that move the needle on homelessness,” stated Emily Ball, Homeless Services System Performance Lead for the City of Asheville.

 

The dashboard displays information on homeless Asheville residents broken down by sheltered status and race. Visitors to the webpage can explore the data further by clicking the link at the bottom of the dashboard, which navigates to a spreadsheet where the data is broken down by gender, ethnicity, and veteran’s status, as well as the number of people who are chronically homeless in our community. The dashboard is a collaborative effort between the City’s Homeless Initiative in the Community and Economic Development department and the Office of Data & Performance in IT Services.

The PIT Dashboard and information regarding its findings are located on the City of Asheville’s website.  For more information on the City’s Homeless Initiative, contact Brian Huskey ([email protected]) or Emily Ball ([email protected]). For information on affordable housing, emergency housing, rental assistance or down payment assistance, or to learn how to assist our homeless community, please call 211. The service is free, confidential and available in any language.

Asheville Outlets’ Virtual Food Drive for MANNA FoodBank
Feb 16 all-day
online

Thanks for Supporting Asheville Outlets’ Virtual Food Drive for MANNA FoodBank

BE THE CHANGE, BUY A MURAL
Feb 16 all-day
online

Buy one of these murals for yourself or to donate to a local organization (make sure you check with them first), and keep the good work going! All proceeds from this auction will be split evenly between The Martin Luther King, Jr. Association of Asheville and Buncombe County’s COPE Program and the Asheville Area Arts Council’s Arts Build Community Grant. Auction ends February 28.

Following the murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis, MN, on May 25, 2020, protests broke out across the nation. Floyd was killed after a white police officer kneeled on his neck for nearly 9 minutes. In response, hundreds of protestors gathered in downtown Asheville from May 29- June 6, 2020, with cries for justice and change.

During this time, Lowe’s Home Improvement generously donated plywood for downtown business owners to cover their storefronts while Asheville had its own reckoning. Business owners and artists seized this opportunity to lend their support for needed changes by painting murals on the plywood covering downtown businesses. Local muralists Gus Cutty, Kathryn Crawford, and Dustin Spagnola were the driving force behind this initiative.

When it came time for the murals to come down, local artists Evar Hecht and Ben Nelson had the foresight to collect and temporarily store these works, gathering over 150 pieces of plywood. The Asheville Area Arts Council, with the help of Dogwood Health Trust, then stepped in to move the murals to a secure, climate-controlled storage facility and worked with Aisha Adams of Equity Over Everything to determine next steps.

After several COVID setbacks, the arts council is proud to have partnered with the Martin Luther King Jr Association of Asheville and Buncombe County to present this virtual exhibition, auction and speaker series. It is our hope that the proceeds from the auction will support continued change and healing  in our community.

Thank you to Dogwood Health Trust for generously providing the funding to make this project possible, and to the artists and business owners for donating their time and energy to capture this moment in our history.

A video about the exhibition is featured as part of the 41st Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Commemoration.

Black Legacy Month at the Library
Feb 16 all-day
Buncombe County Libraries

In February, we honor and recognize Black Legacy Month at Buncombe County Public Libraries. We will be celebrating throughout February through several online events, staff-curated booklists, and a collection of online resources and exhibits.

Virtual book clubs will discuss On Girlhood by Glory Edim and The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas. You can register for either book club on the library calendar.

When you visit your library, look for special Black Legacy Month displays and book selections.

Below, you will find our Librarians’ reading list highlighting Black authors that include selections for all ages.

We look forward to seeing you at the library!

