Freedom Through Service
Freedom Through Service
Service Projects
Upcoming
September 2024
Weeding + Harvesting w/ Southside Community Farm
Tuesday, September 10th, 9am-12pm
Southside Community Farm (SCF) is an urban food space in the historically Black Southside neighborhood. Since 2014, SCF has been a BIPOC-centered space for neighborhood residents to enjoy healthy food and to connect with nature and each other.
We will be weeding + harvesting in the Southside Community Orchard. Please wear comfortable clothing, closed-toed shoes, sunscreen, and work gloves if you have them. Bring water! No age restrictions. Sign up at the FD or email Ariel@AshevilleCommunityYoga.org
SCF is at risk of losing access to the land they have stewarded for ten years. In a neighborhood without a grocery store, SCF is the only place to access fresh, healthy food. If you want to learn more and support the farm, please visit their website: https://southsidecommunitygarden.org/save-the-farm/
Past Projects
August 2024
Month-Long Pet Supply Drive w/ Brother Wolf Animal Rescue
We will be collecting pet supplies all month! Please drop off items at the front lobby.
List of accepted donations:
- sheets, towels, blankets (no pillows)
- dog/cat beds
- dog/cat food
- dog treats (small, soft training treats are the most in-demand!)
- dog/cat toys
- empty paper towel rolls (for enrichment puzzles for the animals)
- scrub brushes/sponges
- dog harnesses, leashes, collars
- pet crates
Please email Ariel@AshevilleCommunityYoga.org with any questions!
July 2024
Blanket Project w/ BeLoved and Local Cloth
Saturday July 20th, 10am-12pm
We will gather to spread out the blankets collected for BeLoved’s blanket drive to create a giant “quilt” at Warren Wilson College. We are seeking several volunteers to help us spread out the blankets to create our quilt, which will be captured via images taken by a drone!
Have a blanket you want to donate? Contact Peggy at peggy@localcloth.org. Please do not simply drop them unannounced: at Local Cloth–reminder: we don’t have storage space for them!
Sign up at the front desk or email Ariel@AshevilleCommunityYoga.org
June 2024
Stonewall Gala w/ Blue Ridge Pride
Saturday, June 29th 4:30-9pm
Join us for Blue Ridge Pride’s first annual Stonewall Gala. This event is intended as a celebration of the many victories and strengths of our LGBTQIA+ community, as well as a rallying call for continued advocacy. We will be helping to serve meals to attendees and bus tables. Participation includes free attendance and a meal! Must be 21+. 9 volunteers max.
Sign up at the front desk or email Ariel@AshevilleCommunityYoga.org
May 2024
CANCELLED
Clean-up w/ Wildwood Herbal
Tuesday May 21st 9am-12pm
Wildwood Herbal Farm has acquired land to use for planting produce! However, the land is littered with trash and plastics. As they are an Organic Biodynamic Sustainable produce provider, the land must be reclaimed back to its natural state before they can begin to grow the crops that will go to programs such as the Equal Plates Project, feeding over 1,000 meals weekly to underserved communities and neighbors.
We will be cleaning up the field so that by fall they can begin to sow winter crops.
Sign up at the front desk or email Ariel@AshevilleCommunityYoga.org
April 2024
Cleanup w/ Protect Pisgah
Saturday April 20th 10am-3pm
Protect Pisgah is a project run by WNC Photo Tours. Their mission is to protect and clean sections of Pisgah National Forest that accumulate a lot of trash.
We will be helping to clean up a spot north of Burnsville, about an hour from Asheville. We will meet at Asheville Community Yoga at 10am, then carpool/caravan to the clean-up spot together, where we’ll spend a few hours caring for the earth.
7 volunteers max, must commit to being present the entire time. Bonus points if you have a pickup truck!
Sign up at the front desk or email Ariel@AshevilleCommunityYoga.org
March 2024
Cleaning w/ Asheville Poverty Initiative
Tuesday March 19th, 1-3pm
Asheville Poverty Initiative (API) aims to end the social injustice of poverty and build community. Through their project, 12 Baskets Cafe, they provide sit-down meals and grab-and-go meals/groceries. We will be helping with end-of-day cleaning on one of their pantry days.
Sign up at the front desk or email Ariel@AshevilleCommunityYoga.org
February 2024
Arts, Crafts, and Games Afternoon w/ OpenDoors of Asheville
Friday, February 9th, 3-5pm
OpenDoors of Asheville’s mission is to strengthen community by eliminating the race-based opportunity and achievement gaps for students through education. They are going to be hosting an “Arts, Crafts, and Games Afternoon.” There will be a selection of different stations with games, coloring, bracelet-making, and other crafts available. Volunteers are needed to sit down next to students and assist them in whatever activity or craft they are doing.
