In Western North Carolina, approximately1 in 4 children are facing an empty plate. According to N.C. Child, 42.9% of children in Buncombe County were living in a poor or low-income household in 2017. Together, we can give to our local community and make someone’s December a little brighter. 🎉
Here’s how to give back this holiday season ✨ –
Toys and Books •Toys for Tots | Every holiday season, Toys for Tots collects toys to give to families in need in the WNC area. Over the last 14 years, 100,000 children have been given gifts through donations made by people in Asheville + surrounding areas. See drop off locationshere. • Santa Pal | The Asheville Optimist Club collects toys + monetary donations to give to families in need. Drop off donations at the Innsbruck Mall or give online. • Holiday Book Drive for Students | United Way’s Women United + Hands On Asheville-Buncombe are collecting books for middle school students. Purchase a middle school or elementary school aged book at the Barnes & Noble in the Asheville Mall and leave them with the cashier or drop off new books to United Way (50 South French Broad Ave.).
Sponsor a child or family • Eliada Home | Eliada Home is a residential and day treatment mental health center, with foster care services, and workforce development programming. Each year they host a Christmas party for the children in their care. You can sponsor a child + fulfill their wish list for the party. For most of these children, the gifts they receive from the sponsors are the only gifts they’ll receive that year. • Irene’s Elves | At the Irene Wortham Early Learning Center, children ages six-weeks to five-years-old learn, play + grow in an inclusive setting – with about half the children have significant disabilities. You can also give a monetary donation + the staff will purchase gifts or host a toy or coat drive at your school, business or church. Donations due by Dec. 7. • Brighten the Holidays | Sponsor a little as part of the Big Brothers Big Sisters program. Children are ages 6-17 and live with single parents, one parent, grandparent, or other relatives. Register by Dec. 17. • WNCAP Merry + Bright | WNCAP works to improve the lives of individuals + families affected by HIV + AIDS. Each year they host a gift drive to help their clients be able to give gifts to their children for Christmas.
Meals, clothes + fundraisers • Town and Mountain Realty Home for the Holidays | On Dec. 20 at 5 p.m., The 8th annual event is at the Orange Peel. There will be live music, a silent auction + Mr. + Mrs. Claus. Admission is donation based, with all proceeds going to local organizations. • Bounty of Bethlehem| For 36 years, the community of Hendersonville has put on a free community Christmas dinner. In the past this dinner served over 2,000 people. • WNC Rescue Mission | The mission has a list of items needed which is kept up-to-date. Drop off at 225 Patton Ave. There is also the Love Never Fails Christmas Gala on Dec. 12 with tickets starting at $50.
Dish ○ One-of-a-Kind Hungarian Dinner| 348 Depot St. | 6-9 p.m. | $75 | Courtesy of Vivian, a six-course meal of traditional Hungarian food, as well as wine pairings from two Hungarian wineries and one Slovenian winery.
Cause ○ Giving Tuesday | all day, online | The globally-celebrated day for giving back to your community through gifts + monetary donations. Click here to search for an organization to give back to. 💙
PlanAhead ○ Mars Hill Brass Quintet: Winter Wonderland at Grove Arcade| Sat., Dec. 7 | 4-7 p.m. | Grove Arcade | Free | Enjoy an intimate performance by the Mars Hill Brass Band as they perform holiday favorites during the annual Winter Wonderland celebration, featuring holiday lights, trees and indoor snow. ❄️Ⓟ
There’s plenty of spots in town slinging great fried chicken, but when it comes to next-level breaded and fried bird we hit up Rocky’s Hot Chicken Shack.
It turns out visitors also get a hankering for this Nashville-style hot commodity — USA Today has recognized Rocky’s Hot Chicken Shack as one of the 20 best spots in the country to nab yardbird that’s savory + crispy on the outside and tender + juicy on the inside (it’s also available in eight levels of heat). Their other eats, like chicken + waffles, also got a shout out.
