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.

Thursday, April 16, 2020
LIVE STREAM: Steven Wright presents The Coyotes of Carthage
Apr 16 @ 5:00 pm – 6:00 pm
Malaprop's LIVE STREAM

Reader Meet Writer Okra Pick Series with the Southern Independent Booksellers Alliance

Steven Wright – April 16 at 5 pm EDT on Zoom

The event is free but attendance is limited and registration is required. Please CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

If you elect to attend, we will email you on the day of the event with the link & password to attend this virtual event.

“With this splendid debut, Steven Wright announces his arrival as a major new voice in the world of political thrillers. I enjoyed it immensely.” —John Grisham

A piercing portrait of our fragile democracy and one man’s unraveling, The Coyotes of Carthage paints a disturbingly real portrait of the American experiment in action.


Steven Wright is a clinical associate professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison Law School, where he codirects the Wisconsin Innocence Project. From 2007 to 2012 he served as a trial attorney in the Voting Section of the United States Department of Justice. He has written numerous essays about race, criminal justice, and election law for the New York Review of Books.

The Coyotes of Carthage: A Novel Cover Image
$26.99
ISBN: 9780062951663
Availability: Coming Soon – Available for Pre-Order Now
Girls on the Run of WNC Sneaker Soiree!
Apr 16 @ 7:00 pm – 10:00 pm
plēb urban winery

Image

Dance the night away to 80s, 90s and 00s jams at the 2020 Sneaker Soiree.

Rock your old sparkly prom dress, brightest running leggings, neon retro garb, shiniest fancy pants- whatever makes you happy! Round out your look with running shoes.

Notorious HBC (History Book Club)
Apr 16 @ 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Malaprop's Bookstore

Join host and Malaprop’s bookseller Patricia Furnish to discuss a range of books across different periods of history. The club tackles challenging subjects, hence “NOTORIOUS.”  Click here to see a full schedule of what the club is reading. Club attendees get 10% off the book at Malaprop’s!

The club meets at Malaprop’s on the 3rd Thursday of every month at 7:00 pm.

Event date:
Thursday, January 16, 2020 – 7:00pm
Thursday, February 20, 2020 – 7:00pm
Thursday, March 19, 2020 – 7:00pm
Thursday, April 16, 2020 – 7:00pm
Sneaker Soiree
Apr 16 @ 7:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Pleb Urban Winery

Grab your friends, put on your most fabulous retro attire, and dance the night away to jams from the ’80s, ’90s and 2000s! All proceeds benefit Girls on the Run of WNC, inspiring local girls to be joyful, healthy and confident.

Friday, April 17, 2020
A National Unified Leadership Response to shortages of Personal Protective Medical Equipment
Apr 17 all-day
NATIONAL PPE COALITION onlie

Across the nation, thousands of people are stepping up to solve the crisis that is afflicting our heroic frontline health workers and first responders. As hospitals struggle to find safe and reliable supplies, companies, organizations, and individuals are joining forces to get health care workers the personal protective equipment and lifesaving medical devices they need. No single organization can do this alone. In fact, the proliferation of organizations in this space has made it incredibly challenging to navigate.

National PPE Coalition’s goal is to aid that process by enabling connections. We’re working to bring crucial partners – state governments, corporations, manufacturers, non profits, and individuals – together in order to build an efficient, unified supply chain.

By coordinating all emergency PPE crisis efforts, we not only minimize the risk of misdirecting critical supplies to places that may need them less urgently, but increase their individual power exponentially. Working together, the PPE Coalition members are working together to ensure that every shipment of PPE sent is a life-saving shipment.

City of Asheville provides hand washing stations to help reduce spread of COVID-19
Apr 17 all-day
City of Asheville
illustration of someone washing hands

 

 

Update:

For a map of temporary, portable hand washing stations and restrooms, visit this link. The map is being updated as new stations are installed.

 

Original post:

With the COVID-19 public health emergency going on it has never been more important to be able to wash your hands. Besides keeping 6 feet of distance between yourself and others, hand washing and sanitation have been identified as important measures in reducing the spread of contagion.

handwashing station
Portable hand washing station on the sidewalk by Pritchard Park.

That’s why the City of Asheville has installed portable hand washing stations in several strategic places around town. We realize that people sometimes have to travel on ART buses to get to work, buy groceries or pick up prescriptions from the pharmacy, for example. Also, our unsheltered population needs places to wash their hands as well.

