Each winter families below the poverty level in Buncombe County and those experiencing homelessness struggle with the cold.
WLOS is proud to partner with Asheville Buncombe County Christian Ministries (ABCCM) again this year with their Safe and Warm campaign. The drive kicks off Friday, January 27, at Carolina Furniture Concepts in Arden.
You can donate new or gently used blankets and warm winter clothing at one of the drop-off locations around the county.
This year, the drive has expanded to include our Code Purple Safe Haven shelters, which have accommodated 1,600 overnight stays since the Code Purple season began in October.
"In addition to providing them a warm safe place to sleep, we provide nutritious meals, they receive personal hygiene kits, clothing, and we provide any other assistance that we can during their stay here," said Ginger Hicks, Safe Haven coordinator at Transformation Village for women and children.
There are two other shelter locations along the bus lines. Veterans Restoration Quarters with 50 beds for veteran and civilian men. Recovery Living/Costello House has 30 beds for men. Transformation Village can sleep up to 50 women and children.
ABCCM receives an average of 20 calls a day for heating assistance.
"We provide heating assistance to people who can't afford the high utility bills, the elderly on fixed incomes, struggling families. We try to help everybody stay safe and warm this winter," said Jim Brewer, director of altruism at ABCCM.
It is easy to make monetary donations by going online to abccm.org.
Carolina Furniture Concepts will match all monetary donations up to $30,000.
College Hunks Moving Junk and First Citizens Bank are proud Safe and Warm sponsors.