In This Month's Update

• Holiday Food Drive

•Helping José

•Our Current Needs

•Get Together For IAM Oct 14,15,16

•Who We Helped in August

•Hunger Coalition's 40th Annual Hunger Walk

•IAM Car Stickers Available

•Thank You Margaret, Bill and Wayne

•IAM's Current Volunteer Needs

IAM will be conducting a special Holiday Food Drive from October 3rd through December 12th. Please help us provide complete holiday meals to our neighbors in need. Donate seasonal food items so that our neighbors can share in the joy of special holiday meal in their own home. 

Donations are accepted Monday, Wednesday, Thursday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Tuesdays from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., and Fridays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Please call us at 828 697 7029 to schedule a large donation pick up. Thank you for helping IAM share some season joy!

It was a special moment when IAM’s Betsy Logan, Co-Social Services Manager, was able to visit with 5th-grader José and his family at Upward Elementary. Working with IAM, José’s family was able to procure a special speech-generating device that will help Jose communicate with his teachers, classmates, and friends at his school. 

Our neighbors in need face a myriad of different kinds of challenges - food and housing insecurity, inadequate clothing, transportation issues, and sometimes special medical needs. Through the generosity and helping hands of our community, IAM is able to be part of special moments like this visit to Jose’s school.

We are thrilled that Jose’s world will be a little easier now that he can more effectively communicate with his teachers, his friends and his loved ones at home. Thank you for making José’s days brighter!

Our Pantry and Clothing Needs for October

Can you help IAM help our neighbors in need of crisis services?

During the weekend of October 14-16, host a ‘Get Together for IAM’ on your deck, patio, in your yard, on your porch or inside your home. Enjoy an afternoon with friends and neighbors while extending your caring hearts and helping hands to make a difference for our neighbors who are struggling to care for their families. 

You provide a brunch, luncheon, appetizers, or a dinner and beverages (iced tea, lemonade, cider, adult beverages – whatever you like). IAM will provide information about IAM and raffle prizes. Each host will ask attendees to make a suggested donation of $50 or more to help fund IAM’s crisis service nonprofit.

For More Information on Planning Your Get Together for IAM Email fundraising@iam-hc.org or call Diana at 828.697.7029 Ext. 203.

IAM was thrilled to participate once again in the 2022 Hunger Walk organized by our good friends and wonderful partners at the Henderson County Hunger Coalition and supported by local faith-based organizations. This was their 40th year of organizing the Hunger Walk!

Our staff and IMA volunteers joined hundreds of other walkers at Jackson Park on September 17th to raise funds and awareness in the fight against food insecurity in our community. Money raised will be distributed to IAM and other non-profit organizations for hunger relief in Henderson County.

Thank you to everyone who participated and a huge thank you to Hunger Coalition for its amazing support of IAM's food programs!

The IAM pantry is busier than ever as we help neighbors deal with the challenges of higher food costs. In August, our Pantry served 6,744 individuals from 1,843 families with enough food for a week. We also provide pet food for our four-legged neighbors.  

Also during August, our Clothing Assistance Department provided clothing, shoes, and linens to 888 neighbors from 435 families!

We are beyond grateful for all the individuals and community partners that make our mission to fight food insecurity and provide the dignity of seasonally appropriate clothing here in Henderson County. Thank you!

Now you can advocate for IAM everywhere you drive! We have new IAM stickers that would look great on your back window or bumper. Stop by our offices to get yours soon. 

IAM honored Margaret and Bill Branigan this month with our Outstanding Volunteer Service Award. Bill and Margaret have been dedicated volunteers and instrumental in organizing dozens of additional IAM volunteers from Biltmore Church Hendersonville. Their Biltmore Church group can be seen most Tuesdays providing invaluable assistance during our very busy Drive-Thru Tuesday events.

Most of all, IAM is grateful for Margaret and Bill’s cheerful spirit, willingness to do whatever is needed, and their advocacy of IAM in our community. Thank you!

(Pictured L-R: Elizabeth Moss, Executive Director, Margaret and Bill, and Karol Murray, IAM Chief Operating Officer.)

In July, the IAM Board recognized the exceptional service of Wayne Foresman who has volunteered as an Intake Facilitator for over nine years.

Wayne's commitment to serving our neighbors in need is an inspiration to all of us and we are extremely grateful for his hard work and compassionate heart for helping others! Thank you, Wayne!

IAM is excited to announce that our community has voted IAM as the #1 Non-Profit/Charity Organization for the Best of Blue Ridge 2022 awards! 

We are humbled by this recognition in a community represented by so many wonderful non-profit organizations. Special congratulations and a huge “Thank You!” to our hard-working staff, our hundreds of dedicated volunteers, and our many community partners that make this award possible!

Tom Stark, IAM’s Food Assistance Manager, and Karol Murray, IAM’s Chief Operating Officer, stand with our newest delivery van. We are grateful to a grantor who wishes to remain anonymous for making it possible for IAM to acquire the vehicle.

Be on the lookout for IAM's new delivery van as it travels out and about in Henderson County picking up food and other items to better serve our neighbors in need!

Volunteers needed! Our IAM Thrift Store is looking for volunteers to be donation sorters, clothing pricers, and driver helpers to assist in donation pickups. You can volunteer as little as 4 hours per week with various shifts available. Our greatest need is for Friday Afternoons and Saturdays.  

Learn more about volunteering at IAM here. Or contact Amy Lewis, Volunteer Coordinator at 828.697-7029 ext. 215 or email her at volunteer.manager@iam-hc.org.

Thank you for your care and support!

• $5,000 & up: Provide vital support for service programs: food, financial assistance with rent, utility bills and gasoline vouchers, clothing and linens, personal hygiene and cleaning items and more 
• $2,500: Purchase enough food to feed 100 adults and children for a week 
• $1,000: Provide the security deposit on a new apartment for a single mother struggling to keep her three young children safe, fed, and succeeding in school 
• $500: Pay an elderly veteran's utility bill to keep his lights on and the heat on when it’s freezing outside 
• $250: Purchase 25 cases of diapers for new mothers struggling to make ends meet 
• $100: Provide a “Back-to School” new clothing and shoes kit for three elementary students 
• $50: Provide bed linens for a family setting up their new apartment $25 Feed a neighbor in need for a week