VolunteerUpdated Oct 25

Volunteer in Asheville

Regular ways to pitch in, meet people and back the local nonprofits doing the work

Find your spot

Everything here repeats week after week, so there’s no rush. Tap what fits your week and the list narrows down. Each listing ends with the first step, since that’s where most people stall.

When you’re free
How much
Also
Sign up and goPick a shift and show upOngoingA regular slot you keepTraining firstAn application, orientation or background check before you start

All

Food and meals

Pantries, community kitchens and free markets. The easiest place to start, and most of these take a new face any week.

Training firstMon to Fri, 9am to noon and 1 to 3pm

MANNA FoodBankWarehouse shifts

Sort and pack donated food that feeds 16 counties of Western North Carolina. Groups work almost every shift, so it’s an easy one to do with coworkers or friends. No evening or weekend shifts right now.

First step: Make a profile on MANNA’s volunteer page, do the two-step orientation (held every two weeks), then book a shift. No walk-ins. Ages 10 and up, under 16 with an adult.

Bring friendsGood for meeting people
Mills RiverSign upGive

Source: MANNA FoodBank. Checked Oct 25. Correct this listing

Sign up and goSeveral kitchen shifts a week, pick one when you sign up

Equal Plates ProjectCommunity kitchen

Chop vegetables and meat from small local farms, cook, and portion meals that go out to thousands of neighbors each week.

First step: Their volunteer page links to the shift sign-up on Hands On. Orientation happens at the start of your first shift. Ages 16 and up on your own. Groups email volunteer@equalplatesproject.org.

Good for meeting people
East Asheville (Haw Creek Commons)Sign up on Hands OnTheir siteGive

Source: Equal Plates Project, Hands On Asheville. Checked Oct 25. Correct this listing

Sign up and goMon to Fri at noon; Mon, Wed, Fri at 2:45pm; Thu at 2pm; 3:45pm for school nights

Equal Plates ProjectMeal delivery driver

Load coolers of hot meals and drive them to the Salvation Army, Homeward Bound's Compass Point Village or a school Community Night. Gas is reimbursed.

First step: Their volunteer page links to the driver sign-up on Hands On. You need a driver’s license, and a hatchback, wagon or truck helps (2 to 6 big coolers).

Needs a car
Pick up in Haw Creek, deliver around townSign up on Hands OnTheir siteGive

Source: Equal Plates Project, Hands On Asheville. Checked Oct 25. Correct this listing

Training firstWednesdays, shifts 7 to 9am, 9 to 11am, 11am to 2:30pm

Haywood Street CongregationDowntown Welcome Table

A sit-down, family-style lunch for anyone who walks in. Companions serve coffee, set up, bring food to tables and sit down and eat with guests, which matters as much as the serving. There’s also a Tuesday prep shift, 9am to noon.

First step: Go to a Companion Orientation, held the first Monday of each month at noon. Questions go to laurab@haywoodstreet.org.

Good for meeting people
Downtown (297 Haywood St)Sign upGive

Source: Haywood Street Congregation, Hands On Asheville. Checked Oct 25. Correct this listing

Training firstTuesdays (MANNA pickup and packing), Wednesdays 10:30am to 2pm (drive-thru pantry), Thursdays (restock)

Catholic CharitiesFood pantry crew

Pick up the weekly MANNA order (a truck or big trunk helps), pack boxes and toiletries, hand out food at the Wednesday drive-thru or restock the pantry. Some lifting, 30 to 40 pounds.

First step: Email VolunteerWRO@ccdoc.org or call 828-820-5152 to start onboarding. Every adult takes the Diocese’s SAFE Environment training first. Under 16 comes with a parent.

Downtown (50 Orange St)Sign upGive

Source: Catholic Charities Diocese of Charlotte. Checked Oct 25. Correct this listing

Training firstMon to Fri, 9:30am to 1pm or 1 to 4:15pm

Catholic CharitiesFront desk

Greet people coming in for help and get them to the right place. Good fit if you're calm and friendly with a line of people.

First step: Email VolunteerWRO@ccdoc.org or call 828-820-5152 to start onboarding. Every adult takes the Diocese’s SAFE Environment training first. Under 16 comes with a parent.

