Calendar of Events
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.
ASAP (Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project) has released a survey to learn more about how people in Western North Carolina shop for food and why they choose the food they do. The survey, part of a three-year project by ASAP’s Local Food Research Center, is for any resident of Western North Carolina over the age of 18, no matter where or how they shop for food. It can be completed online at surveymonkey.com/r/WNCFoodASAP or over the phone by calling ASAP at 828-236-1282. It should take approximately 8 to 12 minutes to complete and will be open through Oct. 31, 2024. Respondents are encouraged to share the survey widely with families, friends, and co-workers.
“By completing this survey, you are helping local farmers understand and connect with consumers,” said Amy Marion, ASAP Associate Director and lead researcher. “The challenges of our food system are constantly evolving. Improving it requires active participation from all community members. With this research we can better understand consumer values and the barriers they face, and help farmers and food producers improve communications with their customers and their communities.”
The survey is part of a three-year research project, “Connections in Direct Markets: Assessing the feedback loop between consumer values and farmers’ marketing strategies,” which will examine and improve communication and alignment between farmers and consumers in Western North Carolina. The research phase will also employ consumer focus groups, farmer interviews and case studies, and more targeted surveying. The broad consumer survey provides an update to the last consumer survey conducted by the Local Food Research Center in 2014. Results from the current research project will be shared in 2025.
ASAP founded the Local Food Research Center in 2011 to study the economic, environmental, and social impacts of localizing food systems. From its inception, ASAP’s programs and services have been grounded in research and evaluation, adjusting based on a strong feedback loop and observation of current conditions in the food system.
This project is supported in part by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, U.S. Department of Agriculture, under award number 2022-38640-37488 through the Southern Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education program under subaward number LS23-382. USDA is an equal opportunity employer and service provider.
Whenever you want!
Supplies available at
2 Sulphur Springs Road
If you need to request supplies for the same or next day, please call 828-254-1776.
Organizing a litter cleanup with your friends, neighbors, co-workers, or other community members is easier than you may think! Asheville GreenWorks provides cleanup supplies and safety information, and will coordinate trash pick up as needed. Available supplies include safety vests, gloves, trash grabbers, trash bags, and SHARPs containers (upon request).
Review the attached guides for instructions and safety information.
Need to know
Please review the attached documents and contact [email protected] with any questions. Your supplies will be available for pickup on the date you’ve requested at Asheville GreenWorks’ office at 2 Sulphur Springs Road, Asheville, NC 28806.
All cleanups should be reported using the online form and supplies should be returned after your cleanup.
Volunteers are at the heart of our work and offer much needed advocacy support for survivors. We have three different volunteer opportunities available: on-call advocates, daytime volunteers, and outreach volunteers. Below are general expectations for all Our Voice volunteers:
Be a minimum of 18 years old
Have reliable transportation
Have a reliable cell phone
Have reliable internet/email
Commit to a minimum of 6 months of volunteering following training
Participate in continued education at least once a year
Trainings will be shared via email/volunteer portal
Complete a 20 hour advocate training prior to taking shifts
This is a requirement in order to maintain advocate privilege.
We are limited in capacity for internships. Those interested in interning with Our Voice should reach out to our Volunteer Coordinator at 828-252-0562 to inquire.
On-Call Volunteer
- Take crisis line calls during assigned on-call shifts
- Assist callers in crisis
- Provide clients with appropriate referrals to Our Voice services or other community agencies
- Accompany survivors at Mission Hospital during on-call shifts
- Take a minimum of two on-call phone shifts each month (shifts are weekdays 5pm-8am and weekends/holidays 8am-8pm or 8pm-8am)
ASAP (Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project) has released a survey to learn more about how people in Western North Carolina shop for food and why they choose the food they do. The survey, part of a three-year project by ASAP’s Local Food Research Center, is for any resident of Western North Carolina over the age of 18, no matter where or how they shop for food. It can be completed online at surveymonkey.com/r/WNCFoodASAP or over the phone by calling ASAP at 828-236-1282. It should take approximately 8 to 12 minutes to complete and will be open through Oct. 31, 2024. Respondents are encouraged to share the survey widely with families, friends, and co-workers.
