The POP Project (Pages Opening People) is a non-profit organization in Asheville that provides new homes for used books. Books are gathered and sent to prisons, homeless shelters, housing communities, churches, and many other places.
Rainbow Mountain's Children's School has a 35-year history in West Asheville; the non-profit emphasizes delivering an academically challenging curriculum in a holistic way that integrates spiritual practice, the arts, and service.
Muddy Sneakers is a non-profit organization that takes fifth grade students on trips to the mountains as part of their science curriculum. Unifying classroom learning with hands-on experience helps the children grasp concepts more effectively.
Bee City USA is a program under the Center for Honeybee Research, a non-profit organization in Asheville. The program seeks to protect native pollinators and raise awareness about the importance of bees, populations of which have been shrinking as a result of pesticides and lack of nearby crop diversity.
The author presents arguments for why the Blue Ridge Parkway, a 469-mile road between North Carolina and Virginia, provides for a strong community. The Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation has funded over 3.7 million in programs and projects centered on the Parkway.
The non-profit organization, Guardian Ad Litem, serves 435 children in Buncombe County by acting as their advocates in court cases involving their neglect or abuse.
Open Hearts Art Center is a non-profit organization that serves Buncombe County adults with intellectual or developmental disabilities by providing them with community, creative, expression, and income from the sale of their artwork
Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project seeks to help children connect with their food through two initiatives: Growing Minds Farm to School and Growing Minds at Market. ASAP seeks to get children involved in the growing and cooking process of food in order to foster healthy eating habits from a young age.
Start From Seed is a local non-profit birth service provider, giving support to new low-income, high-risk mothers through its doula services. Volunteers act as advocates for new mothers and provide advice, support, and a sense of community.
Warrior Service Dogs is a non-profit organization in Western North Carolina that helps train dogs to assist veterans in navigating life after military service. Tasks include calming the symptoms of Post-traumatic Stress Disorder, assisting amputees, and bringing veterans back from seizures or flashbacks.
My Place is a non-profit organization located in Hendersonville that focuses on teenagers and young adults. It provides housing for youth coming from homelessness, educating them and providing job training along the way.
The Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project highlights the WNC Cheese Trail during its Local Food Campaign. The trail provides locals with the opportunity to visit farms where cheese is made and buy directly from cheese makers.
SouthWings is a non-profit organization that serves eleven southeastern states by monitoring environmental degradation and assists in advocating for conservation. It achieves this by taking people of influence on flights to show them the importance and beauty of protected areas.
Bountiful Cities is an all-volunteer organization that works with communities to get their community gardens organized and productive. The organization teaches gardening basics and sustainable agriculture practices.