Downtown (50 Orange St)Sign upGive

Source: Catholic Charities Diocese of Charlotte. Checked Oct 25. Correct this listing

Sign up and goEvery Wednesday, a setup shift and a second shift

Free Community Market at Montmorenci UMCMarket shifts

A free, choose-your-own grocery market serving about 110 households a week in Hominy Valley. Unload and sort food, set up stations, help with parking and shopping. Some of it's outdoors in any weather.

First step: Pick a shift on Hands On, since the market has no website of its own. You can sign up as a team. Ages 12 to 17 come with an adult.

Bring friendsOutdoors
CandlerSign up on Hands On

Source: Hands On Asheville. Checked Oct 25. Correct this listing

Sign up and goEvery Tuesday. The market itself runs 3:30 to 5pm

UNETE with Bounty and SoulCommunity Tuesdays

Close to 250 families come through the Bounty and Soul food distribution each week. Welcome people while they wait, hand out goodies or direct traffic outside.

First step: Sign up on Hands On (UNETE’s own site only has a contact form), then find a team member to check in on your first day.

Outdoors
North Asheville (871 Riverside Dr)Sign up on Hands OnTheir siteGive

Source: Hands On Asheville, Bounty and Soul. Checked Oct 25. Correct this listing

Sign up and goMarkets six days a week around the county, plus box packing on Tuesdays

Bounty and SoulProduce markets

Hand out fresh, free produce and greet neighbors at a market, or pack boxes at the hub. The big one is Wednesdays 3:30 to 5:30pm at the Beacon Community Center in Swannanoa.

First step: Make an account on their volunteer portal (linked from Get Involved), pick a shift and sign the waiver.

Good for meeting peopleOutdoors
Black Mountain hub (1038 Old US Hwy 70 W) and markets around the countySign upTheir siteGive

Source: Bounty and Soul. Checked Oct 25. Correct this listing

Sign up and goThursday to Saturday, while the store is open (Thu and Fri 10am to 6pm, Sat 10am to 2pm)

Appalachian Community ReliefFree grocery store

A no-cost grocery store for WNC. Stock shelves, help shoppers find things, check people in and load groceries into cars.

First step: Their own Volunteer button goes to Hands On, so sign up for a shift there. Bring your own lunch.

Bring friends
Black Mountain (104 Eastside Dr)Sign up on Hands OnTheir siteGive

Source: Appalachian Community Relief, Hands On Asheville. Checked Oct 25. Correct this listing

Training first4th Friday of each month, 2 to 4pm, at ABCCM West. More markets at area schools

ABCCMCommunity markets

Free markets with food and other basics, run with Buncombe County’s Community Connectors. Sort and stock donations, help people shop, and set up and break down.

First step: Respond on Hands On and talk with the volunteer coordinator before you show up.

Candler (1914 Smoky Park Hwy) and schools around the countySign up on Hands OnGive

Source: Hands On Asheville, The Urban News. Checked Oct 25. Correct this listing

Sign up and goOnce, weekly or monthly. Lunch 12 to 12:30pm, dinner 6 to 6:30pm

ABCCM Costello HouseCook a meal

Bring, cook and serve a meal for the men in Costello House’s 24-bed recovery program. You can plan the menu with the coordinator. A great one to do with friends, a supper club or your coworkers.

First step: Email the volunteer coordinator listed on the Costello House page, or call 828-259-5314, to set a date.

Bring friendsGood for meeting people
Downtown (141 Hillside St)Sign upGive

Source: ABCCM, Hands On Asheville. Checked Oct 25. Correct this listing

Sign up and goWednesdays at 6:30pm

Safe ShelterCommunity dinner

Help with the weekly community dinner and share the meal with families staying at the shelter. No skills needed, just an open mind.

First step: Come by any Wednesday at 6:30pm. Questions go to 828-774-6981.