“By completing this survey, you are helping local farmers understand and connect with consumers,” said Amy Marion, ASAP Associate Director and lead researcher. “The challenges of our food system are constantly evolving. Improving it requires active participation from all community members. With this research we can better understand consumer values and the barriers they face, and help farmers and food producers improve communications with their customers and their communities.”
The survey is part of a three-year research project, “Connections in Direct Markets: Assessing the feedback loop between consumer values and farmers’ marketing strategies,” which will examine and improve communication and alignment between farmers and consumers in Western North Carolina. The research phase will also employ consumer focus groups, farmer interviews and case studies, and more targeted surveying. The broad consumer survey provides an update to the last consumer survey conducted by the Local Food Research Center in 2014. Results from the current research project will be shared in 2025.
ASAP founded the Local Food Research Center in 2011 to study the economic, environmental, and social impacts of localizing food systems. From its inception, ASAP’s programs and services have been grounded in research and evaluation, adjusting based on a strong feedback loop and observation of current conditions in the food system.
This project is supported in part by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, U.S. Department of Agriculture, under award number 2022-38640-37488 through the Southern Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education program under subaward number LS23-382. USDA is an equal opportunity employer and service provider.
Whenever you want!
Supplies available at
2 Sulphur Springs Road
If you need to request supplies for the same or next day, please call 828-254-1776.
Organizing a litter cleanup with your friends, neighbors, co-workers, or other community members is easier than you may think! Asheville GreenWorks provides cleanup supplies and safety information, and will coordinate trash pick up as needed. Available supplies include safety vests, gloves, trash grabbers, trash bags, and SHARPs containers (upon request).
Review the attached guides for instructions and safety information.
Need to know
Please review the attached documents and contact [email protected] with any questions. Your supplies will be available for pickup on the date you’ve requested at Asheville GreenWorks’ office at 2 Sulphur Springs Road, Asheville, NC 28806.
All cleanups should be reported using the online form and supplies should be returned after your cleanup.
The need for blood products as vital parts of life-saving medical procedures and treatments is constant. As summer begins to hit its stride, the need for these blood products in the community significantly increases while blood donor turnout typically drops.
The Blood Connection (TBC), your community blood center which serves local hospitals, wants to make the public aware of an urgent need for blood right now and urges the communities it serves to celebrate this Independence Day by volunteering to donate blood to fellow Americans – their neighbors in need – during TBC’s Freedom Week promotion July 1-4.
According to AAA, an estimated 70.9 million Americans are expected to travel more than 50 miles from their homes during the entire week of July 4th this year. With the increase in travel during the summer months, hospitals in our communities have historically seen an increased volume of trauma cases. This is why TBC is urging any community member who is willing, to come out and donate blood. The local life-saving organization stresses that it is the blood on the shelves – waiting in case of trauma events – that saves lives.
“It is imperative that the local community come forward to support the hospitals in their area during this time of urgent need for blood donations,” said Delisa English, President & CEO of The Blood Connection. “Unlike many of the other products used to treat trauma and other injuries, blood cannot be replaced through lab manufacturing or built on an assembly line. Blood must be donated from volunteer donors, who embody the selflessness that is a staple of our nation.”
TBC will have its donation centers open this entire week including July 4 and will continue hosting mobile blood drives July 1-4. As a thank you for donating during this time, all donors will receive $70 in rewards and an exclusive TBC Freedom Week t-shirt. To find a blood drive or center near you, visit thebloodconnection.org/donate. Appointments are encouraged, but walk-ins are always welcome.
Volunteers are at the heart of our work and offer much needed advocacy support for survivors. We have three different volunteer opportunities available: on-call advocates, daytime volunteers, and outreach volunteers. Below are general expectations for all Our Voice volunteers:
Be a minimum of 18 years old
Have reliable transportation
Have a reliable cell phone
Have reliable internet/email
Commit to a minimum of 6 months of volunteering following training
Participate in continued education at least once a year
Trainings will be shared via email/volunteer portal
Complete a 20 hour advocate training prior to taking shifts
This is a requirement in order to maintain advocate privilege.
We are limited in capacity for internships. Those interested in interning with Our Voice should reach out to our Volunteer Coordinator at 828-252-0562 to inquire.
