Opportunities For Giving
END OF YEAR GIVING OPPORTUNITIES
As you consider your end-of-year giving, please consider supporting one of these non-profit organizations.
United Christian Alliance Response https://www.uca-response.org/ This group grew out of Hurricane Helene Relief Efforts and have supported our supply center and food pantry for more than a year now. Founder and Director, Ciara Maynard, says “While any amount is appreciated, I believe that even a small donation can make a significant difference. Just as Jesus fed the 5,000 with five loaves and two fish, we trust that with a modest monthly contribution, we can help those in need.”
Hope For Indigent Persons https://hopeforindigentpersons.com/ is the non-profit started by Father Anthony’s friend, Sister Hilda. Her organization can turn a small donation into a big change for people in Nigeria and other parts of the world experiencing extreme poverty. Sister Hilda was inspired to “do something” after hearing the reports last December of people being trampled to death at food distribution sites in Nigeria. “People, children, were dying while trying to get a bag of rice,” she said.
Valley Hope Foundation https://www.valleyhopefoundation.org/ also started after Hurricane Helene. They have three programs, disaster response, food distribution, and long-term recovery. This group supports our food pantry with donations of produce each week. Sarah Carpenter, secretary and board member, even called me—at home—on Thanksgiving weekend to make sure we were scheduled for a produce pick up this week.
St. Andrew Parish Community Outreach
Food, clothing, toilet paper, and other items are needed year-round for the St. Andrew Food Pantry, Beacon of Hope, Reconciliation House, and Catholic Charities. Donations will be gratefully accepted and can be dropped off at St. Andrew Church in Mars Hill during regular office hours or before or after the Masses. Donations can also be dropped off at Sacred Heart Church in Burnsville either before or after the Masses.
Monetary donations or donations of gift cards to Ingles or Walmart are also welcome for our Parish Poor Relief Fund to assist those who come directly to St. Andrew Parish for assistance.
St. Andrew Parish has numerous volunteer opportunities and many avenues to give of your financial resources. To volunteer your treasure, time, and talent, please contact our parish office directly.
Would you like to donate to the St. Andrew Food Pantry? We would happily accept donations of any of these food items—or, of course, cash.
Spaghetti
Mac & cheese (kids love the cups)
Sugar-free cereals
Small bag of sugar
Small bag of flour
Canned soups, vegetables, and meats
Baked beans, black beans, kidney beans
Pop-Tarts, cereal bars, breakfast bars
Mayonnaise, ketchup, mustard
Ramen noodles and noodle cups
Saltine Crackers
Kid-friendly snacks and drinks
Catholic Charities
Catholic Charities serves the poor and vulnerable among us regardless of religious affiliation. Through programs including but not limited to burial assistance, bilingual licensed clinical mental health counseling, case management, refugee resettlement, elder ministry, and immigration services as well as our food & diaper pantry here in Asheville, we seek to strengthen families, build communities, and reduce poverty.
Need confidential assistance? If you need help navigating family or health issues—or just making ends meet--please contact us at 828-255-0146.
Able to donate? Find us at www.ccdoc.org/give or mail a check to 50 Orange Street, Asheville, NC 28801 made out to Catholic Charities (memo line “food pantry”)—a great way to stretch your dollars or if you don’t have time to shop. If you prefer to donate specific items, please go to ccdoc.org/donate-grocery-items. Your donations stay local in the 12 westernmost counties of North Carolina!
Want to volunteer? We couldn't do what we do without our caring and dedicated volunteers! If you’d like to learn more about our current need for help with office reception or would like to learn more about possible future opportunities, please reach out to our Volunteer Coordinator, Hilary, at HRKalish@ccdoc.org.
During the summer months we are particularly concerned about homeless and food-insecure children who don’t have access to free school lunch programs, as well as the growing number of older adults who are unable to meet their needs on a fixed income.
If so--and you are interested in highlighting some needs for our pantry in Asheville--we would encourage the purchase/donation of:
- size 5 and 6 diapers
- canned fruit and vegetables
- tuna
- rice
High demand non-food items continue to be:
- shampoo
- soap