Black Legacy Month Reading List

Books for Families to Share

My Heart Flies Open by Omileye Achikeobi-Lewis

The Undefeated by Kwame Alexander

The Electric Slide and Kai by Kelly J. Baptist

Soul Food Sunday by Winsome Bingham

This Is Your Time by Ruby Bridges

Legacy: Women Poets of the Harlem Renaissance by Nikki Grimes

Born on the Water by Nikole Hannah-Jones and Renee Watson

The Oldest Student: How Mary Walker Learned to Read by Rita Hubbard

Recognize! An Anthology Honoring and Amplifying Black Life Edited by Wade Hudson and Cheryl Willis Hudson

Going Down Home with Daddy by Kelly Starling Lyons

My Hair Is Magic by M.L. Marroquin

M is for Melanin by Tiffany Rose

Exquisite: the Life of Gwendolyn Brooks by Suzanne Buckingham Slade

Nina: a Story of Nina Simone by Traci N. Todd

Dream Street by Tricia Elam Walker

Chapter Books For Older Kids

Isaiah Dunn is My Hero by Kelly J. Baptist

Blended by Sharon Draper

The Parker Inheritance by Varian Johnson

Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You by Jason Reynolds and Ibram X. Kendi

New Kid by Jerry Craft

From the Desk of Zoe Washington by Janae Marks

Black Boy Joy: 17 Stories Celebrating Black Boyhood edited by Kwame Mbalia

Betty Before X by Ilyasah Shabazz

Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson

Books for Teens

The Skin I’m In by Sharon G. Flake

Dread Nation by Justina Ireland

All Boys Aren’t Blue by George M. Johnson

You Should See Me in a Crown by Leah Johnson

March by John Lewis and Andrew Ayden

Revolution in Our Time: the Black Panther’s Promise to the People by Kekla Magoon

Loving vs. Virginia by Patricia Powell

Dear Martin by Nic Stone

On the Come Up by Angie Thomas

Punching the Air by Ibi Zoboi

Books for Adults

The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennet

The Yellow House by Sarah Broom

I’m Still Here: Black Dignity in a World Made for Whiteness by Austin Channing Brown

You Are Your Best Thing edited by Tarana Burke

Call Us What We Carry by Amanda Gorman

Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi

Soul City: Race, Equality, and the Lost Dream of an American Utopia by Thomas Healy

All About Love by bell hooks

Hood Feminism: Notes from the Women that Movement Forgot by Mikki Kendall

400 Souls: A Community History of African America, 1619-2019 edited by Ibram X. Kendi and Keisha N. Blain

The Secret Lives of Church Ladies by Disha Philyaw

How the Word is Passed: A Reckoning with the History of Slavery Across America by Clint Smith

The Nickel Boys by Colson Whitehead

Buncombe County Comprehensive Plan, Share Your Thoughts
Feb 16 all-day
online

Buncombe County has launched its 2043 Comprehensive Plan initiative and you can provide input. This plan will focus on the next 20-year period and will look at the relationships between land uses, infrastructure and key community services and amenities. A comprehensive plan is not limited to studying land use components – it can include other areas of focus such as safety, public health, affordability, multi-generational needs, equity, and more.

A successful comprehensive plan will guide growth and address community needs and priorities through a series of objectives, strategies and goals.

Learn more about the planning process here. You can also link directly to the public input page here.

Buncombe County Extends Indoor Mask Mandate to February 16, 2022
Feb 16 all-day
Buncombe County

Update Jan. 4, 2022

The Buncombe County Board of Commissioners has extended the countywide face covering requirement for all indoor public spaces through Feb. 16, 2022. The indoor mask requirement also extends to Asheville, Biltmore Forest, Black Mountain, Town of Montreat, Weaverville, and Woodfin.

In Buncombe County, COVID-19 case rates continue to be high, and per the CDC definition, the County remains an area of high transmission. The percent positivity remains in the moderate category, and the death rate remains in the substantial category.

Celebrating Asheville’s Black History
Feb 16 all-day
online

This month, Explore Asheville is focusing on Black community leaders who honor and shine light on Asheville’s Black past while working to create a brighter future. Sourcing from local content creators, we’re sharing these individuals’ stories on our social channels and on ExploreAsheville.com, posting one new video each week during Black History/Black Legacy Month.

A look at amazing community leaders who honor and shine light on Asheville’s past while working to create a brighter future.

GIVE + GROW LEAF Membership
Feb 16 all-day
online
Go On A Blind Date With a Book at the Library This February
Feb 16 all-day
Buncombe County Libraries

Buncombe County Public Libraries is playing matchmaker in February as Blind Date with a Book returns. The blind date books are easy to spot; they’ll be the ones with the paper-wrapped book covers. Check one out and take it home. Remember, don’t judge a book by its cover, and you might fall in love with a new author, genre, or series you hadn’t tried before.