Good for meeting people
West Asheville (27 Balm Grove Ave)Sign upGive

Source: Safe Shelter. Checked Oct 25. Correct this listing

Sign up and goEvery Friday. The church says afternoon, other listings say 6:30 to 8pm, so call to confirm

Arden Street MinistryFriday sack lunches downtown

A team of 25 or more from Arden Seventh-day Adventist Church and community friends hands out sack lunches, clothing and supplies to people living outside downtown.

First step: Call the church office at 828-684-6700 (Mon to Thu, 10am to 4pm) to join the Friday team.

Good for meeting people
Pritchard Park and downtownSign up

Source: Arden Seventh-day Adventist Church. Checked Oct 25. Correct this listing

Shelter and housing

Day centers, winter shelters and building homes. Some ask for an application first, since you're working with people in a hard spot.

Training firstMon to Fri, 8am to 1pm (or just 8 to 11am, or 11am to 1pm)

Homeward BoundAHOPE Day Center

Serve coffee and food, sort mail, hand out toiletries and help case managers for people living outside. You'll be placed wherever the need is that day.

First step: Fill out the volunteer application on their volunteer page. A short onboarding and background check come after your second visit.

Downtown (19 N Ann St)Sign upGive

Source: Homeward Bound WNC, Hands On Asheville. Checked Oct 25. Correct this listing

Training firstWinter evenings, November to April, when Code Purple is called

Homeward BoundCode Purple winter shelter

AHOPE opens as a Code Purple shelter for couples and people with pets. Set up cots, help with check-in, hand out towels and toiletries, set out food and clean up.

First step: Fill out the volunteer application, then email volunteer@homewardboundwnc.org. Background check after two shifts.

Downtown (AHOPE Day Center, 19 N Ann St)Sign upGive

Source: Homeward Bound WNC, Hands On Asheville. Checked Oct 25. Correct this listing

Training firstNovember to April, on nights under 32 degrees. Shifts 4:45 to 8pm, 8pm to midnight, and 9 to 11am cleanup

ABCCM Transformation VillageCode Purple overnight shelter

Emergency beds for women and women with children on the coldest nights. Help with intake, lead activities, drive the van to the bus stop and clean up after. You’re paired with experienced staff.

First step: Email leigh.bridgman@abccm.org. Training is provided. 18 and up.

Needs a car
West Asheville (30 Olin Haven Way)Sign upGive

Source: ABCCM, City of Asheville, Hands On Asheville. Checked Oct 25. Correct this listing

Sign up and goEvery day: 8am to noon, noon to 4pm, and a 4 to 8pm dinner shift

Haywood Street CongregationRespite companion

Keep company with people experiencing homelessness who are recovering after a hospital stay. Cook, clean, do laundry, run errands, play games or just visit. It’s a small house, so it’s one or two volunteers at a time.

First step: Add your name to a shift on the sign-up sheet linked from their Respite page. Questions go to jenny@haywoodstreet.org.

Haywood Street Respite (673 Brevard Rd, for now)Sign upGive

Source: Haywood Street Congregation. Checked Oct 25. Correct this listing

OngoingOne day a week that you pick, any time that day

BeLoved AshevilleAdopt a street pantry

Keep one of BeLoved’s street pantries (old newspaper boxes) stocked with basics on your day. In winter that means gloves, hats, emergency blankets and water.

First step: Pick an open pantry and day on their sign-up page. Questions go to info@belovedasheville.com.

Street pantries all over the county, from West Asheville to Black Mountain and WeavervilleSign upTheir siteGive

Source: BeLoved Asheville. Checked Oct 25. Correct this listing

Sign up and goMonday to Saturday, year round. Full days 8:30am to 3:30pm

Asheville Area Habitat for HumanityBuild and repair days

Frame, side, paint, build decks and fix up homes alongside Habitat's crew. No experience needed. Saturdays are the ones to grab with friends.

First step: Pick a shift on Habitat’s volunteer calendar and sign the waiver. Ages 16 and up. Groups book early, the calendar fills months out.

Bring friendsGood for meeting peopleOutdoors
Job sites and the warehouse, Buncombe and Madison countiesSign upTheir siteGive

Source: Asheville Area Habitat for Humanity, Hands On Asheville. Checked Oct 25. Correct this listing

Training firstTuesday to Saturday, during store hours

Asheville Area Habitat for HumanityReStore

Price donated furniture and building supplies, run the register or join the Deconstruction Team. Every sale funds Habitat homes and repairs.