On-Call Volunteer
- Take crisis line calls during assigned on-call shifts
- Assist callers in crisis
- Provide clients with appropriate referrals to Our Voice services or other community agencies
- Accompany survivors at Mission Hospital during on-call shifts
- Take a minimum of two on-call phone shifts each month (shifts are weekdays 5pm-8am and weekends/holidays 8am-8pm or 8pm-8am)
This year’s election will be won by mobilizing voters who want to preserve our democracy and protect the rights of our citizens. Our phone bankers will be reaching out to likely supporters in your precincts who don’t vote on a regular basis. We will also be making separate calls in your precincts to recruit more volunteers for our efforts.
IF YOU HAVE A LAPTOP, PLEASE BE SURE TO BRING IT TO THE PHONE BANK. If you don’t have one, just be sure you bring your personal email login information (User ID & password) and you can use one of our Chromebooks. If you’ve canvassed or phone banked for Democrats in the past, you likely have an Action ID account, so please be sure to bring that login information as well. Of course, you will also need your cell phone.
Phone banking remains one of the best practices for winning elections and our phone banks are designed to reach those voters who rarely pick up their calls. We’ll leave a message on their voice mail, then also text them the same message. When someone does pick up their call, you’ll possibly have a lively conversation because we are targeting supporters!
This year’s election will be won by mobilizing voters who want to preserve our democracy and protect the rights of our citizens. Our phone bankers will be reaching out to likely supporters in your precincts who don’t vote on a regular basis. We will also be making separate calls in your precincts to recruit more volunteers for our efforts.
IF YOU HAVE A LAPTOP, PLEASE BE SURE TO BRING IT TO THE PHONE BANK. If you don’t have one, just be sure you bring your personal email login information (User ID & password) and you can use one of our Chromebooks. If you’ve canvassed or phone banked for Democrats in the past, you likely have an Action ID account, so please be sure to bring that login information as well. Of course, you will also need your cell phone.
Phone banking remains one of the best practices for winning elections and our phone banks are designed to reach those voters who rarely pick up their calls. We’ll leave a message on their voice mail, then also text them the same message. When someone does pick up their call, you’ll possibly have a lively conversation because we are targeting supporters!
Democrats need to be more actively messaging and to overcome the makers of fake news with the truth! Join this ongoing group of writers working together on Letters to the Editor and Opinion Editorials. We’ll discuss the issues we care about most deeply and craft a plan to respond to events as they occur in real time.
The group meets the first and third Monday of each month for writing, responding to one another’s work, scheduling submissions, and exploring media outlets across the state.
“Rant with purpose. Support with facts. Propel action.” – Myra Schoen
Come join us for a night of laughter with the hilarious Zo Myers at The Bier Garden! Get ready to be entertained by Zo’s unique brand of humor and witty jokes. This in person event promises to be a night full of fun and laughter that you won’t want to miss. Grab your friends and head over to The Bier Garden for a memorable evening of standup comedy! Featuring Cayla Clarke & Jordan Julius. Get food, drinks and laughs! Largest beer selection in Asheville! Doors open at 7p so come get your spot early! Tickets $12/$15 at door
Come join Slice of Life Comedy for a night of laughter with the hilarious Zo Myers at The Bier Garden! Get ready to be entertained by Zo’s unique brand of humor and witty jokes. This in person event promises to be a night full of fun and laughter that you won’t want to miss. Grab your friends and head over to The Bier Garden for a memorable evening of standup comedy! Featuring Cayla Clarke & Jordan Julius. Get food, drinks and laughs! Largest beer selection in Asheville! Doors open at 7p so come get your spot early! Tickets $12/$15 at door
The need for blood products as vital parts of life-saving medical procedures and treatments is constant. As summer begins to hit its stride, the need for these blood products in the community significantly increases while blood donor turnout typically drops.
The Blood Connection (TBC), your community blood center which serves local hospitals, wants to make the public aware of an urgent need for blood right now and urges the communities it serves to celebrate this Independence Day by volunteering to donate blood to fellow Americans – their neighbors in need – during TBC’s Freedom Week promotion July 1-4.
According to AAA, an estimated 70.9 million Americans are expected to travel more than 50 miles from their homes during the entire week of July 4th this year. With the increase in travel during the summer months, hospitals in our communities have historically seen an increased volume of trauma cases. This is why TBC is urging any community member who is willing, to come out and donate blood. The local life-saving organization stresses that it is the blood on the shelves – waiting in case of trauma events – that saves lives.
