The website is free to use for any non-profit in the county—regardless of their affiliation with United Way. It is also completely free for individuals in the community to use.
Volunteer Opportunities
In Hendersonville, it's easier than ever to find volunteer opportunities thanks to a multitude of organizations that operate year-round. Do you know of a group or club not listed here or one in need of updating? If so contact Hendersonville.com or use our submission form and we'll add it right away.
Henderson County 4-H helps youth to grow and develop through learn-by-doing experiences that are developmentally appropriate, positive, cooperative, and experiential. Four-H promotes teaching of essential life skills that will give young people tools to help them become competent, caring and contributing leaders as they progress into adulthood. For more information on this group call 828-697-4891.
Interfaith Assistance Ministry helps provide financial or in-kind asistance to Henderson County residents who find themselves faced with a financial crisis.
Pisgah Legal Services mission is to provide effective, high-quality legal counseling and representation for poor people in certain non-criminal matters that address the client’s basic needs; to ensure equal justice for poor people; to advance and protect the legal rights of the poor, and substantially improve their live. Each year, area lawyers and people from the community volunteer with Pisgah Legal Services. These generous individuals allow PLS to serve many more people than we ever could with staff alone.
WCCA is headquartered in Hendersonville, NC and serves Henderson, Transylvania, Rutherford and Polk Counties by providing programs and services that improve people’s lives by creating pathways to self-reliance and healthier living.
We do this through 4 program areas:
* Early Childhood Education – Head Start, Early Head Start & NC Pre-K
* Housing Assistance – Section 8 Voucher program
* Transportation – Apple Country Transportation (General/Medical)
* Older Adults Services – Congregate and Home Delivered Meals
WCCA has a variety of volunteer opportunities available within each of the 4 program areas, two thrift stores located in Hendersonville and Rosman, NC and our Hendersonville Administrative office. Give us a couple of hours of your time and together we’ll make a difference!
Animal Compassion Network is a local nonprofit organization placing rescued and abandoned dogs and cat into approved permanent homes. Volunteers are the backbone of Animal Compassion Network. Volunteers are needed for adoption events, fostering animals, fundraising events, and special events. For more information, call 828-258-4820 or email [email protected].
WNCAP is a multi-faceted organization, offering a variety of opportunities for those looking to serve. We could not do the work we do without the support of our hundreds of committed and energetic volunteers. Our goal is to offer volunteer experiences that are meaningful, enjoyable and most importantly, help the people we serve. WNCAP volunteers join the fight against HIV/AIDS through direct client support, educating the public on HIV prevention, and assisting with our ongoing advocacy, outreach and fundraising projects.
Connemara Farms was the home where the famous poet and writer Carl Sandburg spent the last 22 years of his life. The National Park Service offers guided house tours, bookstore, video’s, hiking, and visits to historic goat farm.
Four Seasons, The Care You Trust, serves patients and families in 11 counties of western North Carolina. Based in Flat Rock, we offer opportunities for volunteers to directly support hospice and palliative care patients at home, in local facilities, and at our Elizabeth House in-patient residence. The Hospice Home Store in downtown Hendersonville is staffed by over 50 volunteers who receive donations, sort, stock, price, and provide customer service. Volunteers also help in our offices with administrative support or maintenance jobs. There are opportunities to support veterans in our care, as well as grief clients who have lost a loved one. Student internships are available by special arrangement. Contact us today to find out more!
Hands On’s mission is to provide children and families with “hands on” educational experiences that stimulate the imagination and motivate learning in a fun, safe environment.
Boy Scouts of America serves others by helping to instill values in young people, and in other ways to prepare them to make ethical choices during their lifetime in achieving their full potential. The values we strive to instill are based on those found in the Scout Oath and Law.
Holmes Educational State Forest is 240 acres of biodiversity in a mature forested ecosystem. With five miles of trails, a public picnic shelter and educational programs, opportunities for volunteers are numerous. Please email [email protected] or call 828-692-0100 for more information.
The Pisgah Center for Wildlife Education is looking for volunteers. They need people of all ages to help with various projects. You must enjoy working outdoors to enjoy working here. Call 828-877-4423 for more information.
Guided by over a century of service, the Hendersonville Woman’s Club continues to provide a platform for all women to advance the common good with a view toward the future where even small successes, when taken together, are proof of the concept that every individual person makes a difference in creating a better world. The next regular meeting location is available on the group’s website.
Big Brothers / Big Sisters has a mission to develop children’s self esteem and character through volunteer mentoring programs and friendships to help them achieve their highest potential.
The Share the Warmth program provides financial assistance for heating bills during the winter season for low income families within the Duke Energy service territory in the Carolinas. Since the program’s establishment in 1985, we have provided over $33 million in heating bill assistance. Funding for Share the Warmth comes from Duke Energy customers, employees and the Duke Energy Foundation. In November, Duke Energy customers receive a bill insert about the STW program. The Duke Energy Foundation will match up to $500,000 in customer contributions during the heating season.