First step: Sign up for a ReStore orientation on Habitat’s volunteer calendar. If none are posted, email cburgin@ashevillehabitat.org.

Bring friends
Asheville (31 Meadow Rd) or Weaverville (61 Weaver Blvd)Sign upTheir siteGive

Source: Asheville Area Habitat for Humanity. Checked Oct 25. Correct this listing

Trails, rivers and cleanups

Get outside and leave a place better than you found it. Tools and training are always provided.

Sign up and goEvery other Wednesday, 5 to 7pm

Asheville GreenWorksHoppy Water Wednesday

Pick up litter for an hour or so, then most of the crew heads to a local brewery (on their own, GreenWorks doesn’t run that part). Probably the most social volunteering in town.

First step: Register for the next one on GreenWorks’ volunteer page. The reminder email has the meeting spot.

Good for meeting peopleOutdoors
A different spot each timeSign upTheir siteGive

Source: Asheville GreenWorks, Explore Asheville. Checked Oct 25. Correct this listing

Sign up and goQuarterly, Saturday mornings 10am to noon

Asheville GreenWorks and OnHaywoodHaywood Road cleanup

Clean up trash and recycling along the Haywood Road corridor, with breakfast from a neighborhood business that changes each time.

First step: Register on GreenWorks’ volunteer page when the next date goes up.

Good for meeting peopleOutdoorsBring friends
West Asheville (meets at Archetype Brewing)Sign upTheir siteGive

Source: Asheville GreenWorks, Points of Light. Checked Oct 25. Correct this listing

Sign up and goA few times a season, posted on Meetup

AYPROSYoung professionals volunteer days

Asheville's young professionals group (ages 18 to 40) runs volunteer days with local nonprofits, like canoe river cleanups with GreenWorks, plus easy social meetups. Built for meeting people.

First step: Join the AYPROS group on Meetup and RSVP to the next service day. Sign-up for the shift itself is usually on the partner’s site.

Good for meeting peopleBring friends
Changes with each projectSign upGive

Source: Meetup. Checked Oct 25. Correct this listing

Sign up and goEvery Tuesday, 1 to 2pm

Safe ShelterWest Asheville cleanup

One hour of litter pickup around the neighborhood with folks from the shelter. Free parking, and supplies are provided.

First step: Just show up at 27 Balm Grove Ave at 1pm. Free parking, and supplies are provided.

Outdoors
West AshevilleSign upGive

Source: Safe Shelter. Checked Oct 25. Correct this listing

OngoingAsheville Thursday Crew and Asheville Friday Crew every week, plus a big, beginner-friendly Saturday crew a few times a year

Carolina Mountain ClubTrail crews

Build and fix the trails you hike. The Friday crew is 20 or more people, and the quarterly Saturday crew can hit 100. Tools, training and safety gear are provided.

First step: Fill out the trail crew form on their volunteer page, or email the Thursday crew (ATC@carolinamountainclub.org) or Friday crew (AFC@carolinamountainclub.org). No membership needed.

Good for meeting peopleOutdoors
The AT, the MST and Pisgah trails (crews leave from Asheville)Sign upTheir siteGive

Source: Carolina Mountain Club. Checked Oct 25. Correct this listing

Sign up and go1st and 3rd Wednesdays, 9am to noon

The Pisgah ConservancyInvasive plant removal days

Pull autumn olive, privet and multiflora rose alongside the Conservancy’s restoration crew. This fall and winter the work is on the Andy Cove Trail. Free.

First step: Register for a date on their volunteer events list. Spots fill up. Ages 18 and up.

OutdoorsGood for meeting people
Pisgah Ranger Station, Pisgah Forest (about 40 minutes from Asheville)Sign upTheir siteGive

Source: The Pisgah Conservancy. Checked Oct 25. Correct this listing

Training firstWeekly, monthly or on-call, depending on the department

The North Carolina ArboretumGarden and program volunteers

Work in the gardens, help with programs and pitch in across the Arboretum. Give 50 hours a year and you get a free parking pass.

