My family makes a small monthly contribution to this organization. We are especially grateful to…read moreManna as the government shutdown is cutting into SNAP access to food.

Blue Jean Ball Benefit tonight! 80's Theme tonight...plenty of kinked hair, leg warmers, neon…read morecolors, high side pony tails...Michael Jackson music. Restaurants include Biscuit Head, which opened last week, as will as Chestnut, Posana, Lexington Avenue Brewery, Cucina 24, the Biltmore Estate, French Broad Chocolate Lounge, Tupelo Honey, Dough and others. Musical entertainment for the evening includes the soulful rockers The Broadcast, plus Flashback Sally. Very fun event for the Manna Food Bank. The food bank, founded in 1982, collaborates with 221 other agencies in 16 Western North Carolina counties and distributed more than 11 million pounds of food last year.

Great organization. They do some excellent work…read more However, I am disappointed that I gave a sizeable monetary donation and never received a thank you in any form. Not an email, not a letter in the mail, not a phone call, absolutely no thanks in any way from anyone! I do not donate to receive praise but I do think that it would be both gracious and professional to thank those who give their money. I'm not inspired to give more to them. In fact, they lost out on other money that I gave to another worthy cause. The other organization thanked me almost immediately. Sorry to write something less than glowing about such a great organization but if you want people to keep giving, then give your thanks!!!

Quality produce and flowers at good prices. This is a business model I am fully behind!read more

First Step Farm is an incredible organization. A significant benefit to the entire community…read more Providing an opportunity and community for those with working to overcome addictions and producing garden, food and decorative plants for the region. Our family has purchased our Christmas Trees, wreaths and poinsettias from First Step for many years. We have also benefited from their vegetables. They support the local community in many ways. As we have in years past, we purchased our Fraser Fir cut tree and wreaths. We also purchased a marble poinsettia. The staff will trim your tree for you; wrap it up with care and help you load it on or in your car. We get a six foot tree but they have BIG trees too.

Wonderful volunteers and reasonable prices. Wide array of furniture, artwork, and decorative items.read more

My son needed stuff for his new apartment so I found this store. The selection isn't fantastic and…read moremost of the things aren't high end. This is a thrift store. Everything is affordable. I got a couch, recliner, dining room table (no chairs), some silverware, and a set of sheets plus paid for delivery all for $208. The merchandise was delivered the next day. The staff was helpful and very nice. Yep, I'd go here again.

This is the most amazing organization I have ever known. They are the most hard working , giving,…read moreproductive bunch of folks on the planet. They have helped my community in so many ways. I highly recommend them!!!

Bounty and Soul is an incredible organization!…read more Taken directly from their website, this is a snippet of why I think that they're so incredible: Mission Connecting people to food, education and each other. Vision No one hungry. Everyone healthy. Core Values We honor each other. We care for, engage with, and learn from each other. We support and value everyone. We co-create safe, inclusive communities. We treat everyone with dignity and respect. We celebrate differences. We welcome all. We believe in whole person health. We see fresh healthy food, education, and social connections as a foundation for optimal health and well-being. Bounty and Soul is an organization who believe in feeding people to create community. They have a few different programs including their market, health classes, zumba, and gardening and dig days. I've volunteered with their market twice now and plan to make it a regular part of my month. Bounty and Soul collects produce from groceries in town that would otherwise send them to the landfill, they set the food up as a market, and then people come and get the food to take it home and eat. This is a way to bring people together. They don't consider themselves a food bank but definitely feed a lot of people in our community. The staff and volunteers at Bounty and Soul really rock. They work hard to make a lovely experience for everyone involved.

Located in the River Arts District, you have to stop by and check out the retail space for this non…read moreprofit that support fiber arts and artists in a 100-mile radius of Asheville. They also offer workshops and studio space. The employees were so friendly and welcoming. They were celebrating International Women's Day when I visited and invited customers to each sew a button on a dress. They were also dyeing yarn in the back. It's really great to see such community!!

Walk inside this large space for the fiber arts in the River Arts District and you may walk out a…read moreconvert. Local arts sell their fiber arts good from purses to clothes to other goods. The staff are artists themselves and will gladly share their passion. Even if you aren't into fiver arts, walk into this non-profit.

While visiting Asheville for a long weekend from Washington, D.C., booking a Hood Huggers tour was…read moreone of the best things we did. Led by Mr. Dwayne, the tour is an hour and a half learning about the Burton Street Community, a historically Black neighborhood in West Asheville and the victim of gentrification and highway expansions. Hood Huggers was created to serve as a champion for the 1912 neighborhood and its long-time residents. My wife, eight-year-old daughter, and I booked a Sunday morning tour. Since it was just us, he gave us the option to walk it or take his little shuttle. Mr. Dwayne gave us the background on the area before Mr. Cotton, the grandson of the man who founded the neighborhood, joined us with a book of photos. After a drive, we ended at the Peace Gardens and Market, a sacred space for the community.

What a cool tour. Our tour guide was very friendly and even offered to do a shuttle right for us…read moreversus a walk ride due to the weather being cold and it was just us on the tour for that morning. He showed us a lot of different areas that were Historical for the African-American community. He also shared a lot of historical information of the schools and colleges in the area that were very prominent years ago. I will definitely recommend this tour hands down to give you more of a historical African-American background of the city based on the money that we spent I feel that it was a great value for the tour that we received the service was outstanding by our tour guide and hands-down. I definitely would recommend this tour.

The whole vibe at Animal Haven is peaceful and uplifting. You can tell the animals are thriving and…read moregenuinely cared for. They each have a name and a story, and the dedicated people who run this place treat them like family. From potbelly pigs and goats to sheep, geese, ducks, and cows, there are over 100 animals and spending time with them is just really good for the soul. It's free to visit which is amazing, but definitely make a donation to support their endless work or grab something from the thrift store on the way out. This is such a special place and a real gem for the community. I highly recommend a visit.

For nearly 26 years, AH has been home for rescued animals of all types.. sheep, goats, turkeys,…read morecows,chickens pigs, geese, dogs cats. The self-guided tours are wonderful and the property is gorgeous. The volunteers and founder Trina (her partner and co-founder passed away-- rest in power, Barb!) are such great stewards of the property and such great caretakers of the residents. Once you cross the foot bridge over the beautiful stream, you can visit with all of the residents & you can scan the qr code posted along the way, you will learn the stories of the individuals who live at AH. There is a wonderful thrift store as well! So much gratitude that this beautiful labor of love sanctuary is in the area!