Pardee UNC Health Care is a not-for-profit health care system that was founded in 1953 and is managed by UNC Health Care. Volunteers are vital to the effective operation of this community resource, and serve in all aspects of hospital operation in everything from emergency services support to human resources.
House Tour Guide: Join the park staff in sharing the story of the poet, biographer, journalist, children’s author, and song collector Carl Sandburg. Volunteers provide house tours to the visiting public, assist in special events, and if desired assist with education visits. We provide hands-on experience, training and a sense of satisfaction in sharing our National Park Service treasure. We supply a uniform shirt and nametag, as well as information and training materials. In addition, volunteers engage in annual field trips, training sessions, and an annual award banquet. Attending a virtual orientation, short phone interview, and in-person training are required. Dates for these events will be sent to qualified applicants. Applications can be found here: Sandburg Volunteer Inquiry.
Contact the Volunteer Coordinator at 828-242-1566 or [email protected].
Goat Barn Attendant: Are you interested in helping our park rangers care for the dairy goats at Connemara Farms? These goats require daily care, including feeding, grooming, and cleaning of their stalls. We also share the story of the Sandburg family and their special herd with thousands of visitors each year.
Anyone 18 and older who has 4 hours a week to dedicate to the park is encouraged to apply for this volunteer opportunity. Applications can be found here (https://forms.office.com/g/LzQweWBSma) Attending a virtual orientation, short phone interview, and in-person training are required. Dates for these events will be sent to qualified applicants.
This website allows you to search for volunteer opportunities in Henderson, Polk, Transylvania, and surrounding counties.
The Child Advocacy Center sponsors a Help Young Parents program that needs individuals who are interested in spending time with new mothers, helping them to understand their newborn and how to properly care for them. Training is provided for volunteers. The Child Advocacy Center is also seeking volunteers to assist in their office and in their community outreach program. For more information.
The support that volunteers bring to our programs is invaluable. Our team could not be more grateful for the passion and energy our volunteers share with us and the communities we serve. Below are the various ways you can get involved with the Nutrition Outreach Department.
If you answered yes to any of these questions, then we may have a great opportunity for you!
If you would like to become a volunteer, please start with www.ymcawnc.org/nutritionprograms/volunteering. You will be contacted by someone from our team for next steps once you complete the online form.
Our Hendersonville Mobile Market is at Blue Ridge Community Health 2579 Chimney Rock Rd. The second Thursday of each month 3-4pm
My Sister’s Closet a ministry of the First United Methodist Church in Hendersonville, is filled with fall and winter clothing. The clothing is available free to women who are seeking jobs and need clothing for interview or who need clothing for current jobs. A note of referral from any helping agency in Henderson County is necessary.
Habitat for Humanity is seeking volunteers to work on home construction crews or in the Habitat ReStore. Most construction or ReStore volunteers work one day each week from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Interested volunteers are asked to call the Habitat Office at 828-694-0340.
Are you local to Hendersonville, NC and interested in volunteering with us? If so, please follow the link below to sign up!
The two main days to volunteer in the gardens will be:
– Sundays 5:00 am to 8:00 pm, starting May 19th
– Thursdays 9:00 am to 12:00 pm, starting May 23rd
This year, we are lucky enough to have two wonderful leaders at the helm of our gardens and volunteer management: Justin Brill and Secorah Arbuckle.
– Justin, a former firefighter, and paramedic has considerable experience in agriculture including past management of an organic farm and CSA program as well as working in community gardens.
– Secorah served in the army for 13 years and is now retired from the military. As a former Sergeant, she has a background in leadership and organization and is also a mother of four.
Volunteering with a Garden Squad will involve mulching, weeding, planting, harvesting, watering, and other such garden activities.
Please always come prepared with proper footwear, bug spray, a full water bottle, hat, garden gloves, sunscreen, and possibly a snack.
We have other areas of our organization for which we also need volunteers, and those are also listed on the form linked below.
Children and Family Resource Center mission is to promote the well being of our children through: advocating, encouraging coordination and providing services and resources. To find out more information on this group call 828-698-0674.
Explore hundreds of virtual volunteer opportunities in cause areas like health and medicine, education, and community building that you can do from a computer, from home or any other preferred location.
American Red Cross works to improve the quality of life of Henderson County residents by providing preparation for and relief to the victims of disaster; teaching courses to help prevent, prepare and respond to emergencies; ensuring the availability of blood and blood products; and providing support for members of the armed forces and their families. Please call 828-450-4087 or e-mail [email protected] to get involved.
