Two cool programs are happening in WNC schools: Asheville Community Design Lab (ACDL)  After-School and Mother Earth Produce’s Support Our Schools (SOS) Fundraising program.

Sponsor an ACDL Scholarship for one of 15 Students who need them

“For $130 per month, I’ve been able to sponsor a local student in a meaningful after-school program with artists, design professionals and others who are improving our neighborhoods…and teaching the next generation how to contribute.”

–Local small business owner who lives near a partnering school

Create a custom logo while learning the basics of marketing. Design shoes from concept to creation. Learn first-hand from an architect to design a home or bus shelter. Model a dream playground then bring it to fruition with professional designers, artists and builders.  A project of Roots + Wings School of Art, ACDL is an after-school program that engages students in critical thinking and innovation through principles of art and design for community reinvention.

Asheville Community Design Lab is devoted to programming focused on art and design for community reinvention. ACDL is a project-driven, after-school program that addresses what a typical school curriculum does not.  The ACDL works with students to learn about what’s beyond the walls of their schools, and teaches students how to fail in order to find better collective solutions to community problems. They believe problem-solving starts with listening and understanding.  They create symbiotic relationships with local schools, giving back to school art programs and offering scholarships to create inclusive spaces and collective voice.

Support Our Schools Fundraising Program

Rather than selling cookie dough and candy to raise funds for schools, Support Our Schools (SOS) enables schools to raise funds, while supporting local farms and local businesses, as well as health in our communities.  Schools can sign up with Mother Earth Produce, a farm to front door delivery service of organic produce and local edibles, to raise funds for their schools by selling bins of local produce and edibles. Co-owner Andrea DuVall is a former 6th grade teacher and is passionate about giving back to local schools.

Here’s how it works:

1. Go to the School Fundraising page on www.MotherEarthProduce.com (click the purple button)
2. Fill out the SOS Registration Form.
3. Mother Earth Produce assigns your school an SOS code and sends you an outreach packet (with draft emails and outreach materials).
4. Your school reaches out to your networks with the SOS code.
5. The first 100 veggie bins sold with you school SOS code earns your school $4/bin, or $400.
6. Bin Benchmarks: You can continue to earn additional funding throughout the year for selling additional bins. Your school will earn $2 for any number of bins sold over 100 through May 31 of the following year!

Any parents or teachers from participating ACDL schools want to raise some scholarship funds by selling local, organic produce and edibles?

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