The Fairview, Swannanoa, Pack, Black Mountain, Leicester, and North Asheville Libraries will be happy to set you up on your blind date anytime in February.

Griffin Award Nominations Open
Feb 16 all-day
online
Each year, PSABC presents awards to outstanding projects and individuals that further our goals of historic preservation in Asheville and Buncombe County.  Nominations for the 2022 Griffin Awards are now open to individuals, companies and organizations in the following categories:
  • Restoration
  • Rehabilitation
  • Adaptive Re-use
  • In-fill Construction in Historic and Traditional Neighborhoods
  • Research, Publication and Education
  • Stewardship
  • Preservation
History @ Home – Visit Virtually Western North Carolina Historical Association
Feb 16 all-day
online w/ Western North Carolina Historical Association
Deep Dive into Archives is a living exhibit shining a light on the individuals who were once enslaved at the Smith-McDowell House through primary documentation.

 

 

 

Douglas Ellington: Asheville’s Boomtown Architect presents a look at Ellington’s iconic Asheville creations along with other buildings he completed throughout his career in other cities.
HillBilly Land explores the power, prevalence, and persistence of the hillbilly stereotype from the days of its beginnings in the late 19th century to the present day.
In 1918 vs 2020, we take an in-depth look at the 1918 influenza epidemic in Western North Carolina through newspaper clippings, advertisements, ephemera, photographs, and oral history and place the events of 1918 into context with our present-day response to the coronavirus pandemic.
Need to Appeal Your Tax Value?
Feb 16 all-day
online

News
                            article image

The 2022 appeal period is open now. During the year of the reappraisal, or any year of the reappraisal cycle, a taxpayer may appeal the appraised value of their property. No matter how thorough and fair a reappraisal may be, there are still instances when only the property owner has all the information necessary for an accurate appraisal. Informal appeals for 2022 can be filed anytime between Jan. 1-April 20, 2022. Additionally, anyone receiving a change of value notice after April 20, 2022 has thirty days from the date of the notice to file an appeal.

Step One: Starting an Informal Appeal

An informal appeal is the first step in the appeal process.  Buncombe County Property Assessment has created a new suite of online tools to help make the appeal process easier. A taxpayer may begin the informal appeal process now by clicking on this link taxappeal.buncombecounty.org.

According to NC General Statutes, the property owner has the burden of proving that the property under appeal is incorrectly valued. The amount of your tax bill or ability to pay the tax cannot be used as a valid reason for submitting an appeal. The value of your property has been developed from sales and cost data within your local area. If the you believe this value is incorrect, please provide our office with a valid reason(s) to adjust the assessment (i.e. recent appraisal within the last 2 years, comparable sales of similar homes in the neighborhood or surrounding area, photos of the dwelling to show repair/maintenance issues, etc.).

A property owner appealing the property value of the property should start the appeal process online, or contact our office at (828) 250-4940 to request an appeal form by mail. The appeal form must be returned and/or postmarked, including your supporting documentation, within 30 days of the date listed on the appeal form. The appeal should include information to support the property owner’s opinion of value. Our appraisal professionals are here to help you through the appeal process. For appraisal purposes, Buncombe County is divided into multiple geographical areas. You can find the contact information of the appraiser for your area on the notice of value letter received in the mail, or by calling our office at (828) 250-4940.

The health and safety of our community and employees is our priority, and due to the COVID-19 pandemic, assessment staff is available via Live Chat, or you can schedule a phone conference or virtual appointment by calling (828) 250-4940. Your concerns and questions are important to us, and our team is committed to handling your appeal as quickly as possible.

Should a property owner have any additional questions or need help with a property appeal, please contact our office at (828) 250-4940 or email [email protected].

Nonprofit Wristband Partner Applications for 2022 Events Available Now
Feb 16 all-day
online

Each year, the Asheville Downtown Association selects local nonprofits to sell wristbands at its events. The nonprofit receives a grant of $2,000 and has the opportunity to display marketing materials to share their program of work with large audiences.