For these reasons, the City has installed portable hand washing stations at the following locations:

  •         Outside of Pritchard Park, on the sidewalk.
  •         Pack Square Park, downtown
  •         AHope Day Shelter, 19 N. Ann St.
  •         ABCCM Medical Ministry, 155 Livingston St.
  •         12 Baskets, 610 Haywood Road
  •         Haywood Street Congregation, 297 Haywood St.
Portable restroom facilities have been provided outside Pritchard Park, in Pack Square Park and at the ART Station.

 

 

The City of Asheville is coordinating these actions in partnership with Buncombe County Public Health Officials.

 

This is an evolving situation and information is often changing. For resources on prevention best practices and news updates, visit Buncombe Ready. Additional guidance is on the Buncombe County Public Health website.

 

For information on how to sign up for City and County government alerts, visit this link.

FREE Video Course by Wild Abundance: 10 Spring Wild Foods
Apr 17 all-day
Wild Abundance Online

FREE Video Course by Wild Abundance

Discover delicacies growing right outside your door.

Your guide through this course is seasoned Wild Abundance instructor Luke Cannon, who has practiced wild food foraging for over two decades. More than a botanist, Luke is a long-time pursuer and teacher of the magic and medicine of plants. An avid naturalist, Luke draws from a diverse pool of knowledge, combining his natural history studies with his life experience in organic farming, natural building, permaculture, nature-based mentoring, and rural homesteading.

Get Free Books from Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library
Apr 17 all-day
Imagination Library Online

Children under 5 years old can receive free, age-appropriate books each month until their 5th birthday! Read more and sign up here.
Malaprop’s Bookstore Home delivery throughout all Buncombe County
Apr 17 all-day
Malaprop's Bookstore

Thank you so much for your support! To care for you and our staff, Malaprop’s is closed to the public and we have ceased curbside pick up. We have also suspended in-store events and bookclubs until May 15th.  Meanwhile, we are exploring new subscription services, delivery options, and more digital content. Please see the ways we are still serving you below. Stay home and stay safe!

  • As always, you can order online 24/7 at malaprops.com. You can also call us at 828-254-6734 between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. daily to order by phone. Yes, we can make suggestions! All orders will require prepayment. We accept Visa, Mastercard, Discover, American Express and Paypal.

  • We are now offering home delivery throughout all of Buncombe County! The only requirement is a two-book minimum purchase. Deliveries will be made on Tuesdays and Fridays, with any order placed before 5 pm the previous day.  Orders will safely be left on your doorstep.

  • FREE shipping via media mail is available for orders over $50.00 (before tax) sent to addresses in the continental United States. Other orders ship via Priority Mail or other services with prices listed at checkout.

We want to thank you again for your continued support at this time. If you’re looking for other ways to support our staff, you can donate to Malaprop’s via the icon to your right, contribute the Cafe Barista’s virtual tip jar, or to the Book Industry Charitable Foundation (BINC), which provides grants to booksellers in times of need. To support other local businesses, visit ashevillestrong.com.

Please take care of yourselves!

Natural Impressions: Prints from the Asheville Printmakers CANCELLED
Apr 17 @ 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
The North Carolina Arboretum

On display daily January 18 – April 19, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the upstairs gallery of the Education Center, the Asheville Printmakers’ newest exhibit, Natural Impressions, will feature a variety of two- and three-dimensional print pieces utilizing numerous printmaking processes. Works will inspire visitors to think about the beauty and fragility of plants and the natural world through various perspectives and printmaking techniques. All pieces are available for purchase and a portion of the sales will benefit The North Carolina Arboretum Society.

Founded in 2013, the Asheville Printmakers is an energetic group of artists dedicated to expressing ideas and imagery through the medium of print. The group encompasses a wide range of processes and content, including traditional methods, such as lithography, woodcut and screen printing, and contemporary photographic printing processes, such as carbon printing, platinum-palladium and photopolymer etching. 

Parking Fees

  • Members: Free
  • Personal Vehicles: $14
  • Motorhomes / Vehicles (21’ or larger): $50
  • Buses: $100

There are no other admission charges required for visitors to access the Arboretum’s grounds and facilities during the day beyond the standard parking fees listed above.

Grassroots Aid Partnership (GAP) plans to serve free, plant-based food every Friday – Sunday from 4 -7 p.m.
Apr 17 @ 4:00 pm – 7:00 pm
Asheville

Grassroots Aid Partnership (GAP) plans to serve free, plant-based food every Friday through Sunday from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at 1022 Haywood Road.

