Joel Edelson only meant to sell books to pay for college. Instead, going door to door, he became the first Jew many of the folks in a rural area he traveled had ever had met in their lives. “I became an ambassador for Judaism,” says Edelson, president of the Mountain Synagogue in Franklin, recalling his […]
While organizations continue to use traditional forms of community engagement such as printed mailing lists and media relations, social media platforms such as Facebook and Twitter have widened their scope of donors and support.
As families deal with competing demands, organizations that use volunteers have learned that flexibility is key. By smoothing the process of participation, groups such as the YMCA of Western North Carolina, the Junior League of Asheville and Girl Scouts Carolina Peaks to Piedmont are attracting kids to the habit of giving back.
The goal looks the same for everyone involved: an equitable, resilient system where all community members have access to plenty of nutritious, fresh food.
The inaugural Harvest Festival kicks off at the Burton Street Community Peace Gardens. Also: White Labs Asheville hosts its latest fermented pairing class; Twin Leaf and Whisk AVL team up; Fiesta Hendersonville returns; and plenty more.
With new plans for a pantry on wheels and a pop-up market program that can connect with untapped collaborators, MANNA FoodBank rounds out almost five years of work aimed at addressing health inequities among WNC’s most vulnerable populations.
Through a partnership with Patchwork Urban Farms, chef Gene Ettison is leveraging a new entrepreneurial venture to bring healthy meals and grocery options to Asheville’s food deserts.
ASHEVILLE, NC
Every year, MANNA FoodBank hosts a feast to fight famine with its annual Blue Jean Ball. Since 1983, the nonprofit has worked to involve, educate and unite people in the work of ending hunger in Western North Carolina, and for nearly 20 years, this signature event has raised money to support those efforts. This year’s 19th Blue […]
The Asheville VeganFest returns with three-days of festivities. Also: MANNA FoodBank hosts its 19th annual Blue Jean Ball, Mini-VegFest debuts, The Black Jar Honey Tasting returns and The Southern Kitchen and Bar closes.
By linking donations to friendly competitions and events and publicizing efforts on social media, Western North Carolina schools brought in more food and funds than ever before in this annual collection drive.
Food deserts —areas where people do not have easy access to large grocery stores — can occur in both urban or rural areas. Food deserts exist in many areas of WNC, including Asheville and Hendersonville. Malnutrition that occurs in food deserts can lead to poor physical and mental health.
The recent Regional Food Waste Summit at Warren Wilson College provided a forum for Western North Carolina nonprofits, businesses, educational institutions and individuals to hash out the realities of the local food waste conundrum.
Polanco brings a fresh take on Mexican fare to the former Vincenzo’s space. Also, Warren Wilson College hosts the Regional Food Waste Summit, White Labs Kitchen & Tap opens on South Charlotte Street, chocolate comes to The Collider and Abby Artemisia hosts a workshop on foraging.
Hunger Action Month brings a fresh-produce hub for Haywood and Jackson counties, an expansion of the MANNA Packs for Kids program and a new initiative that engages tourists in raising funds to alleviate food-insecurity in Asheville and beyond.
Double D’s Coffee and Desserts invites the community to be a part of its latest renovation project. Also in this week’s food news, Sunny Point Café hosts a benefit dinner for FEAST, Farm to Fender celebrates its grand opening and Seasonal School of Culinary Arts announces a week of classes with local celebrity chefs and authors.
Although it never made it into the approved budget, a provision included in North Carolina’s spending plan this spring calling for statewide cuts to food assistance had WNC hunger-relief organizations on high alert.
Supported by local churches and the Asheville-based MANNA FoodBank, the Leicester Community Welcome Table served almost 10,000 meals last year, delivered about 80 meals a week to shut-ins and generated more than 4,500 hours of volunteer labor.
The Cantina at Historic Biltmore Village is vying for a $100,000 grant that will allow it to expand its Skip a Meal program statewide. Also: Rhubarb hosts its third FED Talk, a winery passport comes to Asheville, and MANNA introduces its Table for Three raffle.
A new program spearheaded by the Asheville-Buncombe Food Policy Council gives SNAP users more spending power when purchasing fresh fruits and vegetables grown in Western North Carolina.
Funds from Town Mountain’s four previous benefit concerts for MANNA FoodBank have covered the cost of an estimated 25,000-30,000 meals, according to the band. The fifth iteration takes place at The Grey Eagle on Friday, Dec. 16.