Henderson County Young Leaders Program seeks to enrich the lives of students at a crossroads. We believe that the camp experience provides unique opportunities for building character, leadership and resourcefulness in young people. To learn more about volunteering as a mentor, during monthly meetings, or at events please email [email protected].
We are currently seeking people with daytime, weekday availability and a passion for working with children to be volunteer wish granters and help us enhance the wishes of our incredible Wish Kids who live in the Asheville and Hendersonville areas of North Carolina!
In this role, you work as a team to determine a child’s one true wish and give them a truly life transforming wish experience. You are also responsible for creating a wish enhancement for the child to increase the excitement for their upcoming wish!
Here are the requirements for this volunteer role:
•Complete and submit a volunteer application and Conflict of Interest Form.
•Complete a self-paid background check. The cost is roughly $26 and are run once every three years.
•Attend Wish Granter training (3 hours)
•Plan and deliver one enhancement piece/party per wish.
•Take on a minimum of 8 wishes per calendar year and 2 in one day, if applicable.
Please visit nc.wish.org to see more information on how to get involved and apply to be a Volunteer Wish Granter.
If you have any questions, please email [email protected].
World Market Place helps low income craftpersons in developing nations by marketing their handicrafts. They need volunteers to be sales clerks, to unpack merchandise, stock shelves and help with inventory. Training is provided. Call 254-8374 for more information.
True Ridge’s mission is to provide bilingual assistance & outreach to our underserved Latino neighbors in Henderson and Polk counties. We are seeking volunteers for several of our programs. Please visit our website or contact us for additional information.
At Girls on the Run we inspire girls to recognize their inner strength and celebrate what makes them one of a kind. Trained coaches lead small teams through our research-based curricula which includes dynamic discussions, activities and running games. Over the course of the ten-week program, girls in 3rd-8th grade develop essential skills to help them navigate their worlds and establish a lifetime appreciation for health and fitness. The program culminates with girls positively impacting their communities through a service project and being physically and emotionally prepared to complete a celebratory 5K event.
Interested in volunteering with youth sports programs? We’re looking for 2018 YMCA Spring Youth Sports volunteer coaches! Youth Soccer, Youth Flag Football, Youth Lacrosse, Youth Volleyball – Coed Ages 3-13. Volunteering with the YMCA youth sports programs means delivering our YMCA mission and goals through youth sports that emphasize basic skills, character development, and fair play. Our priority is building character through an enriching athletics environment. Children are challenged to grow at their own pace, embrace mistakes, and continually strive to develop a healthy mind, body and spirit!
RSVP’s purpose is to connect today’s over 55s with the people and organizations that need them most. Their contributions of skills, knowledge, and experience make a real difference to individuals, nonprofits, and faith-based and other community organizations. With RSVP, you choose how and where you want to serve. You choose the amount of time you want to give. And you choose whether you want to draw on your skills or develop new ones. In short, you find the opportunity that’s right for you.
Hendersonville Rescue Mission provides shelter to the homeless, food to the hungry, recovery to the addicted and medical assistance tot the homeless and poor of our community with the love of Jesus Christ. For more information, call 828-697-1354.
The most important measure of the YMCA is the impact it has on the lives of the people and communities it serves. Together, these diverse groups find a place of welcome and belonging at the YMCA of Western North Carolina- an organization that builds strong kids, strong families and strong communities.
The North Carolina Arboretum has many volunteer opportunities which include interpretive guiding in the gardens, greenhouse and trails, grounds maintenance, assisting staff in areas such as nursery, bonsai and interior plantings, visitor services as well as clerical and library support. The Arboretum is located on a beautiful 426-acre site southwest of Asheville.
MANNA FoodBank is looking for volunteers to help inspect, sort, repack, and clean food and nonfood items for distribution to member agencies. Call 828-299-3663 for more information.
Camera Club of Hendersonville is located in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Western North Carolina. General Meetings are held on the 4th Tuesday of every month at the Henderson County Chamber of Commerce Building located at the intersection of Kanuga Road and Church Street in Hendersonville. Meetings begin at 6:30pm. Visitors and Members enter through the back entrance of the building. Park in either the Chamber parking on the back and side of the building or in the lot across Kanuga Road.
Flat Rock Playhouse believes in the power of collaboration, community, and connection. Volunteers support the arts at Flat Rock Playhouse through gifts of time and resources, and they have the incredible opportunity to peek behind-the-scenes, learn more about how our hand-crafted productions come together, and connect with artists, staff members, and fellow volunteers. This team of supporters support the magic of live theater in these powerful ways:
-Maintaining and developing our beautiful gardens and grounds,
-Welcoming or sending off actors at the airport,
-Guiding guests and supporting FRP staff members as parkers,
-Preparing food for college-age apprentices,
-Attending to patrons as ushers at each performance.
