Habitat’s New Heights neighborhood will be bustling with even more activity than usual.
Following a short speaking program, Warren Haynes will join volunteers, supporters, and
future homeowner Melissa Mitchell and her daughters to raise the first wall of their new home,
the 2023 Christmas Jam House. This house is special for another reason too; it is 20-year
Habitat staffer and Senior Construction Supervisor Kenny Busch’s 100 th Asheville Habitat
house! The media is invited to attend.
To date, the annual Warren Haynes Presents: The Christmas Jam has raised more than $2.7
million for Asheville Area Habitat for Humanity, constructing 40+ Habitat homes and helping to
pay infrastructure and development costs of entire Habitat neighborhoods.
Future homeowner and Asheville native Melissa Mitchell is thrilled to be able to purchase a
new and affordable Green Built Habitat home. Despite steady full-time employment in the
healthcare field, Melissa has struggled to find decent housing for her family in the Asheville
area, one of the state’s highest cost housing markets. With few options for affordable housing,
the Mitchell family has had to sacrifice quality to make ends meet. Melissa has described her
current subsidized rental as “shelter,” and looks forward to finally having a place she can call
“home.”
With the return of the annual benefit concert, comes the return of Asheville Habitat’s signature
volunteer experience, Before the Jam, Lend a Hand. Volunteers from near and far will help
build new homes, work on a home repair project, and serve in the Asheville ReStore. Local
restaurants including Luella’s BBQ and Mellow Mushroom and will feed the helpers, and
Merrell will again sponsor the signature volunteer event.
Asheville Habitat’s Executive Director Andy Barnett noted, “Habitat has been uniquely blessed
this year. We are proud to share proceeds of the Christmas Jam with BeLoved Asheville.
Working with those facing chronic housing instability, their work is a perfect fit with our vision of
a world where everyone has a place to call home.”
-more-
Interested in helping the causes that Warren Haynes and The Christmas Jam support? Here
are a few suggestions:
There are a few Before the Jam volunteer slots available. Click here to see options and
register.
Donate to Asheville Area Habitat for Humanity online. Select Christmas Jam 23 as
Purpose.
Attend and participate in a variety of Jam by Day events, including a Toy Drive for
BeLoved.
Stop by the Habitat tables at The Christmas Jam to say hello, learn about programs,
donate $1 to sign a stud wall which will be used in the construction of a Habitat house,
and enter a raffle to win a VIP package for the 2023 Christmas Jam!
About Asheville Area Habitat for Humanity
Founded in 1983, Asheville Area Habitat for Humanity (AAHH) was the first Habitat affiliate in North Carolina.
Now serving Buncombe and Madison Counties, AAHH provides affordable homeownership and home repair
programs to qualified low-income resident seeking to build a better future on the foundation of stable housing. A
decent place to call home and an affordable mortgage enables Habitat homeowners to save more, invest in
education, pursue opportunities, and have greater financial stability. The home repair program preserves the
character, affordability, and diversity of local neighborhoods and enables long-time residents to stay in their
homes. Learn more about Asheville Area Habitat and how you can get involved at ashevillehabitat.org.