Image may contain: 3 people, people standing and text

Saturday, April 18, 2020
A National Unified Leadership Response to shortages of Personal Protective Medical Equipment
Apr 18 all-day
NATIONAL PPE COALITION onlie

Across the nation, thousands of people are stepping up to solve the crisis that is afflicting our heroic frontline health workers and first responders. As hospitals struggle to find safe and reliable supplies, companies, organizations, and individuals are joining forces to get health care workers the personal protective equipment and lifesaving medical devices they need. No single organization can do this alone. In fact, the proliferation of organizations in this space has made it incredibly challenging to navigate.

National PPE Coalition’s goal is to aid that process by enabling connections. We’re working to bring crucial partners – state governments, corporations, manufacturers, non profits, and individuals – together in order to build an efficient, unified supply chain.

By coordinating all emergency PPE crisis efforts, we not only minimize the risk of misdirecting critical supplies to places that may need them less urgently, but increase their individual power exponentially. Working together, the PPE Coalition members are working together to ensure that every shipment of PPE sent is a life-saving shipment.

FREE Video Course by Wild Abundance: 10 Spring Wild Foods
Apr 18 all-day
Wild Abundance Online

FREE Video Course by Wild Abundance

Discover delicacies growing right outside your door.

Your guide through this course is seasoned Wild Abundance instructor Luke Cannon, who has practiced wild food foraging for over two decades. More than a botanist, Luke is a long-time pursuer and teacher of the magic and medicine of plants. An avid naturalist, Luke draws from a diverse pool of knowledge, combining his natural history studies with his life experience in organic farming, natural building, permaculture, nature-based mentoring, and rural homesteading.

Get Free Books from Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library
Apr 18 all-day
Imagination Library Online

Children under 5 years old can receive free, age-appropriate books each month until their 5th birthday! Read more and sign up here.
How to Buy Local While Social Distancing: On-Farm Pickups and More
Apr 18 all-day
NC and SC Farms

Many farms across North and South Carolina have added on-farm pickups, home delivery & online pre-orders to accommodate for social distancing in light of the COVID-19 outbreak. Please see the listings below for more information, and check out our interactive Google Map for farm locations near you!

Are you a farmer interested in being listed? Email [email protected]

Please:

  • DO NOT show up at farms without prior permission.
  • Follow specific instructions provided by each farm.
  • Stay home if you are feeling ill.
Malaprop’s Bookstore Home delivery throughout all Buncombe County
Apr 18 all-day
Malaprop's Bookstore

Thank you so much for your support! To care for you and our staff, Malaprop’s is closed to the public and we have ceased curbside pick up. We have also suspended in-store events and bookclubs until May 15th.  Meanwhile, we are exploring new subscription services, delivery options, and more digital content. Please see the ways we are still serving you below. Stay home and stay safe!

  • As always, you can order online 24/7 at malaprops.com. You can also call us at 828-254-6734 between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. daily to order by phone. Yes, we can make suggestions! All orders will require prepayment. We accept Visa, Mastercard, Discover, American Express and Paypal.

  • We are now offering home delivery throughout all of Buncombe County! The only requirement is a two-book minimum purchase. Deliveries will be made on Tuesdays and Fridays, with any order placed before 5 pm the previous day.  Orders will safely be left on your doorstep.

  • FREE shipping via media mail is available for orders over $50.00 (before tax) sent to addresses in the continental United States. Other orders ship via Priority Mail or other services with prices listed at checkout.

We want to thank you again for your continued support at this time. If you’re looking for other ways to support our staff, you can donate to Malaprop’s via the icon to your right, contribute the Cafe Barista’s virtual tip jar, or to the Book Industry Charitable Foundation (BINC), which provides grants to booksellers in times of need. To support other local businesses, visit ashevillestrong.com.

Please take care of yourselves!

Natural Impressions: Prints from the Asheville Printmakers CANCELLED
Apr 18 @ 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
The North Carolina Arboretum

On display daily January 18 – April 19, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the upstairs gallery of the Education Center, the Asheville Printmakers’ newest exhibit, Natural Impressions, will feature a variety of two- and three-dimensional print pieces utilizing numerous printmaking processes. Works will inspire visitors to think about the beauty and fragility of plants and the natural world through various perspectives and printmaking techniques. All pieces are available for purchase and a portion of the sales will benefit The North Carolina Arboretum Society.

