Swannanoa FANS Logo
  • Home
  • About FANS
    • Our Mission
    • History of Our Organization
    • Our Board
    • Get Involved
  • About Swannanoa
    • Facts & Figures
    • Our Community
    • Our Rich Heritage
      • A Brief History
      • Beacon Blankets
  • Our Projects
    • Swannanoa Winterfest
    • Welcome Sign
    • Swannanoa Community Garden
    • Clean-Ups
    • Swannanoa Community Newsletter
    • Community Yard Sale
    • Bus Shelter
    • Greenways
    • Other Projects
  • Photo Galleries
    • Thumbnail Directory
    • Swannanoa Community Garden
    • Swannanoa Yard Sales =>
      • Yard Sale Fall 2014
      • Yard Sale Spring 2014
      • Yard Sale Fall 2013
    • Swannanoa Sweep =>
      • In 2013
      • In 2012
    • Other Events
      • Groovin’ On Grovement
      • River Cleanup
      • Mill Around the Village 2011
      • Mill Around the Village 2012
      • Holiday Party and Benefit 2012
      • Dave’s House Wall Raising in Beacon Village
  • Helpful Resources
    • Swannanoa Organizations
    • Other Information
  • Contact
  • FaceBook

The Swannanoa Valley Rallies To Build Habitat Home

by FANS Admin
April 18th, 2014

Swannanoa Habitat Wall Raising 2-28-14A large crowd gathered at Habitat’s Swannanoa construction site on Friday, March 28, to help raise the first wall on a home that’s being built with the support of the Swannanoa Valley community. Friends and Neighbors of Swannanoa (FANS) is partnering with Asheville Area Habitat for Humanity to recruit community volunteers to help build the house, and to raise money from local donors to “Adopt” the lot on which the house sits. Dubbed the Sweet Home Swannanoa house, this project is truly a community effort. It’s one of 17 homes being built by Habitat in a new affordable housing community off Dennis Street in Beacon Village.

At the wall raising, there was hardly a dry eye in the house as homeowner-to-be Lesley Gillespie told the crowd how much it meant for her and her family to be able to fulfill their dream of home ownership (see separate story at left for more about the Gillespie family). The crowd joined together to sing rousing renditions of If I Had A Hammer and Sweet Home Swannanoa (set to the tune of Sweet Home Alabama), before stepping outside to raise the wall. The event was so inspiring that many people in attendance made donations on the spot, including one young man who pulled a dollar out of his pocket, saying that he didn’t have much to give, but really wanted to help.

Our goal is to raise $7,500 from the Swannanoa Valley community to help cover the cost of the Adopt A Lot sponsorship for the Sweet Home Swannanoa house. We’re almost halfway there; we need your help to close the gap. Every gift will make a difference, no matter how large or small, especially since two anonymous donors have agreed to match every gift on a dollar-for-dollar basis! To make your donation, go to www.ashevillehabitat.org, click on the Donate button and select Sweet Home Swannanoa from the Area of Support menu, or call Betsy Warren, Habitat Sponsorship Coordinator, at 210-9363.

Volunteers are needed to help build the Sweet Home Swannanoa house Tuesday – Saturday, from approximately 8:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m., through early June. No experience is required; Habitat will provide the necessary tools and teach you how to use them. Several days have been designated as community workdays, including a major event on Saturday, May 31, that will include 30 volunteers, a lunchtime celebration, and more! To sign up for a community workday, please click here. Space is limited, so don’t delay. For more information about volunteer opportunities, call Stephanie Wallace, Habitat Volunteer Coordinator, at 210-3983.

FANS would like to thank the Swannanoa Valley community for the outpouring of support for the Sweet Home Swannanoa project. A special word of thanks goes out to Steve Moseley, Swannanoa musician and owner of Eye Scream Parlor, who led us in song at the wall raising; Ellen Frost, Swannanoa Valley resident and Buncombe County Commissioner, for offering words of welcome and support to those in attendance; and The Swannanoa Welcome Table, for providing delicious food and drink.

Categories Recent News, Swannanoa Habitat for Humanity
  • New Park Takes Shape in Swannanoa’s Grovemont Community
  • The Swannanoa Community Yard Sale is Back!
  • Get Your Groove On at the Final Groovin’ on Grovemont Outdoor Concert on August 10
  • Save Money on Your Energy Bills With the Help of Energy Savers Network
  • County Seeks Community Input on Library Proposal That Includes Consolidation of Swannanoa and Black Mountain Libraries
  • The Swannanoa Community Garden is Buzzing With Activity
  • Warren Wilson College Named “Best Buy” School
  • Check Out the New “Barn Quilts” on the Warren Wilson College Barns
  • Postcards From the Past
  • “Pickin’ on the Porch” at Black Mountain Center for the Arts
  • Swannanoa Welcome Table Plans to Resume Free Meals Soon
  • Tiny Tots Yoga at the Swannanoa Library
  • Swannanoa Scenes
  • Save the Date for the Swannanoa Community Yard Sale
  • Like Us On Facebook
  • Friends and Neighbors of Swannanoa Needs You!
  • Support Our Local Businesses and Nonprofits
  • A Special Thank You to Our Newsletter Sponsers
  • Be a FANS E-Newsletter Sponsor
  • Be a Fan of FANS

Archived News

E-Newsletter SignUp

  • Click to View E-Newsletter Example
  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Friends And Neighbors of Swannanoa (FANS)
P.O. Box 697
Swannanoa, NC 28778
(828) 581-9848
Copyright ©2023 · FANS · All Rights Reserved

MENU
  • Home
  • About FANS
    • Our Mission
    • History of Our Organization
    • Our Board
    • Get Involved
  • About Swannanoa
    • Facts & Figures
    • Our Community
    • Our Rich Heritage
      • A Brief History
      • Beacon Blankets
  • Our Projects
    • Swannanoa Winterfest
    • Welcome Sign
    • Swannanoa Community Garden
    • Clean-Ups
    • Swannanoa Community Newsletter
    • Community Yard Sale
    • Bus Shelter
    • Greenways
    • Other Projects
  • Photo Galleries
    • Thumbnail Directory
    • Swannanoa Community Garden
    • Swannanoa Yard Sales =>
      • Yard Sale Fall 2014
      • Yard Sale Spring 2014
      • Yard Sale Fall 2013
    • Swannanoa Sweep =>
      • In 2013
      • In 2012
    • Other Events
      • Groovin’ On Grovement
      • River Cleanup
      • Mill Around the Village 2011
      • Mill Around the Village 2012
      • Holiday Party and Benefit 2012
      • Dave’s House Wall Raising in Beacon Village
  • Helpful Resources
    • Swannanoa Organizations
    • Other Information
  • Contact
  • FaceBook