• The Council on Aging of Buncombe County was formed in 1964 to address the needs of seniors in our community
• We provide essential support to people over 60 who need assistance with food, heat or a/c, and health care
• Our volunteers make this work possible– consider joining us today!

Our Mission Statement: Promote the Independence, dignity, and well-being of adults through service, education, and advocacy

We are looking for volunteers to work with low-income Medicare recipients as an unbiased, knowledgeable guide, providing education and assistance with navigating through the application process to help them receive much-needed assistance with the following programs:

• Medicare Part D Extra Help/Low-Income Subsidy (LIS)
• Medicare Savings Programs
• Medicaid
• Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP – formerly known as Food Stamps)
• Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)
• Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP)

The safety of our clients is our highest priority. Here’s what’s required for this role:

• Clear criminal background check and driving record.
• Minimum $100,000/300,000 in auto liability coverage.
• Orientation and training with the Council on Aging.
• A reliable vehicle that will pass NC safety inspection.

Additionally, we are very flexible and will work with your schedule.

Who would make a strong candidate for this volunteer role?

• You care about seniors and want to support those who need help most
• A resident of Buncombe County, NC, or a nearby town.
• Someone willing to learn basic education about the Benefits Enrollment Center (BEC) and what benefits are available for lower-income Seniors.
• Someone willing to receive education about outreach, what larger events entail, and how to assist with these events.
• Someone willing to travel around Buncombe County and set up a table at outreach events, educating the community on the services offered at Council on Aging and the Benefits Enrollment Center.
• Someone able to assist clients with benefits applications and maintain awareness of changes to income guidelines.

If you want to help make a difference in the lives of real people right here in western North Carolina, we would love to welcome you on board as a volunteer.

YWCA of Asheville is a nonprofit organization working to bridge gaps in education, health, childcare, and earning power for women and families in the Asheville region. The mission of the YWCA of Asheville is to eliminate racism; empower women; and promote peace,  justice, freedom, and dignity for all.

The YWCA indoor pool hosts a comprehensive Aquatics Program with activities for all ages, abilities, and interests.

Volunteer Roles and Responsibilities 

• Join the fun in the pool as a swim assistant. Help children and adults learn the basics of floating, kicking, breathing, and diving.
• Support the Aquatics Program with behind-the-scenes administrative work or on-the-deck supervising

Time Commitment

• Flexible time commitment

Volunteer Requirements

• Background check

This 10-week course will introduce basic principles that are foundational to all Tai Chi movements. Tai Chi is proven to be effective in decreasing pain, stiffness, and risk for falls while improving balance, postural stability, strength, cognitive focus, immune system function, and more. Wednesdays noon -1 pm; August 24th-October 26th. This course has a general public cost of $60. There is no additional cost for members, the course is included. Register before September 31st on our YWCA App, by calling (828) 254-7206 ext. 213 or emailing [email protected].

Verner Center for Early Learning is a nonprofit agency providing high quality, affordable early care and education to children birth to five years of age throughout Buncombe County. The mission of Verner Center is to foster holistic learning environments where young children and families thrive. The organization embraces a philosophy that includes excellence in early childhood practices, diversity among children and families, and partnerships and collaboration with families and communities. This philosophy is demonstrated through provision of high quality education, family services, health and nutrition services, and professional development for teachers.

We are currently looking for compassionate volunteers to support our experiential garden.

Volunteer Opportunity Includes:

• Pulling weeds
• Cleaning out garden beds
• Prepping new garden beds
• Building small projects
• Mowing
• Weed eating
• Laying mulch
• Watering

Volunteer Requirements:

• Respond to the shift
• Comfortable working in various weather conditions
• Comfortable bending, stooping, twisting
• Ability to stand for 1-2 hours at a time

We are seeking volunteers to assist us in our small after school program for children in West Asheville in low-income housing.  We provide a safe and nourishing environment, healthy snacks, and creative activities.  Our program currently meets during the school year on most Tuesday and Thursday afternoons from 3:00-5:00pm. You may volunteer for one or two days a week. 

Volunteer Responsibilities:

• Assist with serving snacks
• Interact with children during activity time
• Supervise games and outdoor free time
• For people with background in education, there is also an opportunity to assist with curriculum development and program planning and administration

Requirements:

• Background check
• Orientation booklets will be provided
• Masks are required if unvaccinated

• The Council on Aging of Buncombe County was formed in 1964 to address the needs of seniors in our community
• We provide essential support to people over 60 who need assistance with food, heat or a/c, and health care
• Our volunteers make this work possible– consider joining us today!