Nonprofits provide 30 volunteers over 18 to work in two shifts between 5 and 9:30pm. Volunteers check IDs and sell wristbands to patrons. The nonprofit will also have an opportunity to receive its check on the stage and share remarks with the crowd. Applications are due by March 1 and selections will be made around March 9.

Click here to access the application form. Please communicate with your colleagues to ensure only one form is submitted per nonprofit.

Share Your Support for Public Restroom Facilities
Feb 16 all-day
online
We recently learned that additional permanent public restroom facilities with 24/7 access was not prioritized in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding. The need for facilities has been brought forth by the business community, homeless resource providers and downtown residents.

We encourage you to take a minute to write to Asheville City Council and urge them to find a way to fund this basic, but necessary, service for our downtown community. You can reach all of Council using this email address: [email protected]

The 13th Annual Student Food Drive
Feb 16 all-day
online

#MANNAStudentChallenge2022

The past few years, we have been unable to host our annual student food drive due to the pandemic. This year, however, the student food drive and the competition between schools to see who can collect the most food returns!
Throughout the entire month of March, schools will be hosting food drives and competing between each other to see who can donate the most pounds of food to MANNA or their local partner agency. Students can also earn points that will be added to their total score by making financial donations, volunteering at their local partner agency, participating in hunger and nutrition education opportunities and joining us in our #MANNAStudentChallenge2022 TikTok campaign.
To earn points for their school through the #MANNAStudentChallenge2022, students can create TikTok videos that either feature them eating a fruit or vegetable they have never tried before or highlight a recipe that they believe is unique to their family.
At the end of the campaign, we will announce winners for each of our categories: high school, middle school, elementary school, college or university, most improved, rookie of the year and most creative.
If you are interested in having your school participate in MANNA’s Annual Student Food Drive, contact Jake Deuterman.
There is Still Time: Share Your Experience with the Reappraisal Process
Feb 16 all-day
online

The survey will remain open until Feb. 20. 

Do you own your home or property? Have you ever appealed or considered appealing the value of your house? The Ad Hoc Reappraisal Committee wants to hear from you. Buncombe County has launched a short survey to gather homeowner input. As community members, your feedback on the reappraisal process can provide valuable insight to questions and concerns for the Committee to consider.

In September 2021, the Buncombe County Board of Commissioners established an Ad Hoc Reappraisal Committee after hearing resident concerns following the 2021 Reappraisal. The goals of this committee center on three areas:

  • Identify homeowner concerns about the reappraisal process
  • Provide guidance for future assessments
  • Equity concerns

Take the reappraisal survey here.

All feedback will be compiled and shared with the Committee, County staff, the public, and the Board of Commissioners. Thank you for taking the time to share your experience with the reappraisal and appeal process. Follow the Committee’s progress at engage.buncombecounty.org/reappraisal.

Public Comment

Stay tuned to the Ad Hoc Reappraisal meetings and share your voice. The committee hears public comment at the beginning of their meetings. The next meeting is Wednesday, Feb. 9 from 5-7 p.m.  Register here.

Red Cross Buncombe County – Blood Drive Volunteer
Feb 16 @ 7:00 am – 3:00 pm
The American Red Cross

Before you even begin thinking about volunteering, ask yourself – Am I well enough to volunteer?

Your safety and limiting the spread of COVID-19 is everyone’s main priority. We encourage you to review and adhere to the recommendations on the Buncombe County readiness site on how best to avoid COVID-19 and what to do if you think you might have it.


The American Red Cross is a nonprofit organization that helps communities prepare for, respond to, and recover from emergencies. Activities of the American Red Cross Western North Carolina Chapter include: Blood Services, Training Services, Disaster Services, and Home Fire Campaign.

Every two seconds someone in the U.S. needs blood and one blood donation can save up to three lives. Help support lives in North Carolina by signing up to become a Blood Drive Volunteer today.  

