Consider what it means to shop Amazon Did you know that Amazon’s net sales for Q4 are expected to be $121 Billion and to grow 38% compared with fourth quarter 2019 numbers? Clearly in this pandemic, they are the big winner. Y’all… there has NEVER been a more critical year to SHOP LOCAL! Please show your love and support of our amazing local business community which truly has all you could ever need- a vintage dress, wall tapestry, piece of pottery, growler of beer or endless gift cards to your favorite Asheville restaurants. Get some ideas here:  shops , restaurants , breweries , and more.

This holiday season we are reimaging traditions for a safer,  socially distant world and our Angel Tree is going virtual. This gift tree provides our broader YWCA community a path to join us as we aim to support our program participants and their families with a holiday season full of love and support.

If you are able to, please select a gift from our Amazon wish list. Gifts from the list will be mailed directly to our building and will be sorted and distributed by our YWCA elves. All items on the list have been selected by the families and are items they are wishing for or are in need of this holiday season.

If you would like to go further and adopt a family this holiday season please email our Director of Women’s Empowerment Kelley Hubbell to get the details of how you can fulfill a family’s holiday wish.

All gifts must be ordered by December 11.

Programs Served by the Angel Tree

MotherLove
YWCA’s MotherLove program supports pregnant and parenting teens throughout Buncombe County. Our goals are to help young parents to stay in school and graduate, access higher education and vocational training, develop the skills and knowledge needed to become strong parents and delay another teen pregnancy.

Getting Ahead In a Just Getting By World
YWCA’s Getting Ahead program aims to provide financial empowerment for low-income women of all ages and backgrounds to make choices that positively impact themselves, their families and their community.

Early Learning Program
YWCA’s Early Learning Program provides 5-star childcare for children ages 6 weeks to 5 years. Our experienced and compassionate teachers not only provide exceptional care for little ones, but they also prepare young children to succeed cognitively, physically, socially, and emotionally. We prioritize families using childcare vouchers or caring for children in the foster care system.

Empowerment Childcare
The YWCA provides up to 12 hours of free childcare per week for parents who are in transition, continuing their education, accessing social services, or looking for employment. ECC works closely with the Family Justice Center, Buncombe County Health and Human Services, A-B Tech, Green Opportunities, and Mary Benson House.

Make your holidays merry, bright and a culinary delight with the Asheville Independent Restaurant Association. Before you go out or order in for your special holiday evenings, make sure that your favorite restaurant is open for business! Check the AIR Holiday Hours – a complete list of AIR restaurant’s special holiday hours from Thanksgiving to ringing in the New Year! These will be updated often, so please check in throughout the season! View Holiday Hours here –

Sales End November 30! Drawing on Tuesday, December 1! Thank you for your ongoing support of Brevard Music Center! Our 2020 Car Raffle is in the final days — sales end on November 30, and our winner will be drawn December 1 — and with sales currently slower than in past years, your chance to win has never been better! Whether you’ve participated in past raffles or never before, will you please consider a purchase to help us in this difficult year and support our student arts education programs?  If you are already participating in our 2020 raffle, please consider an additional ticket purchase to improve your chances! This year’s winner can choose any 2020 Volvo or Subaru from Hunter Automotive Group in Fletcher, North Carolina with an MSRP up to $50,000! Online sales end on Monday, November 30, at 11:59PM (EST)!   Three Easy Ways to Enter: Call (828) 862-2138 Email us at [email protected] Click the “Buy Now” Button Below Buy Now

The online Holiday Craft Sale features nature-themed, handcrafted items, including ornaments, jewelry, textiles, quilts and holiday decor. Wreaths and swags enhanced with botanicals gathered on the Bullington Garden grounds and created by volunteers are ready for your home. Our delightful holiday garden gnome, standing 30 inches tall, adds a whimsical touch to your front porch. Locally-grown premium amaryllis, poinsettias, cyclamens and Christmas cactus plants are also available.

Bullington’s “Buzzington” bee products are offered including BeeKind ornaments, bee-themed gift items and beeswax candles.

The Holiday Greenery Sale features premium, freshly-cut Fraser fir trees ranging in height from five to eight feet. These native trees come from the Western North Carolina mountains and are wrapped for protection during transport. Also available are premium garlands in a 25-foot length, plus unadorned 12-inch wreaths. Holiday greenery must be ordered by Tuesday, Nov. 24.