Founded in 2013, the Asheville Printmakers is an energetic group of artists dedicated to expressing ideas and imagery through the medium of print. The group encompasses a wide range of processes and content, including traditional methods, such as lithography, woodcut and screen printing, and contemporary photographic printing processes, such as carbon printing, platinum-palladium and photopolymer etching. 

Parking Fees

  • Members: Free
  • Personal Vehicles: $14
  • Motorhomes / Vehicles (21’ or larger): $50
  • Buses: $100

There are no other admission charges required for visitors to access the Arboretum’s grounds and facilities during the day beyond the standard parking fees listed above.

Early Bird Yoga Asheville Art Museum
Apr 18 @ 10:15 am – 11:00 am
Asheville Art Museum

Early Bird Yoga

Join us on third Saturdays before the Museum opens for a fun-filled, 45-minute yoga and mindfulness meditation inspired by a visit to an artwork in our galleries. All ages and abilities are welcome; recommended for visitors aged 5+ (children must be accompanied by an adult). Bring your own mat, or borrow one from the Museum (limited quantity available). Preregistration is encouraged; for more information or to register by phone.

Asheville Outlets to Host American Red Cross Blood Drive – April 22 and 23
Apr 18 @ 11:00 am – 4:00 pm
Asheville Outlets--Food Court

Asheville Outlets will host a blood donation drive in partnership with the American Red Cross on Wednesday, April 22 and Thursday, April 23, 2020 from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. each day inside the Food Court.

Donors are asked to register in advance by visiting RedCrossBlood.org/give and entering the sponsor code Ashevilleoutlets. The American Red Cross will establish additional safety guidelines to ensure all donors are socially distanced.

Donating blood products is essential to community health and eligible donors are strongly urged to
donate blood, platelets, or AB Elite plasma. The Red Cross only collects blood from individuals who are
healthy and feeling well at the time of donation – and who meet other eligibility requirements.
At each blood drive or donation center, Red Cross employees follow thorough safety protocols, including:
 Wearing gloves and changing them often.
 Wiping down donor-touched areas after every collection.
 Using sterile collection sets for every donation.
 Preparing the arm for donation with aseptic scrub.
 Conducting donor mini physicals to ensure donors are healthy and well on day of donation.
We have also increased our vigilance concerning some of these safety protocols including:
 Enhanced disinfecting of surfaces and equipment.
 Providing hand sanitizer for use before entering and throughout the donation appointment.
 Temperature checks before presenting donors enter the blood drive or donation center.
 Following social distancing practices between donors including donor beds, as well as waiting and
refreshment areas.
 During this time, blankets typically used by platelet, Power Red and AB Elite donors at Red Cross blood
donation centers will be laundered after each use, which may limit the availability. Donors are
encouraged to bring their own blankets, but electric blankets and heating pads are not permitted.
 Staff wearing basic face masks.
To ensure our staff are healthy each day, we have implemented standard staff health assessments prior to all
blood drives.  Finally, only eligible and healthy people can give blood.  These mitigation measures will help
ensure blood recipient safety, as well as staff and donor safety in reducing contact with those who may
potentially have this respiratory infection.

Grassroots Aid Partnership (GAP) plans to serve free, plant-based food every Friday – Sunday from 4 -7 p.m.
Apr 18 @ 4:00 pm – 7:00 pm
Asheville

Grassroots Aid Partnership (GAP) plans to serve free, plant-based food every Friday through Sunday from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at 1022 Haywood Road.

Image may contain: 3 people, people standing and text

Sunday, April 19, 2020
A National Unified Leadership Response to shortages of Personal Protective Medical Equipment
Apr 19 all-day
NATIONAL PPE COALITION onlie

Across the nation, thousands of people are stepping up to solve the crisis that is afflicting our heroic frontline health workers and first responders. As hospitals struggle to find safe and reliable supplies, companies, organizations, and individuals are joining forces to get health care workers the personal protective equipment and lifesaving medical devices they need. No single organization can do this alone. In fact, the proliferation of organizations in this space has made it incredibly challenging to navigate.

National PPE Coalition’s goal is to aid that process by enabling connections. We’re working to bring crucial partners – state governments, corporations, manufacturers, non profits, and individuals – together in order to build an efficient, unified supply chain.

By coordinating all emergency PPE crisis efforts, we not only minimize the risk of misdirecting critical supplies to places that may need them less urgently, but increase their individual power exponentially. Working together, the PPE Coalition members are working together to ensure that every shipment of PPE sent is a life-saving shipment.