Looks like no matter where we live, we’re in agreement that the king of Southern comfort food reigns supreme at Rocky’s. 🍗 (USA Today)
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News Notes
Weather ○ 45º | Partly cloudy | 10% of precipitation
Civic ○ If you see the light, move to the right. Harsher penalties for failing to move over or stop for an emergency vehicle went into effect on Dec. 1. Anyone who fails to move over for an emergency vehicle + it results in injury or death can now face prison time. This goes for anyone who has a clean record as well. The law was put into effect after a Lumberton police officer was killed in Dec. 2018 while investigating a car crash. 🚨 (WLOS) ○ A panel of judges ruled yesterday that North Carolina’s 2020 congressional elections must take place under new maps. The legislature must redraw N.C.’s 13 U.S. House districts because the current maps were deemed signs of “extreme partisan gerrymandering” that inflate Republicans’ voting power + violate the state constitution’s guarantee of “free elections.” Maps will be redrawn after next year’s census counts are in. ⚖️ (News-Observer) ○ Starting in 2020, students + employees in the UNC school systems can use their school identification card as aVoter ID. 12 out of the 17 UNC schools were approved by the State Board of Elections on Tuesday. This increases the total of approved photo IDs to 150 for the March primary. A driver’s license is the most common form of photo ID. (WLOS)
Cause ○ Alsoas part of Giving Tuesday, Facebook is matching up to $7 million in donations made on Facebook to U.S. nonprofits. Matching starts at 8 a.m. and will run until $7M in eligible donations are received. Check Facebook to see if your favorite local nonprofit has a fundraising campaign and see details on how to donate here. 💸
ForPets ○ Is your pet all dressed up with nowhere to go? Don’t let those holiday sweaters go to waste—head to the Asheville Outlets, where your furkid can get pics snapped with Santa. Every Sunday night throughout December, bring your leashed or caged pets to the Food Court from 6-8 p.m. for photos + receive a free photo package. 🐾 (WLOS)
TheBuy ○ The Open Hearts Arts Center launched its holiday pop-up market this Saturday. Some of the available items were local ceramics, cards, original art + gifts, Hi-Wire Brewing beer, and treats. Guests were also able to enjoy festive live music. The market runs 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday-Friday until Dec. 20. Every day will feature 50% off selected items. (WLOS)
Drink ○ The holidays call for tasty tipples, and Vivian Restaurant’s Shannon McGaughey weighed in on sweet red wines over on Food Network’s Ultimate Wine Guide. Sweet wines are typically defined as those with residual sugar and can include varieties like dry and sparkling. McGaughey suggests the well-balanced taste of sweet dry reds primitivo, tempranillo, + garnacha. 🍷
Announced ○ Mercy Urgent Care’s newest facility will open in Waynesville in early 2020. Residents and visitors to Waynesville will have access to walk-in care for non-threatening injuries + illnesses. In addition to services for families + individuals, Mercy Urgent Care Waynesville will offer workplace-related healthcare services. This is the Asheville-based nonprofit’s eighth location.
Number ○ 891. The number of acres of trees Asheville has lost over the last decade. The biggest loss was in the area west of the French Broad River + Interstate 26. The city is working with the Urban Forestry Commission to create rules that will ban clear-cutting on certain types of development projects. Some are concerned that the new regulations could affect individual homeowners. Asheville currently has no rules on clear cutting, except near steep slopes, streams + historic areas. (Asheville Citizen-Times) 🌲
TheWord ○ The Dictionary.com word of the year is Existential, who defines it as “of or relating to existence.” The word saw an increase in searches on the site during events like the wildfires and Hurricane Dorian, mass shootings in Christchurch, New Zealand + El Paso. It can also thank presidential politics, pop culture + Forky from Toy Story 4 for its popularity this year. One of its peak search spikes this year came after Bernie Sanders + Greta Thunberg called climate change an existential crisis. (Fox Chattanooga)
DYK ○ According to N.C. Emergency Management, it’s Winter Weather Preparedness Week (try saying that five times fast). The org offers up multiple tips to help you stay safe in the face of inclement weather + icy temps, including (re)stocking your emergency kit with sand, shovels, + heating fuel, bringing your pets inside, and making a family communication plan. Follow them on social media for additional tips all week long. ○ 15-year old Evy Leibfarth of Bryson City (in Swain County, about 70 miles southwest of Asheville) has been named the Under-21 Female Paddler of the Year (or U21) by international paddling pub Kayak Session magazine. Leibfarth made history earlier this year at the International Canoe Federation Slalom Canoe World Championships, where she placed 21st overall in the finals. Leibfarth began paddling on the Nantahala River when she was just a preschooler. 🚣 (Asheville Citizen-Times)
Full house at Asheville Symphony Orchestra | Photo by Mike Morel
Asheville Symphony + Classical Mystery Tour are ringing in 2020 with the iconic music of The Beatles.
On Dec. 31 from 8-10 p.m. at Thomas Wolfe Auditorium, hear selections from Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band + other Beatles’ greatest hits performed exactly as recorded. Plus, get tickets to the “Yellow Submarine”after-party that includes heavy hors d’oeuvres, an open beer + wine bar and a champagne toast at midnight.
Tickets (to riiii-iiiiiide 🎶) are on sale now– prices vary.Ⓟ