“It is imperative that the local community come forward to support the hospitals in their area during this time of urgent need for blood donations,” said Delisa English, President & CEO of The Blood Connection. “Unlike many of the other products used to treat trauma and other injuries, blood cannot be replaced through lab manufacturing or built on an assembly line. Blood must be donated from volunteer donors, who embody the selflessness that is a staple of our nation.”
TBC will have its donation centers open this entire week including July 4 and will continue hosting mobile blood drives July 1-4. As a thank you for donating during this time, all donors will receive $70 in rewards and an exclusive TBC Freedom Week t-shirt. To find a blood drive or center near you, visit thebloodconnection.org/donate. Appointments are encouraged, but walk-ins are always welcome.
|
We need volunteers to make our dance happen Please go to oldfarmersball.com and sign up to help – and you can dance for free!
|
Early Host (Board members preferred)
- Arrive by 7pm
- Greet the sound tech, band, and caller
- Count money
- Complete pay-out sheet
- Supervise volunteers
- Time commitment: 30 – 60 minutes
Benefits: Dance free the same night
Opener
- Arrive by 7pm
- Check in with Early Host
- Sweep the hall
- Set up chairs
- Clean / stock bathrooms
- Time commitment: 15 – 20 minutes
Benefits: Dance free the same night
Door Person
- Arrive by 7pm
- Check in with Early Host
- Work when needed to take money at the door
- Alternate with other Door People and Early host to switch off who sits and who dances
- Slots available: 2
- Time commitment: goes until break
Benefits: Dance free one whole night
Closer
- Arrive by 9:15pm
- Check in with Late Host
- Fold and store chairs and tables
- Sweep the floors
- Empty and take out trash
- Confirm completion of tasks with Late Host
- Time commitment: 15 – 20 minutes
Benefits: Dance free the same night
Late Host (Board members preferred)
- Arrive by 9pm (unless other arrangements have been made with Early Host)
- Complete payout
- Supervise Closers
- Close the hall
- Slots available: 1
- Time commitment: 10 – 15 minutes
Benefits: Dance free the same night
Upcoming Dances |
|
Three dances in July will be hosted by Swannanoa Gathering July 4, July 18 and July 25 The July 18 dance will be a special Ceilidh Dance. A reminder – We are NOT dancing on Aug 1 and 8 Be sure and save the date for our NYE dance
|
| OFB Schedule |
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Volunteers are at the heart of our work and offer much needed advocacy support for survivors. We have three different volunteer opportunities available: on-call advocates, daytime volunteers, and outreach volunteers. Below are general expectations for all Our Voice volunteers:
Be a minimum of 18 years old
Have reliable transportation
Have a reliable cell phone
Have reliable internet/email
Commit to a minimum of 6 months of volunteering following training
Participate in continued education at least once a year
Trainings will be shared via email/volunteer portal
Complete a 20 hour advocate training prior to taking shifts
This is a requirement in order to maintain advocate privilege.
We are limited in capacity for internships. Those interested in interning with Our Voice should reach out to our Volunteer Coordinator at 828-252-0562 to inquire.
On-Call Volunteer
- Take crisis line calls during assigned on-call shifts
- Assist callers in crisis
- Provide clients with appropriate referrals to Our Voice services or other community agencies
- Accompany survivors at Mission Hospital during on-call shifts
- Take a minimum of two on-call phone shifts each month (shifts are weekdays 5pm-8am and weekends/holidays 8am-8pm or 8pm-8am)
Join us for weekly workdays in the Sand Hill native tree nursery. Tasks vary and often include repotting, weeding, mulching, and other special projects to improve infrastructure and function.
Need to know
Please come dressed in work clothes with close toed shoes. Bring water and sun protection. All other gear and supplies are provided.
ASAP (Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project) has released a survey to learn more about how people in Western North Carolina shop for food and why they choose the food they do. The survey, part of a three-year project by ASAP’s Local Food Research Center, is for any resident of Western North Carolina over the age of 18, no matter where or how they shop for food. It can be completed online at surveymonkey.com/r/WNCFoodASAP or over the phone by calling ASAP at 828-236-1282. It should take approximately 8 to 12 minutes to complete and will be open through Oct. 31, 2024. Respondents are encouraged to share the survey widely with families, friends, and co-workers.