Time Commitment:

Blood drives occur M-F and volunteers are expected to attend one blood drive a month to remain an active volunteer. This position is flexible as volunteers can sign up for shifts that work for their schedule and instructions for shift selection will be sent after responding to the opportunity.

Volunteer Roles:

  • Warmly greet donors and assist with registration in reception area.
  • Assist with initial intake and hand off through blood donation process.
    • Ensure donors have relevant information and all questions are answered appropriately.
    • Maintain proper sanitizing and cleanliness of reception and hospitality areas.
  • Attend canteen area in support of donors.
    • Thank donors for their contribution.
    • Alert staff immediately if a donor shows signs of feeling unwell.
  • Inform donors of current and upcoming donation promotions.
    • Make reminder/cancellation calls.
    • Reschedule donor appointments.
    • Perform follow-up activities as directed.

Volunteer Requirements:

  • Modeling excellent customer service behaviors.
  • Knowledge of technology needed for position (training provided)
    • Donor checkin, donor tablet, rapid pass, donor app.
  • Comfortable working with people from diverse communities and backgrounds
  • Dependable, punctual, and professional
  • Adhere to all Red Cross guidelines
  • Ability to remain calm in crisis situations
  • Adhere to CDC safety guidelines regarding COVID-19 precautions
  • Safety First! Our need for volunteers is constant and our guidelines reflect the latest CDC safety recommendations and follow the national and local government laws. COVID-19 vaccination will be required for in-person volunteer roles beginning January 3, 2022.
Support Veterans Going to College – A-B Tech’s Vet’s Cafe
Feb 16 @ 8:00 am – 5:00 pm
AB Tech

 Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College (A-B Tech) is a comprehensive two-year college and one of 58 colleges in the North Carolina Community College System, serving students in five locations in Buncombe and Madison Counties.  A-B Tech, through its dedication to student success, strives toward its mission to deliver quality education to enhance academic, workforce, and personal development. A-B Tech envisions changing lives and strengthening communities. 

We are seeking volunteers to help support our Veteran’s Cafe. A-B Tech recognizes that student military veterans benefit significantly from fellowship and networking with their peers. To meet this need, the College created the Vet’s Cafe, a supportive gathering place where students can relax, network, connect with resources, use a computer and enjoy complimentary coffee or pre-packaged snack. 

Volunteer Responsibilities:

  • Hosts, ensuring the Cafe is welcoming and supportive.
  • Setting out snacks and coffee
  • Helping students with computers, and tutoring/mentoring as appropriate
  • Volunteers also act as a conduit between students and the A-B Tech Veterans Advisor to ensure students get all the support they need to succeed.

Time Commitment:

  • 3 hours per shift (8am-11am, 11am-2pm, 2pm-5pm 8am-5pm)
  • 1 volunteer per shift, couples are welcome to volunteer together.

 

Qualifications:

  • Must have patience and understanding while volunteering at the Cafe
  • Military experience is preferred but not required
  • Must be computer literate

Requirements:

  • Must be 21 years old
  • Complete volunteer application with A-B Tech
  • Complete FERPA & HIPAA forms
  • Submit to a criminal background screening
  • Attend an in-person interview and orientation with A-B Tech Campus Volunteer Coordinator

Health & Safety:

  • A-B Tech is following all CDC guidelines for higher educational institutions
Small Business Committee
Feb 16 @ 8:30 am – 9:30 am
Henderson County Chamber of Commerce

Mission: To help the small business members of The Chamber become and remain successful. If you are interested in serving on the Small Business Committee, please contact the Chamber at 828-692-1413

Build A Kit for Students
Feb 16 @ 9:00 am – 8:00 pm
online

Before you begin thinking about volunteering, ask yourself – Am I well enough to volunteer?

Your safety and limiting the spread of COVID-19 is everyone’s main priority. We encourage you to review and adhere to the recommendations on the Buncombe County readiness site on how best to avoid COVID-19 and what to do if you think you might have it.


UWABC is committed to collaborating with donors, volunteers, community partners, and those most affected by inequity and poverty to co-create a community where all share equal access to the resources necessary to attain the education, financial stability, and health needed to thrive.