First step: Apply on their volunteer site, then a background check and orientation. Info sessions run three times a month, March to October. 18 and up.

Outdoors
The Arboretum (Bent Creek)Sign upTheir siteGive

Source: The North Carolina Arboretum. Checked Oct 25. Correct this listing

OngoingAt least two days a month, on your own schedule

Asheville Botanical GardenEnvironmental steward

Clean up the streambeds, parking lot and roadsides around the garden, whenever it suits you.

First step: Fill out the volunteer form on their site.

Outdoors
Asheville Botanical Garden (next to UNCA)Sign up

Source: Asheville Botanical Garden. Checked Oct 25. Correct this listing

OngoingFirst Wednesday of each month, 4pm, on Zoom

Dogwood AllianceDogwood Ambassadors

Asheville-based group protecting Southern forests. Ambassadors meet monthly to work on campaign projects, spread the word and bring friends to events.

First step: Register for the next monthly meeting from their Ambassadors page.

Can do from home
OnlineSign upGive

Source: Dogwood Alliance. Checked Oct 25. Correct this listing

Sign up and goEvery Wednesday, 1 to 3pm in cold weather, 9 to 11am in warm weather

Bountiful CitiesWednesday garden workdays

Plant, mulch, weed and harvest at an urban farm that feeds the neighborhood. Groups of 5 to 10 can also book their own day.

First step: Fill out the volunteer form on their site, or email Micah@bountifulcities.org about Pearson Garden.

OutdoorsGood for meeting peopleBring friends
Pearson Garden Food Hub (408 Pearson Dr)Sign upGive

Source: Bountiful Cities. Checked Oct 25. Correct this listing

Kids and learning

Tutoring, mentoring and family nights at local schools. These ask for a steady commitment, because the kids count on you showing up.

Training firstTwice a week, 45 to 50 minutes, for a school year. After school Mon to Thu 3:30 to 5:30, or at a Community Night

Literacy TogetherTutor kids

Work one on one with a K to 12 student on reading or English. Sessions are at schools after school, or at Community Nights at Enka (Mondays) and Reynolds (Wednesdays).

First step: Fill out the interest form on their Become a Volunteer page, then join a Zoom orientation (twice a month). Kids’ tutor training is 9 hours each September. You need a high school diploma or GED.

Schools around Buncombe CountySign upTheir siteGive

Source: Literacy Together. Checked Oct 25. Correct this listing

Training first2 hours a week for 6 months (GED) or a year (basic skills)

Literacy TogetherTutor adults

Help an adult build reading and math skills or work toward a GED, on a schedule the two of you set.

First step: Fill out the interest form on their Become a Volunteer page, then a Zoom orientation and 10 to 15 hours of training.

In person around AshevilleSign upTheir siteGive

Source: Literacy Together. Checked Oct 25. Correct this listing

Training first2 hours a week for at least a year

Literacy TogetherTeach English to immigrants

Teach English to new neighbors using a provided curriculum. The online version works from your couch.

First step: Fill out the interest form on their Become a Volunteer page, then 8 hours of training online (live on Zoom or at your own pace).

Can do from home
In person in Buncombe County, or onlineSign upTheir siteGive

Source: Literacy Together. Checked Oct 25. Correct this listing

Training firstTwice a week, 30 to 45 minutes, for the school year. During or after school

Read 2 SucceedReading tutor

Work with one K to 5 student all year on reading, using Read 2 Succeed’s method. Six hours of training on Zoom gets you ready.

First step: Apply on their reading tutor page, then a background check and the training. Ages 16 and up. Questions go to admin@r2sasheville.org.

Elementary schools in Asheville City and Buncombe CountySign up

Source: Read 2 Succeed, Idealist. Checked Oct 25. Correct this listing

Training first1 hour a week at a school, or outings twice a month, for at least a year

Big Brothers Big Sisters of WNCMentoring

Be a steady adult for a kid. Meet an elementary student at school each week, co-lead a middle school group, or take a match on outings you plan together (you’ll need a car for that one).