Bullington Gardens is a proud supporter of our veterans, and believes all service members should be honored for their sacrifice. In partnership with local veterans and volunteers, Bullington Gardens offers Veteran’s Wreaths. Your $17 donation to honor a fallen veteran provides a 12-inch wreath, decorated with a hand tied red bow, and placed on a gravesite at the State Veteran’s Cemetery in Black Mountain, NC.

Shop our Bullington Gardens store online at www.bullingtongardens.org and fill your virtual cart with unique gift items and greenery. You can also place your order by phone at 828-698-6104 or in person at Bullington Gardens. Shipping or delivery is not available.

Bullington Gardens is located at 95 Upper Red Oak Trail in Hendersonville. For more information, call Bullington Gardens at 828-698-6104 or visit www.bullingtongardens.org.

This holiday season, we are profoundly grateful to the community members who have worked tirelessly during this challenging year to keep their families, friends, and neighbors safe, fed, and cared for. That’s why Flat Rock Playhouse is spreading some extra holiday cheer with a Community Champion Giveaway!

Nominate an exceptional individual who has gone above and beyond to help others this year.  Once completed, your nominee will be entered to win one complimentary link to A Flat Rock Playhouse Christmas: A Virtual Production running Nov. 30 – Dec. 20. Contest runs for one month: 11/13 through 12/13.

Spread some mountain magic and holiday cheer with these unique gifts from Asheville’s artisans and makers. Shop from over 50 local vendors or share your love of Asheville by giving the gift of travel this holiday season.

Thank you for always being such a great friend of The Orange Peel. Your continued support means so much to us!

But, we still need your help!

Thanks to you, the Save Our Stages Act passed in the House of Representatives — but as you may know, it’s not law yet. We’re pushing to get it included in the next COVID-19 Relief package, which is being negotiated now – and we need your voice (again) ASAP.

The situation gets more dire with each passing day. With no emergency relief, hundreds of venues have already shuttered forever, through no fault of their own.

Even if you’ve done it before, can you please take 30 seconds to remind your Congressional representatives that you want them to pass the next COVID-19 Relief Act now and include crucial assistance for independent venues and promoters. Just click here to Save Our Stages.

When legislators hear from you it makes all the difference – and can help us get this across the finish line. On behalf of the nearly 3,000 members of the National Independent Venue Association, thank you for your continued support.

You don’t know what you’ve got ‘till it’s gone…

You can also donate directly to The Orange Peel to help us get through this difficult time. Just click here!

This holiday season we are reimaging traditions for a safer,  socially distant world and our Angel Tree is going virtual. This gift tree provides our broader YWCA community a path to join us as we aim to support our program participants and their families with a holiday season full of love and support.

If you are able to, please select a gift from our Amazon wish list. Gifts from the list will be mailed directly to our building and will be sorted and distributed by our YWCA elves. All items on the list have been selected by the families and are items they are wishing for or are in need of this holiday season.

If you would like to go further and adopt a family this holiday season please email our Director of Women’s Empowerment Kelley Hubbell to get the details of how you can fulfill a family’s holiday wish.

All gifts must be ordered by December 11.

Programs Served by the Angel Tree

MotherLove
YWCA’s MotherLove program supports pregnant and parenting teens throughout Buncombe County. Our goals are to help young parents to stay in school and graduate, access higher education and vocational training, develop the skills and knowledge needed to become strong parents and delay another teen pregnancy.

Getting Ahead In a Just Getting By World
YWCA’s Getting Ahead program aims to provide financial empowerment for low-income women of all ages and backgrounds to make choices that positively impact themselves, their families and their community.

Early Learning Program
YWCA’s Early Learning Program provides 5-star childcare for children ages 6 weeks to 5 years. Our experienced and compassionate teachers not only provide exceptional care for little ones, but they also prepare young children to succeed cognitively, physically, socially, and emotionally. We prioritize families using childcare vouchers or caring for children in the foster care system.

Empowerment Childcare
The YWCA provides up to 12 hours of free childcare per week for parents who are in transition, continuing their education, accessing social services, or looking for employment. ECC works closely with the Family Justice Center, Buncombe County Health and Human Services, A-B Tech, Green Opportunities, and Mary Benson House.

Make your holidays merry, bright and a culinary delight with the Asheville Independent Restaurant Association. Before you go out or order in for your special holiday evenings, make sure that your favorite restaurant is open for business! Check the AIR Holiday Hours – a complete list of AIR restaurant’s special holiday hours from Thanksgiving to ringing in the New Year! These will be updated often, so please check in throughout the season! View Holiday Hours here –