Currently, UWABC is seeking individuals, teams, and corporate partners to support students engaged in learning pods and satellite learning centers by Building Kits that provide resources such as items to support resiliency, personal care packs, school supplies, and more. 

Volunteers will be responsible for purchasing agreed-upon supplies, assembling and delivering the supplies directly to the learning site. Build a Kit items/supplies will be shared with volunteers after responding to the opportunity. 

Build A Kit Options:

  • Art Kits
  • Personal Care Kits
  • Resiliency Kits
  • School Supply Kits
  • Snack Packs

I’m interested, How do I participate?

  • Respond to this opportunity as an individual or as a team.
  • After you respond, a UWABC staff will reach out to share the pre-approved Build A Kit list and timeframe.
  • Think about your price point.
    • How much can you or your team realistically spend?
    • There is no minimum or maximum of kits needed at this time as these items are always needed and welcome.
  • Determine kit options and begin the process of ordering and assembling kits based on the pre-selected and approved lists.
    • Volunteers are asked to only purchase the pre-approved items to ensure each student receives the same items.
  • Coordinate with UWABC staff around delivery location(s) and point person on-site.
  • Deliver kits to a specified location(s).
  • Track all volunteer hours of participating individuals in Hands On.

Health and Safety:

  • This is a remote opportunity and larger groups are responsible for the health and safety of their team members’ participation.
  • Any time groups are together, UWABC encourages volunteers to follow CDC guidelines of:
    • Practicing social distancing of 6 feet apart;
    • Practicing hand hygiene often and wearing gloves when appropriate;
    • Wearing a mask when around other volunteers.
  • We ask volunteers to wear masks when delivering items.
Nominations are Now Being Accepted for the 15th Annual ATHENA of Henderson County Award
Feb 16 @ 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
online

Vanessa Mintz 0507

The Henderson County Chamber of Commerce, Pardee UNC Health Care, Optimum/Morris Broadband, and Judy Stroud/State Farm Insurance are pleased to announce the 15th Annual ATHENA Leadership Award in Henderson County in memory of Vanessa Y. Mintz. Nominations are now being accepted for the ATHENA Leadership Award, which will be presented at the Professional Women’s Luncheon in May to an exemplary leader who has achieved excellence in their business or profession, served the community in a meaningful way, and, most importantly, actively assisted women to achieve their full leadership potential.

Founded over 30 years ago, ATHENA International is a women’s leadership organization that supports, develops and honors women leaders through the programs it administers. ATHENA’s flagship program, the ATHENA Leadership Award Program, has honored over 6000 women leaders from hundreds of cities and eight countries since its inception in 1982.

Vanessa Y. Mintz brought the ATHENA award to Henderson County in 2008 and she embodied the values underlying ATHENA Vanessas Vision

International’s philosophy of incorporating the talent and expertise of women into the leadership of our businesses, our communities, and our government. Reflective of a quote attributed to Plato, “What is honored in a country will be cultivated there”, the ATHENA Leadership Award honors and illuminates the leaders and leadership styles of individuals others would emulate.

The program is facilitated locally by the Henderson County Chamber of Commerce, a licensed ATHENA host organization. Nominations are sought throughout the community. Recipients are selected by a diverse group of out-of-town professional judges, based on Athena leadership criteria.

ATHENA Leadership Award Recipients hail from all professional sectors. The award’s rich history, international scope, and emphasis on mentorship make this award unique and amongst the most prestigious leadership awards one can receive. Past Henderson County ATHENA Recipients Include:

Kathy Streeter Morgan (2021)

Barbara Volk, City of Hendersonville (2020)

Barb Morgan, Project Dignity of WNC (2019)

Lee Henderson Hill, Community Foundation of Henderson County (2018)

Roxanna Pepper, Children & Family Resource Center (2017)

Judy Stroud, State Farm Insurance (2016)

Judith Long, Free Clinics (2015)

Caroline Long, St. Gerard House (2014)

Annie Fritschner, First United Methodist Church (2013)

Myra Grant, Pardee Hospital Foundation (2012)

Joyce Mason, Four Seasons Compassion for Life (2011)

Pat Shepherd, Pat’s School of Dance (2010)

Ragan Ward, Carolina Alliance Bank (2009)

Robin Reed, Bares It All (2008)

ATHENA Leadership Award Recipients are presented a hand-cast, bronzed and crystal sculpture that symbolizes the strength, courage, and wisdom of ATHENA Recipients.

