Discover the Bliss of Asheville's Green and Eco-Friendly Volunteer Opportunities

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Volunteer Opportunities

Asheville, and indeed all of Western North Carolina, with its many eco-friendly tourist attractions and its concern with conservacy and the environment, offer numerous green and eco-friendly volunteer opportunities.

We intend to list as many green volunteer opportunities as we can find, and would appreciate your help in letting us know about any that we have left out.

SustainableAsheville.com's list of volunteer opportunities

Asheville ReCyclery
"... has been getting as many people as possible out of their cars and on to bicycles. We are open to all members of the community and encourage everyone to come in and work on bikes, learn about fixing bikes, buy bikes and parts, get tune-ups, come to work shops, share knowledge and meet other bike enthusiasts. The ReCyclery is a donation based, pay what you can afford organization, open to work trade, bike trade and payment plans. Volunteers welcome as well as donations of bikes and parts and the monetary sorts..."

Blue Ridge Biofuels
"... a worker/ community owned owned business with the objective of bringing education and locally produced clean burning biodiesel to Asheville and Western North Carolina. Our biodiesel will soon be produced from area restaurants' waste vegetable oil and burns cleanly in any diesel engine...." and is actively seeking volunteers to help them realize this dream...."

Botanical Gardens of Asheville
"... Since the Botanical Gardens at Asheville receive no public funding, we are dependent on our loyal corps of volunteers to ensure our success.  Our volunteers are involved in a wide variety of activities..."

Habitat for Humanity
"...Volunteers are the heart of Asheville Area Habitat for Humanity. Over 1,800 people volunteer with us each year. Asheville Habitat has a variety of volunteer opportunities where you can partner with others to help fulfill our mission of building simple, decent houses for families currently living in inadequate conditions. In addition, you will have an opportunity to learn new skills and meet a variety of people...."

Manna Foodbank

• First of all, we ask volunteers to work in our warehouse processing area, which represents both the heart of the operation and our greatest need. You will be trained to conscientiously check, clean, label, sort and box salvage food and non-food packaged items which will then be made available to our member agencies for distribution in WNC. You also help us keep our warehousing and agency shopping areas organized and clean.
• Special fund-raising events, such as Blue Jean Ball and food drives, such as the Ingles Giving Tree, are always in need of helping hands and minds to perform a variety of services.
• After you have some experience with our food processing operation, you may also want to discuss other options with our Volunteer Coordinator. Specialized service areas include: food pick-ups from local donors, speaking on behalf of MANNA in the community, agency liaison work, office and computer-based work.

WNC Nature Center
Offers numerous opportunities for volunteers

Click on each of the dozens of categories to the left to uncover what makes the Asheville area so vital, so intriguing and so, well, UTTERLY BLISSFUL!

Volunteer to Help Conserve the Land of Western North Carolina

Asheville Botanical Garden
"... receive no public funding, we are dependent on our loyal corps of volunteers to ensure our success. Our volunteers are involved in a wide variety of activities including, but not limited to: Gift Shop, Garden Maintenance, Education (Help develop programs, secure speakers, etc.), Facility and Grounds Maintenance, Build or repair structures, plumbing, painting, etc., Special Events. Hours are flexible; weekend and weekday slots are available...."

Asheville PARC
(People Advocating Real Conservacy)

Carolina Mountain Land Conservacy
"... We have a strong cadre of volunteers who are generous with their time and talents in so many different ways.  We're always looking for more people to join in our land conservation efforts including

• Lead or organize a hike
• Coordinate community speaking engagements.
• Take photographs of conserved properties
• Do you have graphic design skills?..help design our brochures and newsletters
• Help with bulk mailings.
• Send out thank-you-notes.
• Serve on Committees.
• Calling appraisers, accountants and marketing professionals, active or retired - You can add valuable perspectives to the important decisions made through committees.
• Help the Stewardship committee with trail maintenance and boundary-marking.

Cradle of Forestry
"... Do you enjoy people and a lovely mountain setting? Spend a few months with us in the heart of the Pisgah National Forest, in western North Carolina, at the Cradle of Forestry historic site, home of the first school of forestry in America..."

Friends of the Smokies
"... assists the National Park Service in its mission to preserve and protect Great Smoky Mountains National Park by raising funds and public awareness, and providing volunteers for needed projects." Meet new people, make friends, get a free T-shirt.

Organic Growers School
"... supporting sustainable agriculture in the Southern Appalachians... Contribute your time and talents: participate in Organic Growers School events as a volunteer!..."

Quality Forward
Volunteer to keep Buncombe County clean and green.

Riverlink
"... a regional non-profit spearheading the economic and environmental revitalization of the French Broad River and its tributaries as a place to work, live and play." Many volunteer opportunties to be a part of this vital community event.

Southern Appalachian Mountains Conservacy
"...We need energetic volunteers. Opportunities include:

• Leading guided hikes on protected properties
• Recruiting new members
• Planning and hosting special events
• Walking property boundaries
• Taking photographs of properties
• Public and community outreach
• General office work"