In This Month's Update

• Souper Bowl of Caring

•Our Current Pantry and Clothing Needs

• IAM Mobile Pantry February Schedule

•Total Volunteer Hours in 2022

•Have You Visited the IAM Thrift Store?

•We Welcome IAM's Newest Board Members

•Current Volunteer Opportunities at IAM

At IAM, the Super Bowl football championship has become an extra special time of year when churches, our synagogue and community groups and caring individuals across Henderson County come together to be part of the nationwide Souper Bowl of Caring giving initiative.

Souper Bowl of Caring helps transform the annual Super Bowl into a nationwide movement inspiring people to give locally and make a collective impact on hunger. Mobilizing grassroots resources including churches, schools, civic groups, and caring individuals, the Souper Bowl of Caring movement has created over $160 million worth of support that stays completely local.

Here in Henderson County, you can organize a Souper Bowl of Caring drive in your faith congregation, neighborhood, civic organization or club to help local neighbors who are food insecure. Of course, individuals can give back too.

An Easy Way to Participate

An easy way is to ask your organization to collect cans of soup and other canned and nonperishable foods and donations of $1 or more to go with your food donations. Bring them to IAM during February, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Thursday, and from 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. on Fridays.

If you need help with a large drive, please call Tom Stark, Food Pantry Manager, at IAM to arrange a pick-up: 828-697-7029.

Thank you for helping IAM feed the estimated 1 in 7 people (children and adults) in Western North Carolina who struggle with hunger and the 1 in 5 children who face food insecurity in our region of North Carolina. With food prices the highest in 40 years, this year’s Souper Bowl of Caring is more important than ever.

This year let's make sure we score a touchdown in the fight against hunger! Thank you for your efforts to relieve hunger in our community!

Learn More about Souper Bowl of Caring at tacklehunger.com

IAM's new Mobile Pantry initiative represents our commitment to extending our services into the communities that are most susceptible to food insecurity.

The Mobile Pantry serves neighbors who might not be able to get to our pantry on Freeman Street due to transportation issues or their work/school schedules.

The IAM Mobile Pantry provides free food for a week for each member of a household and is available to any Henderson County residents experiencing difficulties securing sufficient and nutritious food for their families.

Please help IAM spread the word so that we are able to assist as many neighbors in need as possible! Thank you.

Thank You Volunteers!

In 2022, IAM was blessed by 250 selfless volunteers who served over 24,000 hours in support of our neighbors in need.

Thank you to everyone who volunteered in our pantry, clothing department, financial assistance department, at the IAM Thrift Store, as drivers, during Drive-Thru Tuesdays, and now with our Mobile Pantry Markets each week.

We couldn't do this without our amazing volunteers! Thank you!

A great and fun way to support IAM's mission is by shopping at the IAM Thrift Store. Every dollar spent at the store supports our neighbors in need!

And the selection of items available for purchase is extraordinary! Clothes, home goods, furniture, art, shoes, and much, much more!

Plan to visit IAM Thrift Store soon. Located at 119 Jack Street off Four Seasons Blvd and directly behind the IAM offices.

IAM is proud to announce the addition of four community leaders to our Board of Directors. We are excited about the skills and leadership they will provide IAM as we continue to expand our programs and services.

Welcome to IAM!

Barbara Platz

Barbara was a professional career microbiologist and Vice President of Professional Services at Pardee Hospital for 20 years; now retired.

She previously served on the United Way Board of Directors – Strategic Planning Chair and currently serves as Village of Flat Rock Planning Board Chair;

Sissy Holden Rogers

Sissy has thirty years of experience in Human Resources and family and child development social work. She currently serves as Vice President of Human Resources for Selee Corporation.

Sissy is a certified PDP Professional; a member of the Society for Human Resources Management Senior Certified Professional. She is currently pursuing a Master of Jurisprudence in Labor and Employment Law through Tulane University.

Tony Amatangelo

Tony was a Chemical Engineer at Union Carbide/Dow; now retired. He previously served on the IAM Board of Directors, 2018-2020; IAM pantry volunteer since May 2010; appointed by the Henderson County Board of Commissioners to serve on the Western Carolina Community Action Board of Directors, 2014-2020.

Tony has extensive philanthropy and volunteer work at numerous nonprofit organizations including Kiwanis. He helped develop and run the Kiwanis Club of Black Mountain’s Thrift Store. Attends Immaculate Conception Catholic Church.

The IAM Thrift Store is named in memory of Allison Amatangelo, Tony’s wife.

Trey Ford

Trey is Vice President and Project Manager at Cooper Construction Co. since January 2004. Earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from North Carolina State University in Logistics, Materials and Supply Chain Management and served on the Crew Team. 

Trey has served on the boards of the American Red Cross and Children and Family Resource Center in Hendersonville. Served as Board President of Children and Family Resource Center. He is Procore Certified in Resource Management, Core Tools and Project Management

IAM is currently seeking volunteers to help with our Clothing Assistance Department and Thrift Store. Please contact Amy Lewis; Volunteer Coordinator if you are interested in learning more at (828) 697-7029 ext 215 or via email at volunteer.manager@iam-hc.org.

Clothing Assistance Department

• Assist neighbors to select clothing
• Fill orders provided by Intake Department
• Maintain shelves and racks with inventory

Clothing Sorters

• Inspect, size, and sort clothing, shoes, and other donations
• Assist the Sorting Supervisor as needed

Thrift Store Volunteers

• Donation sorters
• Clothing pricers
• Driver helpers to assist in donation pickups

Immediate Needs: Various Shifts with the greatest need for Friday Afternoons and Saturdays

• $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