Social Responsibility

A community service project creates a unique team building opportunity. A shared, active experience with positive goals can be fun and energizing for attendees as well as make a beneficial impact on the environment or residents of your host city.

Community Service Oranizations

Contact these organizations for information on planning a group service project:

• Asheville Greenworks, an affiliate of Keep America Beautiful, is a volunteer-based organization working to achieve a Clean and Green Asheville and Buncombe County through community organizing, educating and environmental stewardship 828.254.1776
• Hands on Asheville-Buncombe makes it easy to find a one-time volunteer project for your group. Volunteering as a group is a great way for companies and groups to promote teamwork, build morale, develop leadership and strengthen community relations...not to mention it's a great way to have fun, give back, and learn more about the Asheville community.
•  MANNA Food Bank is a registered 501©(3) nonprofit organization that collects, stores, warehouses and distributes food to MANNA accredited non profits throughout 16 counties in Western North Carolina. 828-299-3663
• RiverLink is a regional non-profit spearheading the economic and environmental revitalization of the French Broad River. Make a difference by participating in a river cleanup with RiverLink and Adopt-a-Stream teams. 828-252-8474 ext. 118, or volunteer@riverlink.org

No time on the agenda for a project? Donate.

Donating to local charities is also a wonderful way to benefit your host community. Give attendees the chance to donate a few dollars at registration, or donate unused and leftover items from your meeting. Here are some organizations that can facilitate donating:

• Western Carolina Rescue Ministries accepts food donations. Call 828-254-0471 to donate leftover food. Mon-Fri only.
• The Hope Chest for Women, a WNC nonprofit, makes the most of in-kind donations of local gas and pharmacy gift cards, gift certificates and monetary contributions. These items help offset the expense of transportation, prescription and supplemental medications, and other necessities for women diagnosed with breast or gynecologic cancer. Call 828.418.1344 for more information.

Get Creative

Encourage meeting attendees to bring items that will be donated to a local charity. Create centerpieces with items and save on your decor budget. Art supplies for local schools, pet food & supplies, gloves and hats for needy children, canned food items for local food bank or homeless shelters will make interesting table decorations.