Local groups announce food aid, health hire, and festival funding
Local organizations rolled out a package of community supports that include a large holiday food distribution, a new orthopedic provider addition, and $92,000 in tourism investments for 2026. These moves matter to Buncombe County residents because they address immediate needs such as food security, expand local health care capacity, and aim to sustain visitor spending that supports jobs in hospitality and culture.
Community organizations in Buncombe County announced coordinated local business and nonprofit activity that will affect households, health care access, and the visitor economy. MANNA FoodBank will host a free holiday food distribution on December 18 at the WNC Ag Center, with capacity to serve up to 1,000 families with boxes of produce, meat and pantry staples. Participation is by RSVP, and the event targets the heightened demand for assistance that typically appears during the holiday season.
In health care news, AdventHealth added Beth Mitchell, PA C, to Southeastern Orthopedics and Spine at Haywood, expanding clinical capacity for musculoskeletal care in the region. AdventHealth Hendersonville also earned the Pathway to Excellence® designation for nursing, a recognition that signals organizational focus on nursing practice and workplace standards. For patients and payers, expanded provider rosters and recognized nursing environments can improve access and continuity of care while supporting workforce recruitment and retention.
The Buncombe County Tourism Development Authority approved a total of ninety two thousand dollars in investments for cultural events and festivals in 2026, allocating support across twenty six community festivals through the Festivals and Cultural Events Support Fund. That allocation averages roughly three thousand five hundred thirty eight dollars per event, a modest but strategic subsidy intended to leverage attendee spending on lodging, dining and retail that benefits local small businesses and seasonal workers. For a county where tourism accounts for a substantial share of sales and employment, targeted festival support can help sustain event calendars that attract visitors outside peak months.
These announcements arrived alongside a weekly business roundup that included additional local items and links to partner resources. Taken together, the moves reflect a mix of short term relief and longer term economic stewardship. The food distribution addresses immediate household needs, health sector staffing and recognition strengthen service capacity, and tourism investments aim to stabilize cultural offerings that undergird local hospitality jobs and small business revenue as the county plans for 2026.
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