Asheville is THIRD in the nation for hunger among its population. This is a shameful distinction for our beautiful mountain home.

NAMI WC, in collaboration with Western Highlands Network and MANNA FOOD BANK, will be holding a food drive thru March 20. Please bring non-perishable food items to our office at 356 Biltmore Avenue, Suite 207.  A box has been placed outside our door. You may also write a check to MANNA FOOD BANK (envelopes provided) and bring it into our office or slip it under the door if we are closed. OR you can write a check directly to MANNA FOOD BANK, 627 Swannanoa River Road, Asheville, NC 28805.

All donations will be taken in person to MANNA. Please help us help each other.  Thank you!

As part of NAMI’s FaithNet Program, Mountain Faith Initiatives presents: A TIME TO COME TOGETHER

Gatherings with Craig Rennebohm about ministry to the homeless and those living with mental illness

Saturday, March 3 – 5pm -7pm – Asheville Meet & Greet, NAMI Office, 356 Biltmore Avenue

Sunday, March 4 – 10:10 am – Adult Forum: The Way of Companionship, All Souls Cathedral, Zabriskie Hall, 9 Swan Street in Biltmore Village, Asheville

Sunday, March 4 – 2pm – 4 pm – Resources for Mental Health Ministry: The Pathways National Training Initiative, NAMI Office, 356 Biltmore Avenue, Asheville

Sunday, March 4 – 6 – 8 pm - Hendersonville County Meet & Greet – Grace Lutheran Church, 1245 Sixth Avenue West, Hendersonville

Monday, March 5 – 8am – 9:30am – Pastors’ Breakfast - Cornerstone Church, 12 S. French Broad, Asheville

Monday, March 5 – 10am – Noon – Housing and Where Communities of Faith Can be Helpful - ABCCM-ACTS Building – 1401 Tunnel Road, Asheville

Monday, March 5 – 5:30pm – 7pm – Companionship: Practical Steps in Building Caring Congregations and Compassionate Communities, NAMI Office, 356 Biltmore Avenue, Asheville

For more information, contact mountainfaithinitiatives@yahoo.com.

The Charles George VAMC in Asheville will offer the free NAMI Family-to-Family (F2F) education and support class for families/caregivers of an individual with a severe mental illness from 6 to 8:30 pm on Tuesdays and Thursdays, April 17 – May 24, 2012.

The class results through an agreement between the Veterans Health Administration and the National Alliance on Mental Illness on the value of this peer-to-peer education.  Veterans’ families will have priority in enrolling.  The 12 sessions include current facts about mental illnesses, treatment, medications, communication skills, problem solving, advocacy, recovery and self-care.

More than 250,000 family members across the country have graduated from NAMI F2F.  NAMI Western Carolina co-sponsors this program as part of its mission to improve the lives of those affected by mental illness through advocacy, support and education.

Because the class size is limited, early registration is required.  For information, call 828-299-9596 or email rohaus@charter.net.

The board of NAMI Western Carolina has decided that rather than holding a WALK at the same time as the NAMIWalks in Raleigh to be held on May 5 at Dorothea Dix Hospital, that we will hold a separate WALK or other fundraising event in the fall.There are several reasons for breaking with this two-year tradition. The main one is that there are so many other events being held in Asheville on that day that it is difficult to get a good location. Competition with other organizations who also hold their fundraisers on that day means that the number of people able to attend ours is lower. In 2011, for example, there were five other events being held at the same time as ours at Carrier Park.

Work is now being done to secure a location and to decide on the focus of our fundraiser. A circus/carnival theme has been suggested with a WALK and consumer art exhibit as a part of that. It has been pointed out, however, that a circus theme could be difficult to pull off because of a shortage of elephants in the Asheville/Buncombe area! Well, that will be part of the discussion! We do know that there are many talented artists here and we would like to give them a spotlight to show their work. If you have any ideas for a fundraising event, please let us know! We want your input!

Some of you may be receiving invitations to attend the WALK in Raleigh, and there is no date conflict with our event.

On January 16 at 6 pm, the Martin Luther King, Jr. Association of Asheville & Buncombe County, Inc. will hold a Candlelight Ceremony at Nazareth First Baptist Church, 146 Pine Street at Martin Luther King Boulevard in Asheville.

This will be an annual recognition of individuals who exemplify the spirit of Dr. King by giving unselfishly of themselves for the betterment of the community and others. Dr. Jim Pitts, former president of NAMI North Carolina and NAMI Western Carolina, Family to Family teacher and current ex officio on our WC board of directors,  has been nominated to receive an award.

Please join the community in this celebration. For more information, please call Karen Cowan at 828-768-8599 or Oralene Simmons at 828-281-1624.