“By completing this survey, you are helping local farmers understand and connect with consumers,” said Amy Marion, ASAP Associate Director and lead researcher. “The challenges of our food system are constantly evolving. Improving it requires active participation from all community members. With this research we can better understand consumer values and the barriers they face, and help farmers and food producers improve communications with their customers and their communities.”
The survey is part of a three-year research project, “Connections in Direct Markets: Assessing the feedback loop between consumer values and farmers’ marketing strategies,” which will examine and improve communication and alignment between farmers and consumers in Western North Carolina. The research phase will also employ consumer focus groups, farmer interviews and case studies, and more targeted surveying. The broad consumer survey provides an update to the last consumer survey conducted by the Local Food Research Center in 2014. Results from the current research project will be shared in 2025.
ASAP founded the Local Food Research Center in 2011 to study the economic, environmental, and social impacts of localizing food systems. From its inception, ASAP’s programs and services have been grounded in research and evaluation, adjusting based on a strong feedback loop and observation of current conditions in the food system.
This project is supported in part by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, U.S. Department of Agriculture, under award number 2022-38640-37488 through the Southern Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education program under subaward number LS23-382. USDA is an equal opportunity employer and service provider.
Whenever you want!
Supplies available at
2 Sulphur Springs Road
If you need to request supplies for the same or next day, please call 828-254-1776.
Organizing a litter cleanup with your friends, neighbors, co-workers, or other community members is easier than you may think! Asheville GreenWorks provides cleanup supplies and safety information, and will coordinate trash pick up as needed. Available supplies include safety vests, gloves, trash grabbers, trash bags, and SHARPs containers (upon request).
Review the attached guides for instructions and safety information.
Need to know
Please review the attached documents and contact [email protected] with any questions. Your supplies will be available for pickup on the date you’ve requested at Asheville GreenWorks’ office at 2 Sulphur Springs Road, Asheville, NC 28806.
All cleanups should be reported using the online form and supplies should be returned after your cleanup.
The need for blood products as vital parts of life-saving medical procedures and treatments is constant. As summer begins to hit its stride, the need for these blood products in the community significantly increases while blood donor turnout typically drops.
The Blood Connection (TBC), your community blood center which serves local hospitals, wants to make the public aware of an urgent need for blood right now and urges the communities it serves to celebrate this Independence Day by volunteering to donate blood to fellow Americans – their neighbors in need – during TBC’s Freedom Week promotion July 1-4.
According to AAA, an estimated 70.9 million Americans are expected to travel more than 50 miles from their homes during the entire week of July 4th this year. With the increase in travel during the summer months, hospitals in our communities have historically seen an increased volume of trauma cases. This is why TBC is urging any community member who is willing, to come out and donate blood. The local life-saving organization stresses that it is the blood on the shelves – waiting in case of trauma events – that saves lives.
“It is imperative that the local community come forward to support the hospitals in their area during this time of urgent need for blood donations,” said Delisa English, President & CEO of The Blood Connection. “Unlike many of the other products used to treat trauma and other injuries, blood cannot be replaced through lab manufacturing or built on an assembly line. Blood must be donated from volunteer donors, who embody the selflessness that is a staple of our nation.”
TBC will have its donation centers open this entire week including July 4 and will continue hosting mobile blood drives July 1-4. As a thank you for donating during this time, all donors will receive $70 in rewards and an exclusive TBC Freedom Week t-shirt. To find a blood drive or center near you, visit thebloodconnection.org/donate. Appointments are encouraged, but walk-ins are always welcome.
|
We need volunteers to make our dance happen Please go to oldfarmersball.com and sign up to help – and you can dance for free!