First step: Apply with their online enrollment form, then screening, an interview and training. 18 and up, or 16 for High School Bigs.

Asheville City, Buncombe County and charter schoolsSign upGive

Source: Big Brothers Big Sisters of WNC. Checked Oct 25. Correct this listing

Sign up and goWeekly, 5 to 6:30pm, though not every school hosts every week. Mondays at Enka and Erwin, Tuesdays at Reynolds, more at Owen, North Buncombe and Asheville Middle

United Way Community NightsFamily nights at middle schools

A free dinner from local chefs and a family night at school. Check people in, help with homework or staff the resource room.

First step: Pick a school and a night on Hands On, which is where United Way’s own page sends you.

Good for meeting people
Middle schools around the countySign up on Hands OnTheir siteGive

Source: United Way, Hands On Asheville. Checked Oct 25. Correct this listing

Training firstAfternoons; cooking club meets Tuesdays and Wednesdays

A.C. Reynolds Middle SchoolAfter-school clubs

Help run the STEM, art or cooking club. Good fit if you've got a skill to show off.

First step: Sign up for a club on Hands On. School volunteers also file a Buncombe County Schools volunteer application.

East Asheville (2 Rocket Dr)Sign up on Hands On

Source: Hands On Asheville. Checked Oct 25. Correct this listing

Training firstA few hours a week or a month, depending on the program

YMCA of Western North CarolinaYouth sports, food markets and mentoring

Coach or referee youth flag football, soccer and basketball (training provided, no experience needed), help at the Y’s free mobile food markets, pack weekly Healthy Food Boxes, or mentor students.

First step: Apply on the Y’s volunteer page (you’ll upload a photo), then an orientation.

Good for meeting people
Y branches and mobile food market stops around AshevilleSign upGive

Source: YMCA of WNC. Checked Oct 25. Correct this listing

Training firstEducation team mostly weekdays; docents mostly weekends

Asheville Museum of ScienceEducators, docents and behind the scenes

Help with camps and field trips, talk with visitors on the museum floor, care for exhibits behind the scenes, or do outreach (which can be remote after training).

First step: Fill out the volunteer application on their Join page. They’ll also build a role around your skills.

Can do from home
Downtown (43 Patton Ave)Sign upGive

Source: Asheville Museum of Science. Checked Oct 25. Correct this listing

Training firstA regular shift, mostly weekdays 9am to 5pm

A-B Tech Advanced Manufacturing CenterTeaching assistant or greeter

Help in the classroom or welcome people at the front desk of A-B Tech's manufacturing training center.

First step: Apply on A-B Tech’s volunteer page, then a background check, interview and orientation. 18 and up.

A-B Tech main campus (Maple Building)Sign upGive

Source: A-B Tech. Checked Oct 25. Correct this listing

Seniors, patients and families

Driving seniors, playing music at hospital bedsides and making families of patients feel at home.

Training firstWeekdays. You pick the rides that fit your schedule

Council on Aging of Buncombe CountyDrive seniors or deliver food

Give seniors a ride to their appointments with Call-A-Ride, or drop off food at homebound seniors’ doors. Mileage is paid at the IRS rate, and nobody drives when schools close for weather.

First step: Call (828) 277-8288 or email info@coabc.org. You’ll need to be 18 or older with car insurance of at least $100,000/$300,000.

Needs a car
Around Buncombe CountySign upGive

Source: Council on Aging of Buncombe County. Checked Oct 25. Correct this listing

Training firstOne weekday a week, before noon. A route takes 1.5 to 2 hours

Meals on Wheels of Asheville and Buncombe CountyMeal delivery driver

Bring a hot meal and a quick check-in to 10 to 16 homebound seniors on the same route each week, or sub when a regular driver can’t make it. For some of them you’re the only person they’ll see that day.

First step: Fill out the volunteer application on their site, then an orientation. You need a license, insurance and a reliable car.

Needs a car
Routes all over Buncombe CountySign upGive

Source: Meals on Wheels of Asheville Buncombe. Checked Oct 25. Correct this listing

Training firstAbout 40 hours a year, by appointment, plus quarterly meetings

Council on Aging of Buncombe CountyMedicare counselor

Help people on Medicare and their caregivers sort out their options and enroll, free and unbiased. Good fit if you’re patient and like untangling paperwork.