Our Mission Statement: Promote the Independence, dignity, and well-being of adults through service, education, and advocacy

We are looking for volunteers to work with low-income Medicare recipients as an unbiased, knowledgeable guide, providing education and assistance with navigating through the application process to help them receive much-needed assistance with the following programs:

• Medicare Part D Extra Help/Low-Income Subsidy (LIS)
• Medicare Savings Programs
• Medicaid
• Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP – formerly known as Food Stamps)
• Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)
• Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP)

The safety of our clients is our highest priority. Here’s what’s required for this role:

• Clear criminal background check and driving record.
• Minimum $100,000/300,000 in auto liability coverage.
• Orientation and training with the Council on Aging.
• A reliable vehicle that will pass NC safety inspection.

Additionally, we are very flexible and will work with your schedule.

Who would make a strong candidate for this volunteer role?

• You care about seniors and want to support those who need help most
• A resident of Buncombe County, NC, or a nearby town.
• Someone willing to learn basic education about the Benefits Enrollment Center (BEC) and what benefits are available for lower-income Seniors.
• Someone willing to receive education about outreach, what larger events entail, and how to assist with these events.
• Someone willing to travel around Buncombe County and set up a table at outreach events, educating the community on the services offered at Council on Aging and the Benefits Enrollment Center.
• Someone able to assist clients with benefits applications and maintain awareness of changes to income guidelines.

If you want to help make a difference in the lives of real people right here in western North Carolina, we would love to welcome you on board as a volunteer.

Get your 10K steps a day as a greeter, guide, wheelchair transporter and wayfinder for incoming or discharge patients and guests.

Pastoral Care: for trained and experienced lay chaplains to serve patients in all departments

Behavioral Peer Group Facilitation: experienced peers for group facilitation

One on One Peer Support: for specific medical conditions

Pet Therapy Handlers and Team Assistants: for dog lovers to assist, and dogs and handlers certified for Pet Therapy to visit patients

Occasional One Time- or Short Term-volunteers for special events and short term projects

Child Life and Family Support Assistants: Support programs by helping with cleaning, collecting and packaging art supplies, leading craft projects with patients in the pediatric, behavioral and emergency units.

Volunteer onboarding requires a background check, immunization documentation and a 2 ½ hour training. We ask for a commitment of 4 hours per week.

YWCA of Asheville is a nonprofit organization working to bridge gaps in education, health, childcare, and earning power for women and families in the Asheville region. The mission of the YWCA of Asheville is to eliminate racism; empower women; and promote peace,  justice, freedom, and dignity for all.

The YWCA indoor pool hosts a comprehensive Aquatics Program with activities for all ages, abilities, and interests.

Volunteer Roles and Responsibilities 

• Join the fun in the pool as a swim assistant. Help children and adults learn the basics of floating, kicking, breathing, and diving.
• Support the Aquatics Program with behind-the-scenes administrative work or on-the-deck supervising

Time Commitment

• Flexible time commitment

Volunteer Requirements

• Background check

Throughout the summer of 2022, ASAP will present a series of on-farm symposiums for healthcare professionals in Western North Carolina to highlight the principles of Farm Fresh for Health. Farm Fresh for Health addresses the real and perceived barriers that influence what we eat and determine health outcomes. ASAP and community partners are using strategies and initiatives built around:

• Produce Prescriptions
• Nutrition Security
• Workplace Wellness
• Wrap-Around Clinical Health Services
• Cooking Classes
• Farm to School
• Social Determinants of Health

Each symposium will introduce key strategies and highlight examples from ASAP and the community, including projects from ASAP’s Community in Action initiative. Attendees will take part in farm tours, hands-on activities, and facilitated discussion about how they can use Farm Fresh for Health tools in their own practices to improve health outcomes. A seasonally focused farm-to-table meal (lunch or dinner) will be provided by a local food partner. Space is limited at each symposium. A $20 registration fee offsets the cost of meals and materials.

LUNCH

Catered by Launa Marie of Homemade Pasta Noodles.

KEY STRATEGIES

Produce prescription programs, farmers market SNAP incentives, farmers markets as social healthy eating environments

PRESENTERS

Meredith Friedheim is the downtown events and Hendersonville Famers Market coordinator for the City of Hendersonville. Hendersonville Farmers Market aims to be a world-class market that contributes to the success of local producers and growers, expands access to farm fresh foods, and creates a vibrant community gathering space.

Sonya Jones is the founder of Caja Solidaria, which offers a produce prescription program, and the coordinator of Henderson County Committee for Action and Nutrition (CAN). Prior to that, Sonya was a professor of public health for 19 years.

Stephanie Stewart, Manager of Population Health and Team-Cased for Mountain Area Health Education Center (MAHEC). MAHEC is dedicated to excellence in clinical care, health professions education, and innovative practices that can be replicated nationally. MAHEC serves as a partner for ASAP’s Farm Fresh Produce Prescription program.

