A Season For Giving

Thanksgiving is a time for use to remember all we are grateful for.  There are a lot of families in the Asheville area who are barely getting by and organizations that could use some support.  If you are looking for a way to help others during this holiday season here's a list of ways you can contribute.

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The holidays are approaching, and everyone is trying to come up with this year's perfect gift. With the colder months on the way, local non-profit organizations need your support to make the season bright. No amount of time, money, or talent is too small to help your neighbors this winter.

• Don't forget the Red Cross this holiday season! Give the GIFT OF LIFE at the Asheville - Mountain Area Chapter of the American Red Cross. For blood drive schedules and current blood needs, click here. Call 1-800-GIVE-LIFE to schedule an appointment to give.
• What’s in your pantry?
  • MANNA Food Bank needs non-perishable food donations including -but not limited to - soup, mac and cheese, dried beans, oatmeal, grits, canned meat, powdered milk, rice, and cereal. Volunteers and monetary donations are always welcome as well. MANNA has several holiday projects:
  • Asheville.com and Leslie and Associates are partnering to hold a food drive for MANNA Food Bank. The collection spot for the drive is the office of Leslie and Associates, inside the Manor Inn Apartments at 265 Charlotte Street in Asheville. Drop off your food items between the hours of 8:30-5:30 weekdays, or in a collections box and the door to the office on weekends. Call Aville.com at 828-693-8069 for more information.

Be someone's Santa Claus!

• The YWCA of Asheville’s MotherLove Giving Tree will be on display in the lobby of the YWCA at 185 S. French Broad Avenue starting November 17. The Giving Tree is made of stars, each bearing wishes from a local teen mother. The public is invited to come to the YWCA and pick out a star to help make someone’s holiday brighter by providing gifts for them and their children. The purpose of the Giving Tree is to assist with the holiday expenses of teen mothers in the YWCA MotherLove program. For more information, call Tangela Ballard Bowman at 254-7206 x 116 or visit the YWCA website, www.ywcaofasheville.org.
• The Arc (Association for Retarded Citizens) of Buncombe County is sponsoring Operation Santa Claus for special needs individuals throughout the country. Volunteers are asked to “adopt” a child to help spread the joy of Christmas to these individuals who have no immediate family or support systems. Contact the Arc office to recieve details about the adopted child and their needs. To ensure gift delivery by Christmas, all gifts and monetary donations are asked to be dropped-off by Friday, November 12 at the Arc office: 50 S. French Broad Ave, Asheville NC. Call 828-253-1255.
• Aston Park Health Care Center is in great need of gifts for each of its 142 senior residents to be given at their Christmas party. Suggested donations are gift bags labeled Male/Female that can be matched with a resident(at this time there are more women than men). Gift bag items might include: lotion, soap, shampoo, conditioner, lap blanket, stuffed animal, large print books and puzzle books, stationary, kleenex, purfume, shaving cream, a framed print or 2008 picture calendar to hang in their room etc. No food items please. All gifts are asked to be donated by December 15th. Cash donations are accepted if you'd like us to purchase these gifts. All donations can be dropped off at 380 Brevard Road, Asheville. Call 253-4437 x317.

One of the most recognizable means of fundraising for The Salvation Army is the Red Kettles at Christmastime. The donations left in these kettles provide funding for Salvation Army programs and services throughout the year. Please consider a donation to the Red Kettles this season!

• Individuals, groups, and businesses can host an online red kettle this holiday season: http://give.salvationarmyusa.org. Host your own personalized Red Kettle online and invite friends, family, and collegeaues to support your efforts. It's an easy way to help the Salvation Army warm the hearts and souls of those in need at Christmastime and year-round.

