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There are more than enough great causes in Asheville to support with your time, especially as many organizations work tirelessly to meet the ever-evolving needs for recovery. Whether you’re an animal lover, an artsy type, a natural mentor, or have a heart for healthcare, there’s a nearby volunteer opportunity for you. Here are 40+ ways to get involved in Asheville.
Good neighbors
- Hands On Asheville-Buncombe | Explore a variety of opportunities to serve Asheville area nonprofits through United Way’s volunteer center.
- Bounty & Soul | Assist with providing the community with meals, produce, and other essentials.
- Babies Need Bottoms | Since the nonprofit’s inception, the organization has distributed more than 2.5 million diapers to families in need — help wrap diapers, unload deliveries, or host a diaper drive of your own.
- MANNA FoodBank | Complete volunteer orientation to begin helping the food bank distribute resources across WNC.
- BeLoved Asheville | The nonprofit has already repaired or rebuilt 120 homes since Helene — with your help, that number can grow.
- Hearts with Hands | There are currently shifts available to help sort and distribute donated goods — just be sure to sign the first-time volunteer waiver before claiming a shift.
- Western Carolina Rescue Ministries | Help pack and distribute meal boxes, prepare food, and sort donations.
- Food Connection | Help pack delicious meals for neighbors in need.
If you’re a mental health advocate
- NAMI Western Carolina | Help out the local chapter of this national organization by assisting with advocacy, support, and administrative or fundraising tasks.
- SeekHealing | Serve in one of the many volunteer opportunities available, including the listening line, connection mission, or community aftercare program.
For the handy individuals
- Asheville Tool Library | Assist this community-based lending library as a dedicated maintenance staff repair person or tool inventory librarian — plus, explore short-term opportunities like tool sales and tool sharpening days.
- Asheville Area Habitat for Humanity | Help WNC rebuild by joining the organization’s Disaster Home Repair Team, which has completed 92 jobs in the past year.
- WNC Repair Cafe | Whether you’re a skilled seamstress or a general handyman, you can offer your skills to those in need with this Mills River-based organization.
- Marshall Relief Alliance | The alliance has already logged 50,000+ hours of volunteer work since the storm, and more help is needed to rebuild local businesses.
If you’re an animal lover
- Appalachian Wildlife Refuge | Help transport wildlife, operate the hotline, input animal care data, or get hands-on opportunities for animal care.
- Wild Heart Farm Sanctuary | Work with the sanctuary animals, tend to the community garden, or help keep up the property.
- Asheville Humane Society | Once you complete orientation and specialized training, you can walk the dogs and help socialize them. Of course, there are plenty of other volunteer roles that don’t require training, like
- Brother Wolf Animal Rescue | Apply to assist with animal care, transport, events, or administrative support.
- Mountain Pet Rescue | Pitch in at the office, adoption events, The Thrift Hound, or the cat habitats at PetSmart.
- Charlie’s Angels Animal Rescue | Take pups on walks, help with transportation or marketing, or become a foster pet parent.
- Esther Neonatal Kitten Alliance | The Arden shelter is a lifeline for the tiniest, most vulnerable kittens in WNC. After training, you can help with activities like cleaning kennels, socializing kittens, or transporting animals to and from appointments.
Supporters of veterans
- ABCCM | Help serve the community through crisis services, veterans’ services, food preparation and serving, medical ministry, and administrative tasks.
- Aura Home for Women Vets | Help deliver goods, lend a hand at fundraiser events, join a committee, or move veterans into new homes.
- Equinox Ranch | Help build housing for combat veterans learning coping strategies to integrate into their everyday lives at this riverfront ranch in nearby Cullowhee.
- Veterans Healing Farm | Help maintain the garden, harvest herbs for tinctures, or raise and care for honeybees. For something less labor intensive, assist with marketing, social media, events, fundraising, and community outreach.
- Heart of Horse Sense | Assist with barn and farm support and horse care, as well as with education, events, fundraising, and community outreach for this Marshall-based nonprofit that offers trauma-informed equine therapy services.
For the outdoorsy types
- Asheville GreenWorks | The whole family can join a cleanup to restore our roads and waterways.
- MountainTrue | Clear streams across the region of debris and trash deposited by the storm.
- RiverLink | Care for the French Broad River watershed by attending cleanups and park workdays.
- Dogwood Alliance | Wanna help protect forests? Volunteer for research, campaigning, outreach and media, fundraising, organization, management, and special events.
- Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy | Manage habitats for native species, remove trash from protected lands, host outreach events, and more.
- Carolina Mountain Club | Help keep iconic hiking trails like the A.T., MST, and Art Loeb open and safe for all to hike.
Helping your neighbors in need
- Homeward Bound of WNC | Sort and distribute furniture and household items, offer administrative support, and organize a donation drive.
- Meals on Wheels | Deliver meals to homebound and elderly residents during a regular weekly shift.
- Big Brothers Big Sisters of WNC | Mentor a child facing adversity, allowing them to see their full potential.
- Eblen Charities | Volunteer at fundraising events or special assistance programs, help with administrative tasks, or lend a hand with warehouse organization.
- Haywood Street Congregation | Join an orientation to serve as part of the Companion Ministry.
- Eliada | Reach out to the little ones in the community through recreation, child development + foster care programs, or even the campus farm.
If you live and breathe Asheville
- Asheville Poverty Initiative | Take and fill grocery orders or offer your hospitality services in the cafe before sitting down for a meal.
- Asheville FM | Support this independent community radio station with fundraising, events, and outreach. You can even host a radio show after you’ve logged a minimum number of volunteer hours.
- South Asheville Cemetery Association | Help maintain the historic South Asheville Cemetery in Kenilworth.
- Hood Huggers | Help out in the Peace Gardens, donate time and knowledge, and assist with special events, including the annual Day of Service on MLK Jr. Day.
- YWCA of Asheville | Help out at the facility or through opportunities with the association’s various programs.
Self-proclaimed bibliophiles
- Literacy Together | Serve as an ESOL tutor who helps immigrant adults learn English or as a youth literacy tutor who works with children who read, write, and/or spell below grade level.
- Read to Succeed | Work one-on-one or in small groups with K-5th grade students to boost literacy.
- The POP Project | Collect and sort book donations, make book deliveries, or research and write grants.
If you want to be there for abuse victims
- Our Voice | Support victims of sexual violence through advocacy or collecting supplies for survivors.
- My Sister’s Place | This Marshall-based advocacy organization for victims of domestic + sexual violence needs help with fundraising, seasonal chores, operating its thrift store, and sponsorship of children and clients.
- Helpmate | Provide childcare during weekly support group meetings or answer calls on its 24-hour hotline.
- Family Justice Center | Work as a receptionist, offer clerical support, perform intake assessments + obtain referrals, or provide information and support to hotline callers.
The artsy types
- Asheville Community Theatre | Support the city’s longest-running playhouse as a volunteer usher.
- Asheville Art Museum | Become a docent or work with visitor services, education, and events outreach.
- Open Hearts Art Center | Lend a hand with artistic projects or assist with fundraising, event planning, and communication surrounding events.