A Catalog Card Community Art ShowShow
Feb 16 @ 10:00 am – 5:00 pm
The Black Mountain Center for the Arts

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Check this out!

Do you remember card catalogs?  What happened to all those analog “cards” once they were replaced with computers?  The Black Mountain Center for the Arts, in collaboration with the Black Mountain Library has obtained a few hundred old catalog cards and we want to use them to make art!  We invite everyone in our community to participate.  After creating your artwork on a catalog card, drop it off at BMCA or the BM Library to be included in our community art show entitled “Check This Out!”

Pick Up Your Catalog Card at BMCA, the BM Library, or Chifferobe December 13 – February 4

(or until we run out)

All artwork must be submitted by February 7 @ 5:00 pm to be included in the show.

Additional Financial Assistance Available for Housing + Heating Needs
Feb 16 @ 10:00 am – 4:00 pm
online

 

Do you need help paying your mortgage, rent, or utilities? Buncombe County might be able to help. Additional financial assistance will be available soon for qualifying County residents. At its Feb. 1 regular meeting, the Board of Commissioners voted unanimously to approve budget amendments accepting nearly $4 million in state and federal funding for emergency rental and low-income energy assistance.

Economic Services Director Phillip Hardin also provided the Board an overview of emergency housing spending of $8.2 million to date that has helped aid more than 3,000 residents. Additional funding in the amount of $2.2 million has been received from the state’s allocation of emergency rental assistance to be used following the same guidelines for rent and utility payments. Hardin noted there is still $4 million in funding from the previous allocation that is available immediately to support community members impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic who need help with rent or utilities. Call 250-5500 for assistance.

Heating Assistance

The Low-Income Energy Assistance Program is a seasonal program that provides for a one-time vendor payment to help eligible households pay their heating bills. NC DHHS is providing funding from two sources to the County for a total of $1,887,432. All funds will be disbursed through Eblen Charities. The County will share more information as it is available on how residents may apply for this assistance.

Billie Jean King Cup 2022: “Parade of Racquets” Program
Feb 16 @ 10:00 am – 4:00 pm
Harrah's Cherokee Center - Asheville

Parade of Racquets Will Offer 50 Hardwood Racquets to Local Businesses, Organizations, & Youth/School Groups to Participate

Each decorated racquet will be auctioned off at the April 15-16, 2022, event to benefit Asheville Tennis Association’s youth outreach programs.

With the Billie Jean King Cup (formally known as Fed Cup) returning to Asheville for a third time, the United States Tennis Association (USTA)  is looking to infuse the local community like never before. We’re asking artists, school groups, and teams  to create racquet artwork with the spirit of Asheville and tennis for the 2022 Billie Jean King Cup on April 15-16, 2022. The  racquet artwork will serve as an iconic visual to commemorate the return of Team USA to Asheville, NC.

The Harrah’s Cherokee Center will provide the 2′ x 4′ wooden racquets to be decorated with the spirit of  Asheville and Tennis at no cost, on a first come, first served basis while supplies last. Approximately 60  racquets will be available via pre-registration here: https://paradeofracquets-bjkc2022.eventbrite.com—  while supplies last. Pick up information will be emailed directly to registrants. All decorated racquets  must be returned to the venue no later than Tuesday, March 1, 2022 for display.

ABOUT BILLIE JEAN KING CUP
The U.S. Billie Jean King Cup team will return to Asheville, N.C. for the third time in five years in April with a  spot in the 2022 Billie Jean King Cup by BNP Paribas Finals at stake.

The USTA has selected Harrah’s Cherokee Center as host for the team’s qualifying tie against Ukraine, which  is scheduled to be played from April 15-16. Team USA previously played at Harrah’s Cherokee Center—  Asheville in 2018 and 2019, when the competition was called Fed Cup. The two events combined generated  more than $8 million in economic impact for the region and spurred increases in tennis participation at the  grassroots level.

