Perhaps it’s the season that turns our thoughts toward giving — toys for needy children and warm winter coats for the homeless. Or maybe it’s the heartbreak of hard times — food for those who’ve lost their jobs, gifts for the families of those deployed in Afghanistan or Iraq.
Whatever your motivation, this is an especially good time for giving back, and the Asheville area is rich in ways to do it.
So go traditional: Clean out your closets and donate those old clothes to Goodwill. (Did you know the nonprofit also collects such items as computers, or that it also focuses heavily on job training?) Or volunteer during one of the many service days organized by United Way. (The organization’s 2-1-1 affilliate service has a website where you can plug in where you live and how much time you can spare — and get a variety of options.)
Then there’s giving, Asheville-style: Bring a kid-appropriate gift to Diamond Thieves for a discount on a piercing. Or help Harmony Motors fill two Volkwagens with canned goods for MANNA FoodBank.
Whether you’re looking to share your time and energy or drop some change into the ubiquitous Salvation Army buckets, there’s no shortage of opportunities to serve your community.
To help you get started, we’ve compiled a modest sampling of ways to help your community.
And for a closer look at a local group that gives back to its community year-round, check out food writer Mackensy Lunsford’s article “Planting a Seed” elsewhere in this issue.
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