|
Early Host (Board members preferred)
- Arrive by 7pm
- Greet the sound tech, band, and caller
- Count money
- Complete pay-out sheet
- Supervise volunteers
- Time commitment: 30 – 60 minutes
Benefits: Dance free the same night
Opener
- Arrive by 7pm
- Check in with Early Host
- Sweep the hall
- Set up chairs
- Clean / stock bathrooms
- Time commitment: 15 – 20 minutes
Benefits: Dance free the same night
Door Person
- Arrive by 7pm
- Check in with Early Host
- Work when needed to take money at the door
- Alternate with other Door People and Early host to switch off who sits and who dances
- Slots available: 2
- Time commitment: goes until break
Benefits: Dance free one whole night
Closer
- Arrive by 9:15pm
- Check in with Late Host
- Fold and store chairs and tables
- Sweep the floors
- Empty and take out trash
- Confirm completion of tasks with Late Host
- Time commitment: 15 – 20 minutes
Benefits: Dance free the same night
Late Host (Board members preferred)
- Arrive by 9pm (unless other arrangements have been made with Early Host)
- Complete payout
- Supervise Closers
- Close the hall
- Slots available: 1
- Time commitment: 10 – 15 minutes
Benefits: Dance free the same night
Upcoming Dances |
|
Three dances in July will be hosted by Swannanoa Gathering July 4, July 18 and July 25 The July 18 dance will be a special Ceilidh Dance. A reminder – We are NOT dancing on Aug 1 and 8 Be sure and save the date for our NYE dance
|
| OFB Schedule |
|
|
||||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||||
Volunteers are at the heart of our work and offer much needed advocacy support for survivors. We have three different volunteer opportunities available: on-call advocates, daytime volunteers, and outreach volunteers. Below are general expectations for all Our Voice volunteers:
Be a minimum of 18 years old
Have reliable transportation
Have a reliable cell phone
Have reliable internet/email
Commit to a minimum of 6 months of volunteering following training
Participate in continued education at least once a year
Trainings will be shared via email/volunteer portal
Complete a 20 hour advocate training prior to taking shifts
This is a requirement in order to maintain advocate privilege.
We are limited in capacity for internships. Those interested in interning with Our Voice should reach out to our Volunteer Coordinator at 828-252-0562 to inquire.
On-Call Volunteer
- Take crisis line calls during assigned on-call shifts
- Assist callers in crisis
- Provide clients with appropriate referrals to Our Voice services or other community agencies
- Accompany survivors at Mission Hospital during on-call shifts
- Take a minimum of two on-call phone shifts each month (shifts are weekdays 5pm-8am and weekends/holidays 8am-8pm or 8pm-8am)
This year’s election will be won by mobilizing voters who want to preserve our democracy and protect the rights of our citizens. Our phone bankers will be reaching out to likely supporters in your precincts who don’t vote on a regular basis. We will also be making separate calls in your precincts to recruit more volunteers for our efforts.
IF YOU HAVE A LAPTOP, PLEASE BE SURE TO BRING IT TO THE PHONE BANK. If you don’t have one, just be sure you bring your personal email login information (User ID & password) and you can use one of our Chromebooks. If you’ve canvassed or phone banked for Democrats in the past, you likely have an Action ID account, so please be sure to bring that login information as well. Of course, you will also need your cell phone.
Phone banking remains one of the best practices for winning elections and our phone banks are designed to reach those voters who rarely pick up their calls. We’ll leave a message on their voice mail, then also text them the same message. When someone does pick up their call, you’ll possibly have a lively conversation because we are targeting supporters!
This year’s election will be won by mobilizing voters who want to preserve our democracy and protect the rights of our citizens. Our phone bankers will be reaching out to likely supporters in your precincts who don’t vote on a regular basis. We will also be making separate calls in your precincts to recruit more volunteers for our efforts.
IF YOU HAVE A LAPTOP, PLEASE BE SURE TO BRING IT TO THE PHONE BANK. If you don’t have one, just be sure you bring your personal email login information (User ID & password) and you can use one of our Chromebooks. If you’ve canvassed or phone banked for Democrats in the past, you likely have an Action ID account, so please be sure to bring that login information as well. Of course, you will also need your cell phone.
Phone banking remains one of the best practices for winning elections and our phone banks are designed to reach those voters who rarely pick up their calls. We’ll leave a message on their voice mail, then also text them the same message. When someone does pick up their call, you’ll possibly have a lively conversation because we are targeting supporters!
The need for blood products as vital parts of life-saving medical procedures and treatments is constant. As summer begins to hit its stride, the need for these blood products in the community significantly increases while blood donor turnout typically drops.