EVENT HISTORY 
The Billie Jean King Cup, the premier international women’s tennis team competition formerly known as  the Fed Cup, was officially rebranded in honor of the legendary Billie Jean King in late 2020. Some of the  greatest tennis players in the history of the game have suited up for Team USA, helping it win a record  18 titles in the competition since the event began in 1963.

Need Tax Help? Buncombe Libraries Offer Free Assistance: Pack Memorial Library
Feb 16 @ 10:00 am – 4:00 pm
Pack Memorial Library

Do you need help preparing your taxes? If so, Buncombe County Pubic Libraries can help. AARP Foundation Tax-Aide, in cooperation with the IRS, NC Department of Revenue, Buncombe County Library System, and Council on Aging, Inc. will offer free tax preparations for taxpayers of low and moderate-income, with special attention to those age 60 and older from Feb. 1-April 15.

You will need an appointment to speak with a tax help aide. At your appointment, you can drop off your tax documents and you’ll be given another appointment in about two weeks to pick up your paperwork and completed tax form.

How it works

1. Pick up a tax record envelope and instructions at Black Mountain, West Asheville, Weaverville or Pack Library during library hours.

2. Complete the Intake/Interview Booklet in your envelope by answering all questions. Then sign and date the last 3 pages. Place all your tax forms and any information relating to your tax return in your envelope.

3. Make an appointment to drop off your Tax Record Envelope and meet with a Tax-Aide volunteer.

Wednesdays, appointments available between 10am-4pm
To make an appointment on Wednesday at Pack Library, email [email protected] with your name and telephone number. An AARP volunteer will contact you to set up your appointment. If you don’t have access to email, someone at the library can email AARP for you. At your appointment a tax volunteer will check all documents and give you a follow-up appointment to pick up your completed tax return and documents in 1 or 2 weeks.

Cook and Serve Meals – ABCCM Transformation Village
Feb 16 @ 11:00 am – 1:00 pm
Transformation Village

Cook teams of 4-6 individuals are invited to bring ingredients and prepare meals onsite or bring meals that have been prepared elsewhere.  To meet our dietary standards, we ask that each meal provides a meat, vegetable and starch.

Requirements:

  • Background Check
  • Brief orientation prior to service
  • Ability to Multi-Task
  • Friendly Demeanor

Health & Safety:

  • We are asking volunteers to wear/bring their own face mask if you have not been fully vaccinated
  • Temperatures will be checked and a COVID-19 disclosure will be signed at the volunteer entrance
  • Before you even begin thinking about volunteering, ask yourself – Am I well enough to volunteer?

    Your safety and limiting the spread of COVID-19 is everyone’s main priority. We encourage you to review and adhere to the recommendations on the Buncombe County readiness site on how best to avoid COVID-19 and what to do if you think you might have it.


    ABCCM Transformation Village provides up to 100 beds of transitional housing and will provide emergency shelter beds, post Covid-19.  Transforming lives is through four developmental phases called Steps to Success including stabilization, life skills, education and reintegration.  We are honored to report that 8 out of 10 leave us with a living wage job and permanent housing.

    Transformation Village gives hope, healing, health and a home to single women, mothers with children, and female Veterans experiencing homelessness.  We provide residents a fresh start and a place to heal surrounded and supported by Christian love, trust, education and companionship.

    We are seeking energetic volunteers to prepare and serve meals for our residents for lunch and dinner. This opportunity provides you with the chance to prepare meals in our commercial kitchen alongside our trained staff while serving the women and children of Transformation Village. 

BIPOC Public Artists in Asheville
Feb 16 @ 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm
online
Aisha Adams

Moderator Stephanie Hickling Beckman, Executive Director of Different Strokes! Performing Arts Collective will lead panelists in a discussion about what it is like to be a public artists that is BIPOC in Asheville. This series is presented in partnership by the Martin Luther King Jr Association of Asheville and Buncombe County, and the Asheville Area Arts Council. Support for this series is provided by Dogwood Health Trust.