Sign up at the front desk or email Ariel@AshevilleCommunityYoga.org
January 2024
Market Support w/Bounty and Soul
Tuesday January 30th, 10:30am-12:30pm
Bounty and Soul is a local community-based non-profit providing access to fresh produce and wellness education for everyone.
We will be helping to support their weekly Produce to the People market, where community members are able to access nutritious, culturally relevant fresh local food. Limited to 10 volunteers.
Not able to make it? You can still participate!
We will be collecting love notes to bring to the volunteering event and they will be placed in the produce boxes given to community members. These notes can be drawings or words of encouragement, support, and inspiration. Supplies are available at the front desk.
Sign up at the front desk or email Ariel@AshevilleCommunityYoga.Org with any questions.
December 2023
Book Drive w/ Tranzmission Prison Project
TPP is an Asheville-Based LGBTQ+-focused volunteer-run prison abolition/advocacy group that provides free books, zines, prisoner resources, and other means of support to incarcerated folks nationwide
We will be accepting Book Donations for the entire month of December. Donate your pre-loved books or buy a new book from TPP’s wishlist linked here. Soft-cover preferred. TPP will also gladly accept donations of store credit to Mr. K’s, Downtown Books and News, Bagatelle, etc. and/or gift cards to local bookstores.
Email ariel@ashevillecommunityyoga.org with any questions.
October 2023
Service Project w/ Heart of Horse Sense (7041 Meadows Town Rd, Marshall, NC 28753)
Tuesday October 3rd, 10am-1pm
Heart of Horse Sense is a local organization whose mission is to offer Trauma-Informed Equine Assisted Therapy to Veterans, At-Risk Youth, and survivors in WNC. We’ll be helping to clean the farm in preparation for the organization’s upcoming event: Moonlight on the Meadow. We also have the opportunity to watch a live horse demonstration!
Sign up at the front desk or email ariel@ashevillecommunityyoga.org
September 2023
Service Project w/ All Souls Counseling Center
Saturday September 23rd, 8:30am-11am OR 11am-1:30pm
All Souls Counseling Center is a non-profit organization based in Asheville whose mission is to “serve as a leading nonprofit provider and community partner for quality mental health counseling, outreach, and education with a focus on those who are underinsured and uninsured in Western North Carolina.”
They are hosting their annual Mental Health Matters Walk/Run for Awareness on Saturday, September 23rd on the UNCA campus, where Asheville Community Yoga will be hosting a resource table and helping with setting up and cleaning up after the event.
We will have two shifts available:
- The first shift will be 8:30 a.m.- 11:00 a.m.
- The second shift will be 11:00 a.m.- 1:30 p.m.
Sign up at the front desk or email ariel@ashevillecommunityyoga.org
August 2023
Service Project w/ Wildwood Herbal
Friday August 25th 9am-4pm
We will be rebuilding the greenhouses they lost in the spring due to severe weather. 50% of the greenhouses were damaged during the wind rain event in April.
These greenhouses are crucial to growing crops during the fall through the spring, as they provide weekly deliveries of fresh seasonal vegetables to 150 older adults that attend the 4 congregate senior centers in Asheville and Buncombe County.
Limited to 15 volunteers! All tools will be provided as well as snacks and water. Hours for the project will be 9am-4pm. Bring comfortable clothing, sunscreen, and lunch.
Sign up at the front desk or email ariel@ashevillecommunityyoga.org
July 2023
Service Project w/ Riverlink
Thursday July 13th 10-12pm
We’ll be working to remove invasive plants from a stand of River Cane (a species of bamboo native to the SE US) along the Wilma Dykeman Greenway.
RiverLink will provide all necessary tools and equipment. Closed-toed shoes are required and pants are recommended. We also recommend everyone bring a water bottle.
Sign up at the front desk or email ariel@ashevillecommunityyoga.org
June 2023
Service Project w/ Blue Ridge Pride
Wednesday June 28 from 6-8pm
We’ll be helping with the launch of their individual donor campaign. Volunteers will set up and take down tables, answer questions/direct attendees, make sure people keep drinks inside, help with their raffle basket tickets, etc.
We have space for only 10 volunteers!
Sign up at the front desk or email ariel@ashevillecommunityyoga.org
May 2023
Service Project w/ Habitat for Humanity
Saturday May 20th 8:15am-3:15pm
We will be helping them build homes by framing floors/walls, setting trusses, raising roof ladders, installing doors/windows and stucco, painting, and landscaping.
No experience necessary! You must be able to stay the entire day.
Bring comfortable clothing, water, and lunch!
Sign up at the front desk or email ariel@ashevillecommunityyoga.org