The Blood Connection (TBC), your community blood center which serves local hospitals, wants to make the public aware of an urgent need for blood right now and urges the communities it serves to celebrate this Independence Day by volunteering to donate blood to fellow Americans – their neighbors in need – during TBC’s Freedom Week promotion July 1-4.
According to AAA, an estimated 70.9 million Americans are expected to travel more than 50 miles from their homes during the entire week of July 4th this year. With the increase in travel during the summer months, hospitals in our communities have historically seen an increased volume of trauma cases. This is why TBC is urging any community member who is willing, to come out and donate blood. The local life-saving organization stresses that it is the blood on the shelves – waiting in case of trauma events – that saves lives.
“It is imperative that the local community come forward to support the hospitals in their area during this time of urgent need for blood donations,” said Delisa English, President & CEO of The Blood Connection. “Unlike many of the other products used to treat trauma and other injuries, blood cannot be replaced through lab manufacturing or built on an assembly line. Blood must be donated from volunteer donors, who embody the selflessness that is a staple of our nation.”
TBC will have its donation centers open this entire week including July 4 and will continue hosting mobile blood drives July 1-4. As a thank you for donating during this time, all donors will receive $70 in rewards and an exclusive TBC Freedom Week t-shirt. To find a blood drive or center near you, visit thebloodconnection.org/donate. Appointments are encouraged, but walk-ins are always welcome.
|
We need volunteers to make our dance happen Please go to oldfarmersball.com and sign up to help – and you can dance for free!
|
Early Host (Board members preferred)
- Arrive by 7pm
- Greet the sound tech, band, and caller
- Count money
- Complete pay-out sheet
- Supervise volunteers
- Time commitment: 30 – 60 minutes
Benefits: Dance free the same night
Opener
- Arrive by 7pm
- Check in with Early Host
- Sweep the hall
- Set up chairs
- Clean / stock bathrooms
- Time commitment: 15 – 20 minutes
Benefits: Dance free the same night
Door Person
- Arrive by 7pm
- Check in with Early Host
- Work when needed to take money at the door
- Alternate with other Door People and Early host to switch off who sits and who dances
- Slots available: 2
- Time commitment: goes until break
Benefits: Dance free one whole night
Closer
- Arrive by 9:15pm
- Check in with Late Host
- Fold and store chairs and tables
- Sweep the floors
- Empty and take out trash
- Confirm completion of tasks with Late Host
- Time commitment: 15 – 20 minutes
Benefits: Dance free the same night
Late Host (Board members preferred)
- Arrive by 9pm (unless other arrangements have been made with Early Host)
- Complete payout
- Supervise Closers
- Close the hall
- Slots available: 1
- Time commitment: 10 – 15 minutes
Benefits: Dance free the same night
Upcoming Dances |
|
Three dances in July will be hosted by Swannanoa Gathering July 4, July 18 and July 25 The July 18 dance will be a special Ceilidh Dance. A reminder – We are NOT dancing on Aug 1 and 8 Be sure and save the date for our NYE dance
|
| OFB Schedule |
|
|
||||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||||
Volunteers are at the heart of our work and offer much needed advocacy support for survivors. We have three different volunteer opportunities available: on-call advocates, daytime volunteers, and outreach volunteers. Below are general expectations for all Our Voice volunteers:
Be a minimum of 18 years old
Have reliable transportation
Have a reliable cell phone
Have reliable internet/email
Commit to a minimum of 6 months of volunteering following training
Participate in continued education at least once a year
Trainings will be shared via email/volunteer portal
Complete a 20 hour advocate training prior to taking shifts
This is a requirement in order to maintain advocate privilege.
We are limited in capacity for internships. Those interested in interning with Our Voice should reach out to our Volunteer Coordinator at 828-252-0562 to inquire.
On-Call Volunteer
- Take crisis line calls during assigned on-call shifts
- Assist callers in crisis
- Provide clients with appropriate referrals to Our Voice services or other community agencies
- Accompany survivors at Mission Hospital during on-call shifts
- Take a minimum of two on-call phone shifts each month (shifts are weekdays 5pm-8am and weekends/holidays 8am-8pm or 8pm-8am)
Rootabaga Express!
Thursday and Saturday mornings at 10:15 am.