First step: Call (828) 277-8288 or email info@coabc.org, then a 13-hour online certification. People who sell insurance can’t do this one.

Council on Aging office (46 Sheffield Circle) or by phoneSign upGive

Source: Council on Aging of Buncombe County, NC SHIIP. Checked Oct 25. Correct this listing

Training firstOne 90-minute shift a month for a year, usually Mon to Thu evenings

Musicians On CallBedside music

Play acoustic songs room to room for patients, or be the guide who walks a musician around. The VA has the most open times right now.

First step: Apply on their site (musicians and guides both send a short audition video), then online training and a background check. Spots open as hospitals clear them.

Mission Hospital or the Asheville VASign upTheir siteGive

Source: Musicians On Call, Hands On Asheville. Checked Oct 25. Correct this listing

Training firstAt least 4 hours a week for a year

WNC VA Health Care SystemHospital volunteers

Escort veterans to appointments, staff the information or wheelchair desk, serve coffee, help with recreation and crafts, or drive veterans from home to the hospital. A shift of 4 hours or more comes with a free meal.

First step: Enroll on the VA’s volunteer site, then a background check and training. 18 and up, COVID vaccine required. Questions go to 828-299-2514.

VA Medical Center (1100 Tunnel Rd)Sign upTheir siteGive

Source: WNC VA Health Care System. Checked Oct 25. Correct this listing

Training firstOne visit a week, up to about 4 hours

Four SeasonsHospice visits

Sit with hospice patients, listen, help them tell their stories, and give caregivers a break. A calm, steady presence is the whole job.

First step: Email volunteers@fourseasonscfl.org or call (828) 692-6178. Then a background check, a TB test and an orientation on Zoom. 18 and up with a car.

Needs a car
Patients’ homes and care facilities in Buncombe, Haywood and Madison countiesSign up

Source: Idealist listing, mid-2026. Checked Oct 25. Correct this listing

OngoingFlexible

WNC Bridge FoundationRathbun House

A place to stay for families of patients at Mission. Help with the front desk, kitchen, housekeeping or maintenance.

First step: Respond on Hands On, or call WNC Bridge’s main office at 828-277-4815.

Rathbun House (121 Sherwood Rd)Sign up on Hands OnTheir siteGive

Source: Hands On Asheville, WNC Bridge Foundation. Checked Oct 25. Correct this listing

Training firstStore open Monday to Saturday, 10am to 4:30pm

WNC Bridge FoundationThrift store

Receive donations, sort, price, restock, build displays and run the register. Sales fund Rathbun House.

First step: Fill out the volunteer application on their Become a Volunteer page.

Biltmore Village (75 Fairview Rd)Sign upGive

Source: WNC Bridge Foundation. Checked Oct 25. Correct this listing

Sign up and goMon to Fri, 9am to 12:30pm or 12:30 to 4pm

United Way of Asheville and Buncombe CountyFront desk

Greet people looking for resources or ways to help, and pitch in with mail, inventory and packing supplies.

First step: Sign up for a shift on Hands On. 18 and up.

Downtown (50 S French Broad Ave)Sign up on Hands OnGive

Source: Hands On Asheville. Checked Oct 25. Correct this listing

Arts and animals

Usher a show and watch it free, or help out at the shelter.

Sign up and goShow nights and weekends

Asheville Community TheatreUshers, sets and costumes

Usher shows, paint sets, help with costumes or decorate the lobby at one of the oldest community theaters in the country.

First step: Join the usher email list on their volunteer page; usher shifts go out every other week. Ushers wear a white top and black bottoms.

Good for meeting people
Downtown (35 E Walnut St)Sign upGive

Source: Asheville Community Theatre. Checked Oct 25. Correct this listing

Sign up and goShow nights

Black Mountain Center for the ArtsUshers and event support

Check tickets, seat people, or help set up, run and break down events. You get a free ticket to the show you work.

First step: Sign up from their volunteer page. Each season’s shifts go up on a sign-up sheet. Questions go to info@blackmountainarts.org.

