Hands On Asheville-Buncombe

10/25/2026

Sun up to sun down, you were there. ☀️

For this weekend of gratitude, we have a very big thank-you for the individuals, teams and businesses who showed up to volunteer at our United for Youth Block Party.

You hauled. You set up. You directed traffic. You answered questions. You helped kids find their way around. You jumped in when something needed to be done — and you kept going, even when the sun was doing its absolute best to wear everyone out.

To Cigna Healthcare for sponsoring the Volunteer Reception area and every individual volunteer who spent the day with us: thank you.

You helped create the kind of event where families could simply show up, have fun and feel welcomed.

That doesn't happen by accident. It happens because people like you show up.

And we are so grateful you did. 💙

10/22/2026

As our Week of Gratitude continues, we are recognizing the volunteers who helped make the School Supply Drive possible.

Thank you to everyone who sorted supplies, packed backpacks, organized materials, and helped wherever they were needed. We are especially grateful to the businesses and organizations that hosted workplace drives and packing events, including Eaton, Rotary Club of Asheville, and Deerfield Episcopal Retirement Community!

Your time and effort helped provide local students with the supplies they need to begin the school year ready to learn. Thank you for showing up for our community.

09/25/2026

We need you to volunteer THIS Sunday at the Read to Succeed Asheville/Buncombe Family Literacy Fair!

This event will put tens of thousands of books into the hands of children, families, educators, and schools across Western North Carolina.

Click this link to sign up to volunteer:

Thank you for volunteering for the Family Literacy Festival! Please complete this form to select one or more volunteer shifts from Thursday, September 24, through Sunday, September 27. Most shifts are approximately three hours. After you submit this form: Read 2 Succeed will email you a link to comp...

09/02/2026

We’re honored to receive a grant from the to help expand our efforts in feeding kids across Buncombe County through our Community Nights. Thanks for partnering with us to create real change.

You can find a Community Night near you at one of our 9 Asheville City and Buncombe County schools. Check it out --> https://www.unitedwayabc.org/communitynights

08/18/2026

We want to take a moment to say a very sincere thank you to the 278 volunteers who helped make this year’s School Supply Drive possible.

The generosity of the people and organizations who funded the backpacks made an incredible difference, but those backpacks still needed to be sorted, packed, moved, and prepared for students. Over three full days, our volunteers took on that work—together packing and distributing 2,770 backpacks for local students.

We are especially grateful to everyone who spent those long days with us at the Harrah’s warehouse. And to the businesses and organizations who hosted School Supply Drive packing parties of their own: thank you for making space for this work and inviting us into your offices and communities. We genuinely love coming to you. There is something wonderful about watching a regular workday turn into a room full of people sorting supplies, packing bags, laughing together, and knowing that what you are doing will make a difference for a student.
Eaton, Deerfield Episcopal Retirement Community, Rotary Club of Asheville

This drive takes a community to pull together, and our volunteers are a huge part of that community.

Thank you for giving your time, your energy, and your willingness to simply show up and help. Because of you, 2,770 students will begin the school year with the supplies they need to feel prepared and ready to learn.

07/26/2026

We're still looking for 100+ volunteers to help make the United for Youth Block Party a joyful, welcoming experience for every family who attends!

This year, gathering together means even more. It's a chance to remind one another that our community is strongest when we show up—for our neighbors, for our young people, and for each other.

Whether you can volunteer for an hour or an entire shift, there's a place for you. With volunteer opportunities available throughout the day, it's easy to find a time that fits your schedule.

Help bring the joy. Help create connection. Help show our students what it looks like when a community stands behind them.

Because Stronger Together isn't just our theme—it's a promise we keep.

💙 Volunteer on August 7 and be part of an evening dedicated to youth success, community, and hope.
🔗 https://www.handsonasheville.org/need/detail/?need_id=1269526

07/21/2026

When you bring together a room full of people who believe in the future of our students, you know it's going to be a good day. 💙🎒

Every year, the Rotary Club of Asheville shows up in a big way—purchasing backpacks and spending the day packing them with music, laughter, and plenty of teamwork at New Belgium Brewing.

Together, they packed more than 150 backpacks that will soon be in the hands of local students, helping them walk into the first day of school feeling prepared and confident.

A huge thank you to the Asheville Rotary Club for making this annual tradition such a joyful one, and to New Belgium Brewing for once again being an incredible host.

We're in the final days of our 2026 School Supply Drive, and there's still time to be part of this incredible community effort.

🎒 Make one last donation to help us reach our goal:
https://www.unitedwayabc.org/schoolsupplydrive

Let's finish strong—together.

07/16/2026

The countdown is on, and we need your help.

In just a few days, our School Supply Drive will come to a close, but we're not at our goal yet. Right now, there are still hundreds of local students counting on our community to show up for them.

The first day of school should be filled with excitement—not anxiety over whether you have the supplies you need. A new backpack, sharpened pencils, fresh notebooks... these aren't just school supplies. They're confidence. They're belonging. They're the feeling of walking into a classroom ready to learn.

And for parents already stretching every dollar, your gift means one less impossible choice. It means they can focus on helping their child succeed instead of worrying about how to afford another item on the school supply list.

Our goal is to send 2,600 Buncombe County students back to school equipped, confident, and ready to thrive—but we can't get there without you.

🎒 Donate today: https://www.unitedwayabc.org/schoolsupplydrive
📲 Share this post.

Together, we can make the first day a little brighter for thousands of local students.

07/13/2026

We're looking for volunteers to help us pack thousands of backpacks for local students!

Hundreds of people across Buncombe County have already donated school supplies to this year's School Supply Drive. Now we need volunteer hands to help turn those generous donations into backpacks that will be distributed to students before the first day of school.

And trust us—this is one of our favorite volunteer events of the year. Walking into a room filled with thousands of backpacks never gets old.

Volunteers will help:
🎒 Set up the event space
✏️ Pack school supplies into backpacks
📦 Load backpacks for distribution
🧹 Break down the event space

Whether you come by yourself, bring a friend, or sign up with your family or coworkers, you'll play a direct role in helping local students start the school year with confidence.

Sign up for your volunteer shift today!
💙

United Way of Asheville and Buncombe County is dedicated to creating a community where everyone has the opportunity to succeed. One way we achieve this is through our annual School Supply Drive. Since 2007, our Volunteer Center, Hands On Asheville-Buncombe, has mobilized the community to equip over....

07/03/2026

Want to be part of one of the biggest back-to-school celebrations in our community? 🎉📚

United Way of Asheville and Buncombe County is looking for volunteers to help make the United for Youth (U4Y) Community Engagement Block Party a success in Pack Square Park on Friday, August 7!

And we have a special call for our closers. 🌙💪
We need dedicated volunteers for our 8–10 PM shift to help us wrap up strong—breaking down barriers, packing supplies, and moving materials back to our office. These final hours are just as important as the first.
🔗 https://www.handsonasheville.org/need/detail/?need_id=1269526

Show up for students. Show up for families. Show up for each other. ❤️

United Way is recruiting and managing volunteers to support the United for Youth (U4Y) Community Engagement Block Party in Pack Square on Friday, August 7th. During this family-friendly event, volunteers will participate in setting up, checking in participants, handing out programs, assisting staff,...