As we return to a full season of live productions, we want YOU to be a part of the magic.
We hope you’ll join the team at Flat Rock Playhouse this season as a part of our volunteer community, Supporting Players!
To learn more about how to get involved, visit our website or contact us at [email protected].
https://www.flatrockplayhouse.org/volunteer
The Free Clinics is changing lives together, with hope and health.
We enhance the healthcare system in Henderson County & neighboring communities to ensure the accessibility of quality healthcare for uninsured, low-income clients. The Free Clinics works with volunteers and partnering healthcare providers to provide healthcare, prevention, education, medication access, and case management services, including specialty referrals.
We are looking for enthusiastic Brand Ambassadors to assist in spreading The Boys & Girls Club mission. These individuals will work closely with our development team to achieve messaging goals and objectives, such as communicating the value of our services to donors and the community, reporting donor feedback, and representing the Boys & Girls Club at events.
Girl Scouts Carolinas Peaks to Piedmont is seeking adult volunteers to serve as outreach leaders, troop leaders and event coordinators. Outreach leaders serve 8 weeks for 2 hours each week working with girls. Troop leaders are also needed to guide groups of girls through badge earning, community service projects and more for at least a year commitment. Event coordinators plan and implement events for girls in Henderson County.
An all volunteer organization designing, creating and selling hand- crafted keepsake quality greeting cards for all occasions. All proceeds benefit the following Henderson County non-profit organizations: Open Arms, Four Seasons Hospice, IAM, St. Gerard House, Safelight, Blue Ridge Humane Society and Conserving Carolina/Ecusta Trail.
There are many different ways to get involved with The Salvation Army. We offer volunteers a chance to change people’s lives across a wide range of activities and programs – all the while, being changed themselves. All of our volunteer opportunities are coordinated locally, where our staff understands exactly how you can be of the most help to most people.
Trauma Intervention Programs of Western North Carolina is looking for caring people in Buncombe and Henderson Counties willing to be part of a team of volunteers who provide immediate emotional and practical support to survivors of traumatic events.
To improve the safety, health, well-being, independence, and quality of life for children, the elderly and disabled, and families in Henderson County.
The Henderson County Council on Aging has a variety of different volunteer opportunities. Volunteers can deliver meals for Meals on Wheels, serve congregate meals at the Sammy Williams Center, volunteer in the thrift stores (both Etowah and Hendersonville) doing a variety of different tasks, and can help around the office when needed. For more information call 828-692-4203.
Conserving Carolina is a local non-profit conservation organization serving Henderson, Transylvania, Polk, and neighboring parts of Buncombe, Rutherford and Jackson counties in North Carolina and Greenville and Spartanburg counties in South Carolina. Conserving Carolina engages with passionate, talented, and dedicated volunteers in a mutually beneficial partnership to promote our organization and its mission to protect and steward land and water resources and to foster appreciation and understanding of the natural world. Volunteers are needed for our Habitat Restoration Crew, Trails Crew, office and administrative positions, education and outreach opportunities, and special events. For more information, call 828-697-5777 ext. 211 or email [email protected].
The Housing Assistance Corporation is a private, non-profit organization committed to providing safe and affordable housing for persons of limited income living in Henderson County and surrounding areas, because we believe every human being deserves the opportunity to live in a decent home. They are always in need of volunteers and always have a wide variety of projects available for volunteers to be involved in, whether it be in our New Homes construction or our Home Repair program. Please visit the website for additional information.
Blue Ridge Community Health Services mission is to enhance the health of individuals and families within the community, with emphasis on the medically underserved. For more information on this group, call 828-696-8264.
The Art League of Henderson County is – like art itself – for everyone, and our membership is open to both artists and art lovers. Since its founding in 1972, members of the Art League have believed in the value of the visual arts to our community. The Art League offers diverse opportunities to enrich the cultural life of Henderson County through public programs and art projects throughout the year. For artists, the League provides opportunities to exhibit their art and improve their skills. These include workshops, artist open studio tours, lectures and demonstrations. Program events offer an opportunity for members and visitors to interact and learn. Small, informal groups gather to share ideas, offer advice, and build camaraderie. Field trips to museums and special exhibits are scheduled to a variety of venues.
Hendersonville AARP Tax Aides is sponsored by the AARP Foundation. There are more than 5000 sites nationwide, but we have two in Henderson County (one in Hendersonville, and one in Mills River). We help low-to-moderate income taxpayers, especially those 60 and over, to file their taxes. Locally, we prepare between 3000 and 3500 federal returns each year (and a similar number of state returns). All of our services are free.
Blue Ridge Literacy Council wants to better the quality of life of adult residents of Henderson County by teaching basic reading, writing and oral communication of English. Call 828-696-3811 for more information.