Housing Authority of Asheville is in need of volunteers who can teach holiday crafts classes for elderly or disabled residents of public housing. Volunteer led craft times are preferably once a week (Mon-Fri) for 1-1.5 hours, late morning or afternoon from now until December 10. Casual dress. Volunteers should bring craft supplies needed for their projects. Volunteers could also assist in organizing a Holiday Crafts Bazaar where the residents could sell their handmade craft items on Saturday, Nov. 22. Ages 16-17 accepted with adult supervsion. Ages 18+ welcome. Call 828-258-1222. Housing Authority of Asheville is also requesting craft items for residents to use in making holiday items such as: wreaths, ornaments, handmade gifts. The craft supplies need not be new. Suggested craft supplies include: wooden or plastic items that can be painted attractively; styrofoam balls; yarn; wreath bases; pine cones; old ornaments that can be re-painted or made to look new; old holiday cards; glue guns; paint brushes of varying sizes; acrylic paints; glitter; old magazines for collage making; craft books; beads and jewelry making items; fabric and felt; sequins, ribbon, etc. Donations can be dropped off at 165 S. French Broad Ave. 

Habitat for Humanity's Home Store needs small groups (up to 6) to help with assembling artificial Christmas trees at the Home Store throughout November. A time period of 4 hours is suggested, and can be scheduled between 9:00am-5:00pm on Monday, Thursday, or Friday. Additionally, evening hours from 5:00 - 8:00pm are available on Wednesday evening. Youth ages 16-17 accepted with adult supervision. Ages 18+ welcome. Call 828-251-5702.

Are you great at gift wrapping? Volunteers are needed to wrap gifts in two hour shifts at Barnes and Noble for donations that will go directly to the Literacy Council of Buncombe County. There will be a wrapping table and chairs for each volunteer to work including all paper, tape, ribbon, etc. The Literacy Council will also provide brochures for people to take. All volunteers will be given a small description of the Literacy Council and the mission of the orgainization beforehand. Youth ages 14-17 welcome with adult supervision. Ages 18+ welcome. Call 828-254-3442.

Spread a little holiday cheer! Work on your own or get a group of friends together to make holiday related items to be given to patients who are served by Carepartners Hospice Solace Center. The following items would be welcomed: placemats for patient trays, tray favors (small wreaths, decorated candy canes, etc), festive holiday note cards, or small wreaths that could hang in patient windows with suction cups (no larger than 8 - 10 inches in diameter). Open to seasonal decorations for Thanksgiving or the December Holidays. Please deliver donated items to Danny Johnson at CarePartners Hospice Solace Center. Call 828-255-0231 for more info and directions.

Animal Compassion Network needs 3 volunteers for each shift at PetSmart to take picture of people w/ their pets as part of the Santa Paws project. A portion of the "Santa Paws" event proceeds will be donated to Animal Compassion Network's adoption programs. This event will take place on 3 weekends in December before Christmas. Volunteer shifts can be divided (11:00am-1:30pm/1:30-4:00pm). There will be costumes available for the volunteers provided by PetSmart. Ages 16+ welcome. Call 828-277-7647.

Three Streams Family Health Center offers affordable, compassionate medical care to the uninsured of WNC. Three Streams is in need of volunteers to deliver special holiday giftbaskets to its individual and company supporters. Volunteers will pick up the gifts at 1710 Old Haywood Rd. and deliver them around the Asheville-area. Volunteers need a good sense of direction, good walking shoes and a good attitude. Youth ages 16-17 accepted with adult supervision. Ages 18+ welcome. 828-285-9725 for more information.

"A Winter's Tale" is a fun, family-friendly evening event exploring the ways cultures endured winter with stories, dance, arts and the spirit of the season. With entertainment, food, decorations, crafts and animal presentations, WNC Nature Center hopes to share educational programs for its guests. Visiting camels, native arts and Santa will be included. Volunteers are needed to share in the crafts, sell hot beverages, greet guests, and more. This is a family tradition for hundreds of families in the Asheville area! This is all outdoors, so volunteers should come prepared with warm clothes. Youth volunteers ages 12-17 accepted. Ages 18+ welcome. Call 828-298-5600.
(Images provided by Jennifer Amann and the Salvation Army.)

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The Puffer Team, Keller Williams Professionals, 828-771-2300, www.homefinderasheville.com.