June 15 – August 5 (no plays July 13 & 15)
Carl Sandburg created his own version of American fairy tales when he published Rootabaga Stories (1922) and Rootabaga Pigeons (1923). He replaced the European fairy tale cast of princes, princesses, castles and kingdoms with icons American children would recognize — taxi-drivers, movie actors, skyscrapers, prairies and automobiles. Rootabaga Express! brings the stories of the Five Rusty Rats, Bimbo the Snip and more to life.You’ll meet new characters and journey farther into the Village of Liver and Onions and Sandburg’s imagination than ever before.
The 30-minute plays are appropriate for all ages and held weather permitting in the amphitheater (check our Facebook page in case performances are moved to the garage near the Sandburg Home or cancelled for severe weather). These shows are supported by the Flat Rock Playhouse and the Park Store, operated by America’s National Parks.
Young visitors who attend the plays can earn a limited edition Rootabaga Junior Ranger badge. Rootabaga Ranger activity sheets will be available at the amphitheater. Once completed, kids can get their Rootabaga Ranger badge at the amphitheater, Sandburg Home, or farm.
Arrival and Parking
Please visit our Parking page for more information.
Visitors who need transportation assistance should call the park at 828-707-8125 upon arrival.
Apprentice actors from the Flat Rock Playhouse have performed adaptations of Sandburg’s works for park visitors since 1974. Using Sandburg’s own words from his collections of children’s stories, poetry, collected music, biography of Abraham Lincoln and his own autobiography, the performances provide visitors with a sense of the scope of his work and imagination. Sandburg was an expert storyteller, and easily wove important messages of fairness, empathy and social justice into his writings. Whatever play you are able to attend you will walk away with a smile on your face and a better understanding of the legacy of Carl Sandburg.
ASAP (Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project) has released a survey to learn more about how people in Western North Carolina shop for food and why they choose the food they do. The survey, part of a three-year project by ASAP’s Local Food Research Center, is for any resident of Western North Carolina over the age of 18, no matter where or how they shop for food. It can be completed online at surveymonkey.com/r/WNCFoodASAP or over the phone by calling ASAP at 828-236-1282. It should take approximately 8 to 12 minutes to complete and will be open through Oct. 31, 2024. Respondents are encouraged to share the survey widely with families, friends, and co-workers.
“By completing this survey, you are helping local farmers understand and connect with consumers,” said Amy Marion, ASAP Associate Director and lead researcher. “The challenges of our food system are constantly evolving. Improving it requires active participation from all community members. With this research we can better understand consumer values and the barriers they face, and help farmers and food producers improve communications with their customers and their communities.”
The survey is part of a three-year research project, “Connections in Direct Markets: Assessing the feedback loop between consumer values and farmers’ marketing strategies,” which will examine and improve communication and alignment between farmers and consumers in Western North Carolina. The research phase will also employ consumer focus groups, farmer interviews and case studies, and more targeted surveying. The broad consumer survey provides an update to the last consumer survey conducted by the Local Food Research Center in 2014. Results from the current research project will be shared in 2025.
ASAP founded the Local Food Research Center in 2011 to study the economic, environmental, and social impacts of localizing food systems. From its inception, ASAP’s programs and services have been grounded in research and evaluation, adjusting based on a strong feedback loop and observation of current conditions in the food system.
This project is supported in part by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, U.S. Department of Agriculture, under award number 2022-38640-37488 through the Southern Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education program under subaward number LS23-382. USDA is an equal opportunity employer and service provider.
Whenever you want!
Supplies available at
2 Sulphur Springs Road
If you need to request supplies for the same or next day, please call 828-254-1776.
Organizing a litter cleanup with your friends, neighbors, co-workers, or other community members is easier than you may think! Asheville GreenWorks provides cleanup supplies and safety information, and will coordinate trash pick up as needed. Available supplies include safety vests, gloves, trash grabbers, trash bags, and SHARPs containers (upon request).
Review the attached guides for instructions and safety information.
Need to know
Please review the attached documents and contact [email protected] with any questions. Your supplies will be available for pickup on the date you’ve requested at Asheville GreenWorks’ office at 2 Sulphur Springs Road, Asheville, NC 28806.
All cleanups should be reported using the online form and supplies should be returned after your cleanup.