City of Asheville provides hand washing stations to help reduce spread of COVID-19
Apr 19 all-day
City of Asheville
illustration of someone washing hands

 

 

Update:

For a map of temporary, portable hand washing stations and restrooms, visit this link. The map is being updated as new stations are installed.

 

Original post:

With the COVID-19 public health emergency going on it has never been more important to be able to wash your hands. Besides keeping 6 feet of distance between yourself and others, hand washing and sanitation have been identified as important measures in reducing the spread of contagion.

handwashing station
Portable hand washing station on the sidewalk by Pritchard Park.

That’s why the City of Asheville has installed portable hand washing stations in several strategic places around town. We realize that people sometimes have to travel on ART buses to get to work, buy groceries or pick up prescriptions from the pharmacy, for example. Also, our unsheltered population needs places to wash their hands as well.

For these reasons, the City has installed portable hand washing stations at the following locations:

  •         Outside of Pritchard Park, on the sidewalk.
  •         Pack Square Park, downtown
  •         AHope Day Shelter, 19 N. Ann St.
  •         ABCCM Medical Ministry, 155 Livingston St.
  •         12 Baskets, 610 Haywood Road
  •         Haywood Street Congregation, 297 Haywood St.
Portable restroom facilities have been provided outside Pritchard Park, in Pack Square Park and at the ART Station.

 

 

The City of Asheville is coordinating these actions in partnership with Buncombe County Public Health Officials.

 

This is an evolving situation and information is often changing. For resources on prevention best practices and news updates, visit Buncombe Ready. Additional guidance is on the Buncombe County Public Health website.

 

For information on how to sign up for City and County government alerts, visit this link.

FREE Video Course by Wild Abundance: 10 Spring Wild Foods
Apr 19 all-day
Wild Abundance Online

FREE Video Course by Wild Abundance

Discover delicacies growing right outside your door.

Your guide through this course is seasoned Wild Abundance instructor Luke Cannon, who has practiced wild food foraging for over two decades. More than a botanist, Luke is a long-time pursuer and teacher of the magic and medicine of plants. An avid naturalist, Luke draws from a diverse pool of knowledge, combining his natural history studies with his life experience in organic farming, natural building, permaculture, nature-based mentoring, and rural homesteading.

Get Free Books from Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library
Apr 19 all-day
Imagination Library Online

Children under 5 years old can receive free, age-appropriate books each month until their 5th birthday! Read more and sign up here.
How to Buy Local While Social Distancing: On-Farm Pickups and More
Apr 19 all-day
NC and SC Farms

Many farms across North and South Carolina have added on-farm pickups, home delivery & online pre-orders to accommodate for social distancing in light of the COVID-19 outbreak. Please see the listings below for more information, and check out our interactive Google Map for farm locations near you!

Are you a farmer interested in being listed? Email [email protected]

Please:

  • DO NOT show up at farms without prior permission.
  • Follow specific instructions provided by each farm.
  • Stay home if you are feeling ill.
Malaprop’s Bookstore Home delivery throughout all Buncombe County
Apr 19 all-day
Malaprop's Bookstore

Thank you so much for your support! To care for you and our staff, Malaprop’s is closed to the public and we have ceased curbside pick up. We have also suspended in-store events and bookclubs until May 15th.  Meanwhile, we are exploring new subscription services, delivery options, and more digital content. Please see the ways we are still serving you below. Stay home and stay safe!

  • As always, you can order online 24/7 at malaprops.com. You can also call us at 828-254-6734 between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. daily to order by phone. Yes, we can make suggestions! All orders will require prepayment. We accept Visa, Mastercard, Discover, American Express and Paypal.

  • We are now offering home delivery throughout all of Buncombe County! The only requirement is a two-book minimum purchase. Deliveries will be made on Tuesdays and Fridays, with any order placed before 5 pm the previous day.  Orders will safely be left on your doorstep.

  • FREE shipping via media mail is available for orders over $50.00 (before tax) sent to addresses in the continental United States. Other orders ship via Priority Mail or other services with prices listed at checkout.

We want to thank you again for your continued support at this time. If you’re looking for other ways to support our staff, you can donate to Malaprop’s via the icon to your right, contribute the Cafe Barista’s virtual tip jar, or to the Book Industry Charitable Foundation (BINC), which provides grants to booksellers in times of need. To support other local businesses, visit ashevillestrong.com.

Please take care of yourselves!