Jennifer Trippe, director of ASAP’s Growing Minds Farm to School program, is a Registered Dietitian with nearly two decades of experience working to improve the health and well-being of the Western North Carolina community. She has worked at MANNA FoodBank, Food Connections, and as a WIC Nutritionist and Diabetes Educator.

Larissa Lopez is a program coordinator for ASAP’s Local Food Campaign. She is the lead on several of ASAP’s Farm Fresh for Health programs, including expanding workplace CSAs and wellness programs and the Farm Fresh Produce Prescription program.

Mike McCreary is ASAP’s farmers market program manager and has developed ASAP’s SNAP incentive programs. Under Mike’s management, in 2009 Asheville City Market was the first market in Western North Carolina to accept SNAP/EBT.

Additional presenters will be added. Check back for updates.

Verner Center for Early Learning is a nonprofit agency providing high quality, affordable early care and education to children birth to five years of age throughout Buncombe County. The mission of Verner Center is to foster holistic learning environments where young children and families thrive. The organization embraces a philosophy that includes excellence in early childhood practices, diversity among children and families, and partnerships and collaboration with families and communities. This philosophy is demonstrated through provision of high quality education, family services, health and nutrition services, and professional development for teachers.

We are currently looking for compassionate volunteers to support our experiential garden.

Volunteer Opportunity Includes:

• Pulling weeds
• Cleaning out garden beds
• Prepping new garden beds
• Building small projects
• Mowing
• Weed eating
• Laying mulch
• Watering

Volunteer Requirements:

• Respond to the shift
• Comfortable working in various weather conditions
• Comfortable bending, stooping, twisting
• Ability to stand for 1-2 hours at a time

– ALL AGES
– FREE ADMISSION ($10 SUGGESTED DONATION)

Our monthly installment of Yoga Taco Mosa! Join us as we honor one another in practice lead by Clare Desmelik, and then enjoy tacos and mimosas in the taqueria.

The Free Clinics invites you to join us at this unforgettable lakeside bash, as we remember our humble beginnings and look forward to our future! Come ring in 20 years of caring for our neighbors in need…with a splash!

Wear your swimsuit for a dip in the lake, or simply enjoy the spacious covered pavilion and indoor dining hall to sit with friends old and new to look back on your collective memories of TFC over the years.

A boxed lunch and beverages are included for all guests, with a later sweet treat of cupcakes as we all wish ‘Happy Birthday!” to the Clinics!

Join in a fun afternoon celebrating our volunteers, supporting the arts & volunteering in your community! Bring a Friend or Two! Appetizers & Wine

“If we are peaceful, if we are happy, we can smile and blossom like a flower, everyone in our family, and our entire society will benefit from our peace”.  -Thich Nhat Hanh

Join Luna Ray and Amber Acheson for an embodied exploration of living with more peace. In this 3 hour journey we will gather as community and practice to overcome disturbances that keep us from feeling calm and peaceful.

This gathering will include:

Yoga and Somatic Practices

Music and Song

Ritual and Community Connection.

Please bring comfortable clothes for an outdoor experience, a journal and pen, any props or blankets to support you.  Chairs will be available.

YWCA of Asheville is a nonprofit organization working to bridge gaps in education, health, childcare, and earning power for women and families in the Asheville region. The mission of the YWCA of Asheville is to eliminate racism; empower women; and promote peace,  justice, freedom, and dignity for all.

The YWCA indoor pool hosts a comprehensive Aquatics Program with activities for all ages, abilities, and interests.

Volunteer Roles and Responsibilities 

• Join the fun in the pool as a swim assistant. Help children and adults learn the basics of floating, kicking, breathing, and diving.
• Support the Aquatics Program with behind-the-scenes administrative work or on-the-deck supervising

Time Commitment

• Flexible time commitment

Volunteer Requirements

• Background check

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.

Bounty & Soul is a community-based non-profit with a mission to connect people to food, education and each other. 

Like to get creative and crafty? Enjoy preparing fun educational games for children? We invite you to be a part of this small, sweet, and  intentional shift that directly supports our Kids Programming. We are looking to have 1-2 folks join us Mondays from 1:30-3:30pm at the Bounty & Soul office. We’re talking bubbles, meditation pin wheels, produce fortune tellers, mini-cook books, exercise games and more!

Requirements: 

• Must agree to adhere to all safety measures implemented at the site
• A positive attitude to bring to the group
• A passion for sharing information on children’s health and wellbeing
• Excellent customer service and communication skills

Health/Safety:

• We are asking volunteers to wear/bring their own face covering when delivering items
  • Cloth covering nose and mouth
  • Fabric or disposable face mask
• Asking volunteers to maintain physical distance of 6 feet or more when possible
  • Note: there are times when the volunteer task requires volunteers to engage closer than 6 feet. Please do not sign up if you feel uncomfortable.