Affordable Housing Initiatives
Habitat for Humanity
Restore / Cindy Young / 828-696-9524
Construction / Melissa Ailiff / mailiff@habitat-hvl.org
Serve others through the construction of homes and the operation of the Restore facilities.
Housing Assistance Corporation
Marcesa Harper / 828-629-4744 ext. 103 / marcesa@housing-assistance.com
A private, non-profit organization committed to providing safe and affordable housing for persons of limited income living in Henderson County and surrounding areas.
Domestic Violence Initiatives
Safelight
Sara Cole, Development Officer / 828-693-3840 / sara@safelightfamily.org
Lauren Wilkie, Executive Director / lauren@safelightfamily.org
Volunteers are utilized in almost every aspect of the agency’s programs and are a vital part of Safelight’s team and delivery of services by volunteering at the front desk, sorting donations, assisting with direct services and the family violence class, and in many other ways.
Health-Related Initiatives
The Free Clinics
Sarah Friedell / 828-697-8422 / sfridell@thefreeclinics.org
Works to close the healthcare gap in Henderson County by providing free healthcare and services to low-income,
uninsured residents.
Pardee Hospital
Karla Reese / 828-696-4240 / karla.reese@pardeehospitalorg
Volunteers help with transport, at checkout, chaplaincy, gift cart, reading cart, newspaper distribution, and many other opportunities.
Relay for Life
Judy Nutwell / 828-388-1096 / jnutwell@gmail.com
Volunteers help raise funds as a team to support the American Cancer Society. Members represent First United Methodist Church before, during and after the Relay.
Homelessness Initiatives
Homes for Youth
Kathleen Lambert / klambert55@yahoo.com
Provides homes, help and hope for Henderson County youth who have lost their homes. We have a home that accommodates five foster girls with their foster parents and plan to acquire another. We also support the training of additional foster parents by providing facilities and advanced remote teleconferencing equipment to the Department of Social Services
Only Hope WNC
Marti Eudeman / volunteer@onlyhopewnc.org
Only Hope serves the homeless youth of WNC by providing a home and services where education, personal growth, and opportunity are supported. Whether bringing a group in to sort through our pantry, helping with paperwork, or serving on the Only Hope board, you can help make a difference
Hendersonville Rescue Mission
Yam Burke / 828-697-1354
A non-profit committed to providing overnight shelter, food, and clothing to homeless in our community. Volunteers assist with chapel services, meal serving.
Hunger Initiatives
Agape Feeding
Wayne Matthews / 919-264-0708 / wayne matthews@ncsu.edu
Volunteers serve a weekly meal on Sunday afternoons at Joseph Outreach ministry on 7th Avenue. Food is typically donated by local vendors.
Backpack Ministry
Jane Johnson / 952-607-7705 / janejohnson139@gmail.com
The FUMC Backpack Ministry delivers non-perishable foods to food-insecure children attend Bruce Drysdale School / Boys & Girls Club of Hendersonville each week. We are currently supporting the weekend food needs for 215 local children. Each week we provide nine individual-sized food items for these children. Donations specified for the Backpack Program support our purchases of these food items. The children thank you for you donation.
Bounty of Bethlehem
Randy Hair / 828-693-5115
Volunteers prepare and serve a community meal on Christmas Day.
Feed the Kids
Ann Pyles / 828-693-7149 / mamapyles@yahoo.com
This group works as a team with other churches and groups in the community to prepare, transport, then serve meals to underfed children on rotating Friday afternoons at the Boys and Girls Club.
Feed Thy Neighbor
Mary Reeves / 828-749-9809 / reevesmary2@gmail.com
On the fourth Monday of every month volunteers prepare, transport, and serve a lunch for 60-80
homeless and hungry members of the community at the Church of the Nazarene.
Hunger Walk
Janet Hendricks / 828-692-8645 / gamecocknc@aol.com
Volunteers coordinate and/or participate in the yearly September walk to raise money to provide food for the needy of Henderson County.
The Providence House
Robin Corbin/rrcorbin@morrisbb.net
Volunteers serve meals the 1st, 3rd and 5th Sundays providing food to those in need. With COVID-19, bagged lunches vs. a sit-down meals are provided. Supplies are low and there is an on going need until they return to a regular meal. Donations are being collected, for specific needs click here.
The Storehouse
Lynn Staggs / 828-692-8300 / lynn@storehouseonline.org
Distributes food and works with those in need.
Legal Initiatives
Pisgah Legal Services
Rhonda Brown, Local Volunteer Coordinator / 828-210-3455 / rhonda@pisgahlegal.org
Deborah Jones-Holt, Regional Development Officer / 828-210-3449 / deborah@pisgahlegal.org
We are a nonprofit that provides free civil legal aid to the most vulnerable people in WNC: disadvantaged children, seniors, at risk families & domestic violence victims.