Natural Impressions: Prints from the Asheville Printmakers CANCELLED
Apr 19 @ 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
The North Carolina Arboretum

On display daily January 18 – April 19, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the upstairs gallery of the Education Center, the Asheville Printmakers’ newest exhibit, Natural Impressions, will feature a variety of two- and three-dimensional print pieces utilizing numerous printmaking processes. Works will inspire visitors to think about the beauty and fragility of plants and the natural world through various perspectives and printmaking techniques. All pieces are available for purchase and a portion of the sales will benefit The North Carolina Arboretum Society.

Founded in 2013, the Asheville Printmakers is an energetic group of artists dedicated to expressing ideas and imagery through the medium of print. The group encompasses a wide range of processes and content, including traditional methods, such as lithography, woodcut and screen printing, and contemporary photographic printing processes, such as carbon printing, platinum-palladium and photopolymer etching. 

Parking Fees

  • Members: Free
  • Personal Vehicles: $14
  • Motorhomes / Vehicles (21’ or larger): $50
  • Buses: $100

There are no other admission charges required for visitors to access the Arboretum’s grounds and facilities during the day beyond the standard parking fees listed above.

How to Take Care of our Minds in Difficult Times: Livestream Series
Apr 19 @ 10:30 am – 11:45 am
Livestream

Click on Link Below to Register.
https://www.meditationinasheville.org/product/how-to-care-for-our-minds-in-difficult-times/

Sundays April 12 – May 10 10:30am – 11:45am
Register online and the link and instructions on livestreaming will be emailed to you. $10 per weekly class.

Having woken up to our world looking quite different, what can we do now? Buddhist meditation teachings and practices help us to develop more space in ourself giving us flexibility of mind, from which we can make better choices about how to respond in these challenging times.

By helping us develop a different perspective we will begin to notice special opportunities that we might not have noticed before, for becoming kinder, developing ourselves spiritually, and transforming difficulties into greater peace and meaning in our life. Each Livestream class will included guided meditations and practical teachings.

These Livestream classes are available to those who live in Western North Carolina, and the Vicinity of Greenville, SC and Tennessee.

Asheville Outlets to Host American Red Cross Blood Drive – April 22 and 23
Apr 19 @ 11:00 am – 4:00 pm
Asheville Outlets--Food Court

Asheville Outlets will host a blood donation drive in partnership with the American Red Cross on Wednesday, April 22 and Thursday, April 23, 2020 from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. each day inside the Food Court.

Donors are asked to register in advance by visiting RedCrossBlood.org/give and entering the sponsor code Ashevilleoutlets. The American Red Cross will establish additional safety guidelines to ensure all donors are socially distanced.

Donating blood products is essential to community health and eligible donors are strongly urged to
donate blood, platelets, or AB Elite plasma. The Red Cross only collects blood from individuals who are
healthy and feeling well at the time of donation – and who meet other eligibility requirements.
At each blood drive or donation center, Red Cross employees follow thorough safety protocols, including:
 Wearing gloves and changing them often.
 Wiping down donor-touched areas after every collection.
 Using sterile collection sets for every donation.
 Preparing the arm for donation with aseptic scrub.
 Conducting donor mini physicals to ensure donors are healthy and well on day of donation.
We have also increased our vigilance concerning some of these safety protocols including:
 Enhanced disinfecting of surfaces and equipment.
 Providing hand sanitizer for use before entering and throughout the donation appointment.
 Temperature checks before presenting donors enter the blood drive or donation center.
 Following social distancing practices between donors including donor beds, as well as waiting and
refreshment areas.
 During this time, blankets typically used by platelet, Power Red and AB Elite donors at Red Cross blood
donation centers will be laundered after each use, which may limit the availability. Donors are
encouraged to bring their own blankets, but electric blankets and heating pads are not permitted.
 Staff wearing basic face masks.
To ensure our staff are healthy each day, we have implemented standard staff health assessments prior to all
blood drives.  Finally, only eligible and healthy people can give blood.  These mitigation measures will help
ensure blood recipient safety, as well as staff and donor safety in reducing contact with those who may
potentially have this respiratory infection.

Grassroots Aid Partnership (GAP) plans to serve free, plant-based food every Friday – Sunday from 4 -7 p.m.
Apr 19 @ 4:00 pm – 7:00 pm
Asheville

Grassroots Aid Partnership (GAP) plans to serve free, plant-based food every Friday through Sunday from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at 1022 Haywood Road.

Image may contain: 3 people, people standing and text