Volunteer and Donate

Volunteer

The Appalachian Women’s Museum is powered by volunteers.  While COVID-19 has kept us closed to the regular public, the board and some dynamic volunteers have kept our work going.  Our goal is to have the Monteith Farmstead in the best possible shape for our reopening next spring.  Our volunteers have been working  in small groups with plenty of space for appropriate social distancing while still being close enough to enjoy a conversation with fellow volunteers and a change of scenery.  The list below represents some needs that we have right now, but new needs and opportunities occur regularly.   Contact us if you are interested, please email us at volunteers@appwomen.org or call  828-482-5860.

As a volunteer you could:
Work in our heritage garden.  We are currently pulling up summer veggies and planting some winter greens.  Soon we will be harvesting our popcorn and seeing if there is enough to sell. (It’s our first year with popcorn.)  As the colder weather sets in we will put the garden “to bed” and determine any maintenance needs so that we will be ready for spring. For a view of the garden at its peak take a look at Mountain Life: Garden with Krista.

Help design and maintain the grounds.  Our outdoor space is limited so we need to create some curb appeal and at the same time leave space for events.  There is always mowing and weeding to do and some heritage plants to manage.

Help with annual and regular maintenance.  Like all old houses and buildings regular cleaning and upkeep are key to keeping the 1908 buildings in place for another 100 plus years.  Tasks include painting, light carpentry, window washing,  decorating for the holidays, etc. 

Archive items in the house.  The Monteith sisters, the last owners of the house, were frugal housekeepers and saved everything.  Our chore now is to identify and document materials in the house for future use.  Some will be saved and some may become a part of future sales. To see how we archive please watch Behind the Scenes: Archiving.

Prepare exhibits and gather stories- Our reason for being is gather, preserve and share stories.  There are lots of ways to do that.  We are just beginning to explore the possibilities.  In the near future we will need volunteers to help prepare rooms for exhibits, help with collecting artifacts and preparing exhibits, and collect stories to add to work. Listen to our board member Rob speak about his ideas for our music exhibit. 

One opportunity to collect stories could be by being a penpal to a senior in a care center. We have seniors who could benefit from some extra care and attention. Please contact us to get connected with a senior in the area and start spreading sunshine. To learn more, please watch our video on our pen pal opportunity. 

Volunteer as museum docents or event coordinators- We soon hope to be back to whatever is our new normal.  At AWM we hope that means we will  be able to staff the museum on Saturdays for regular guest visits and other days by appointment.  We are also looking forward to events such as Music on the Porch in the fall and Airing of the Quilts next spring.  The AWM board is always  appreciative of extra hands for  planning and implementing these times.

Though we are within the site and sounds of Dillsboro, and the road building right now, there is the sense of being in a different time when you sit on the porch listening to the creek behind the house and the wind in the trees.  Come visit the museum as a guest and come back again as a regular volunteer.


Become a Friend

When you become a FRIEND of AWM in addition to the satisfaction of knowing future generations will understand the contributions these women made, you will also receive current information on the progress of the Monteith Farmstead restoration and VIP invitations to programs we hold throughout the year on featured women.

Please consider giving  “In Honor of” or “In Memory of” a special person or event in your life.   AWM is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit educational institution and all contributions are tax deductible.

You can easily give online using the “Fund the Farmstead” section on the right side of each page on this website.

Levels of Giving:
Friend – $25 – $49;  Supporter -$50 – $199;  Sponsor -$200 – $499; Benefactor -$500 – $999; Patron – $1,000 and UP

In Memory of these Special People

Marion Harrison……………………………………………….in Memory of Anna McDowell
Sue Ellen Bridgers…………………………………………….in Memory of Patsy McGuire
Nancy Edwards…………………………………………………in Memory of Julia Penland Dellinger
Kathryn Hermann………………………….in Memory of her mother Julia Penland Dellinger

Minnie Lee (Ward) Monteith ………………………………given by Cathy Busick & Family
Texas Eloise (Carnes) Chambers …………………………given by Cathy Busick & Family
Dorothy Dishman………………………………………………..given by Sylvia Smythe
Tinnie Arrington………………………………………………….given by Virginia Arrington Justice
Peggy (Molden) Arrington……………………………………given by Virginia Arrington Justice
Margaret Geraldine Teague…………………………………given by Candace Walton
The pioneer Bumgarner women…………………………..given by Tracy Whitaker
The Monteith Sisters……………………………………………given by Anne Copeland
Sylvanus Durl Copeland……………………………………….given by Anne Copeland
Miranda Palestine (Pallie) Queen Monteith…………given by Karen Galloway
Amy Smith…………………………………………………given by Sandee Thomas
Amy Smith…………………………………………………given by Roy Osborn
Amy Smith…………………………………………………given by Roberta Buckner
Amy Smith…………………………………………………given by LaJean Grannan
Amy Smith…………………………………………………given by Tom and Melanie Tabor
Amy Smith…………………………………………………given by Billy Smith
Amy Smith…………………………………………………given by Gerald and Mary Alton
Amy Smith…………………………………………………given by James Smith
Amy Smith…………………………………………………given by Roberta Buckner
Amy Smith…………………………………………………given by Tim Osment
Amy Smith…………………………………………………given by Suzanne McDowell
Amy Smith…………………………………………………given by Tom and Emma Wertenberger
Amy Smith…………………………………………………given by M. Kelly
Amy Smith…………………………………………………given by Ken and Evelyn Zulla

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In Honor of:

Pamela Meister……… to Honor and Celebrate the efforts of all AWM’s dedicated board members, past and present

Roy Osborn ………………………………………………in Honor of Calvin Smith
Paul Busick………………………………………………..in Honor of Cathy Busick
Caroline McNally………………………………………in Honor of Cathy Busick

Admiral Paul and Cathy Busick Wedding – Given by:
Marilyn Monteith Dalton
Paul Flood
Donna Johnson
Ellen and Ron Witko
Preston and Carol McMillan
Pat Carbone
Admiral Ed and Ann Barrett
Jeffrey Lehman
Matt and Pam Vaughn
Charles and Marlayne Harris
Joe and Helen Butler
Rich and Connie Elkovich
Bill and Merrilyn Williams
Skip and Karen Platt
Al and Susan Stewart
Ken and Virginia Miller
Al and Jonnie Fulton
Don and Kitty Winchester