Good for meeting people
Black Mountain (225 W State St)Sign upGive

Source: Black Mountain Center for the Arts. Checked Oct 25. Correct this listing

Training firstOrientation the first Wednesday of each month at 6pm. After that, on your schedule

Asheville FMStation volunteers and DJs

Table at community events, make content, help with fund drives, or go deeper. Active volunteers can train on air, shadow DJs and work up to hosting the Sandbox Hour, then pitch a show of their own.

First step: Sign up for a monthly orientation from their volunteer page. No experience needed.

Good for meeting people
West Asheville (864 Haywood Rd)Sign upTheir siteGive

Source: Asheville FM. Checked Oct 25. Correct this listing

Training first4 hours a month for 6 months, shifts you book once you’re approved

Asheville Humane SocietyShelter and foster volunteers

Everything from laundry and dishes to helping the medical team. Fostering is another way to help if you've got room at home.

First step: Join their Volunteer Hub on GivePulse and fill out the application, then an orientation and tour. 18 and up, or 10 to 17 with an adult.

Adoption Center (14 Forever Friend Ln)Sign upTheir siteGive

Source: Asheville Humane Society. Checked Oct 25. Correct this listing

Ready when disaster hits

Helene showed how much this matters. Train once, then help when your neighbors need it most.

Training firstOn call, or blood drive shifts in Asheville

American Red Cross, WNC ChapterDisaster team, blood drives and shelters

Join the Disaster Action Team that shows up for families after a house fire, help at blood drives, or train as a shelter volunteer for the next big storm.

First step: Apply through the Red Cross volunteer portal and search “Disaster Action Team” or “Blood.”

Asheville chapter (100 Edgewood Rd) and around WNCSign upGive

Source: American Red Cross. Checked Oct 25. Correct this listing

Training firstWhen disaster strikes

National Emergency Child Care NetworkEmergency childcare

Run safe play spaces for kids so parents can deal with insurance, FEMA and cleanup after a disaster. They did it here after Helene. Licensed therapists are needed too.

First step: Fill out their volunteer form, then a 90-minute to 2-hour training on Zoom.

Shelters and relief sitesSign upGive

Source: National Emergency Child Care Network. Checked Oct 25. Correct this listing

Occasional opportunities

These groups post volunteer days a few times a season instead of on a set schedule, and the dates only go up on their own sites. Here’s what they usually need and where to look.

  • MountainTrue

    Tree plantings, invasive plant removal, river cleanups and race-day help around the region. Dates pop up a few times a month, mostly on weekends, and they post them as they go.

    Their events calendarGive

  • Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy

    Workdays at their community farm in Alexander and on protected land around the mountains: planting, clearing invasives and trail upkeep. They also need people to staff their table at weekend events.

    Their volunteer pageGive

  • Brother Wolf Animal Rescue

    While they build a new adoption center on Tunnel Road, every animal lives in a foster home. Fostering, even for a weekend, is the main way to help right now.

    FosteringGive

  • Hearts with Hands

    A disaster relief warehouse in Swannanoa. Sorting and packing shifts open up around holiday drives and when a disaster hits.

    Their volunteer pageGive

  • Homeward Bound Welcome Home Donation Center

    Sort and pack furniture and household goods for people moving out of homelessness and into a place of their own. They call for help with cleanup and sorting days from time to time.

    Their volunteer pageGive

  • Bee City Asheville

    A pollinator class series that ends with helping at a few outreach and habitat events, plus a monthly committee for people who want to go further.

    About the program

  • Christmas Mitten Tree

    Each December the free market at Montmorenci United Methodist in Candler sets out mittens, hats and small gifts for families. Volunteers set up and help at the tables.

    Sign up on Hands On

  • United Way Highlands Circle

    A group for people under 40 who give at least $25 a year to United Way. They get together for socials and the odd service project, like packing snacks for students.

    About the groupGive

Know a regular spot I missed?

If your nonprofit has volunteer shifts that repeat, or you volunteer somewhere you love, send it over. I check every one against the nonprofit’s own site before it goes up. One-time events go in the weekend picks instead.

What is it?