Literacy Initiatives
Blue Ridge Literacy
Cindy Jefferson / 696-3811 info@litcouncil.org
Volunteers tutor adults in English. Training materials are provided. Proficiency in a foreign language is not necessary.
Multi-Faceted Initiatives
Council on Aging
Wendy Lou Billings / 828-692-4203 / wbillings@coahc.org
Helps seniors remain independent at home through programs such as Meals-on-Wheels.
Four Seasons Hospice
Sheri Cagle / 828-692-6178 ext. 329 / salewine@fourseasonscfl.org
Sigrun Mapes / 828-697-2900 / TLMSMM99@morrisbb.net
Volunteers serve at Elizabeth House delivering meals and providing support to patients and their families. They also provide supportive presence or socialization with patients in assisted living facilities.
Interfaith Assistance Ministries (IAM)
www.iamhendersoncounty.org
Debra Dunbar / debra.dunbar@iam-hc.org
Christy Lowe / christy.lowe@iam-hc.org
IAM provides emergency relief to Henderson County residents who are experiencing financial crises. Services provided include food, clothing, blankets, and financial assistance for electricity, water, fuel oil, propane gas, rent, transportation and prescriptions.
Meals4Missions
Volunteers assist in cooking, packaging, and distributing meals purchased by the congregation and public. Proceeds from this program help fund local and international missions supported by FUMC.
Salvation Army
Bill Bricker / 828-280-1163 / bill.bricker@uss.salvationarmy.org
Volunteer opportunities include working at the Thrift Store, the after school and summer youth programs, the pantry, and with the Angel Tree and bell ringing holiday programs.
Trauma Intervention Program of WNC
The Trauma Intervention Program of Western North Carolina
(TIP) is looking for caring people in Buncombe and Henderson Counties
willing to be part of a team of volunteers who provide immediate emotional and
practical support to survivors of traumatic events. TIP is holding a Spring
Training beginning February 28th at Skyland Fire Department. Funding for this
training was provided by a grant from the Meals4Missions Local Grant Program at
Hendersonville First United Methodist Church. Learn More
Youth Initiatives
Big Brothers / Big Sisters
Steve Kirkland / 828-693-8153 / henderson@bbbswnc.org
A United Way organization that matches children (ages 6-14) from single-parent families with caring, adult mentors.
Cub Scouts / Boy Scouts / Girl Scouts
Cub Scouts / Sandra Macklem / 828-277-7831 / ncmg131221@live.com
Boy Scouts / Larry Harmon / lharmon4@hotmail.com
Girl Scouts / Renee Casey / 828-698-2478 / reneercasey@gmail.com
Our church offers weekly scout meetings for members and the greater community.
Boys and Girls Club
Ismael Martinez / (828) 693-9444 / ismaelm@bgchendersonco.org
Volunteer opportunities exist to tutor, mentor, provide homework assistance, coach/referee, or assist with one of many activities at the center.
Children and Family Resource Center
Dawn Piscopo / 828-698-0674 ext. 100 / dawnp@childrenandfamily.org
An organization that works to improve children’s lives through parent education, quality child care resources, and leadership on children’s issues. Opportunities to volunteer range from clerical to board membership, from special events planning to child care volunteer, and from Once Upon a Time story reader to resource library assistant.
Children’s Gifting Party
Sandy Hastie / 828-696-0703 / hastiew60@gmail.com
Donna Hastie / 828-696-0703 / hastiedj@bellsouth.net
This is an annual outreach event in conjunction with the Boys and Girls Club of Henderson County. Students come to the church in order to “shop” without money, for their primary caregivers. Volunteers collect donations, bake cookies, make goody bags, help with crafts, coordinate with the Boys and Girls club, set-up, decorate, clean-up, and serve as escorts. Click here for the Blue Ridge Now article on our 2018 party.
Helping Hand Development Center
Susan Deans / 828- 692-7068
Enrolls children from 2 to 5 years of age. Volunteers are needed to assist with music, art, story time, and other activities.
The Giving Tree
Linda & Mike Williamson / 828-388-5483 / mikeosulindaub@aol.com
Volunteers receive needs of families from local schools, set up a tree with the giving tags, collect, and transport gifts back to schools. This program is part of the Blessings in Boxes program sponsored by The Storehouse.
Trunk or Treat
Andrea Larsen / 828-699-0800 / andrealarsen22@gmail.com
Volunteers collect candy and organize communication about this yearly event which takes place in conjunction with downtown’s Halloween celebration.
• To make additions or corrections to the Local Missions section please contact Carol Schobert, schobert101@gmail.com.
