Volunteer
The Appalachian Women’s Museum is powered by volunteers with a variety of skill sets. The list below represents some of the main volunteer activities. Fill out the Volunteer form if you are interested in joining the AWM team! Direct any further questions to the operations manager at museum@appwomen.org.
Volunteer duties:
AWM Garden: High Need! We are currently looking for volunteers to take over the garden. We have had the most dedicated and lovely Garden Goddess volunteers for about a decade. They are ready to hang up their trowels and gloves and pass the garden to the next group of beautiful people. The garden volunteers work independently with support from the AWM. There is an established fenced in plot, garden tools, and a green house available on-site. Traditionally the overflow of food and flowers were donated to the Unity Christian Ministries or the Community Table.
Museum Docents: Docents open the house for visitors during our regular open hours on Saturdays from 10 am – 2 pm. They welcome visitors, answer questions and talk about the history of the house, the exhibits held inside and the organization. This is a great way to interact with our community and visitors to the area. Docents are provided information about the organization and the house to share. Our goal is to add docents so that we can open the house for more hours every week.
Event Coordinators: Annually we need volunteers to help coordinate and run our two big events Airing of the Quilts in the spring and Music on the Porch in the fall. We are also interested in event ideas for life-long learning experiences and children’s groups. We are at a turning point in the life cycle of the AWM and new ideas to interact with our community are welcome!
House Maintenance: Like all old houses and buildings regular upkeep and cleaning are key to keeping the 1908 buildings in place for another 100 plus years. We are looking for a couple handy individuals who can help with the honey-do list. Tasks include light electrical work, light carpentry, window washing, insulation, etc.
Though we are within the site and sounds of Dillsboro 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 receive a newsletter with updates on the house and be part of framing the new direction of the organization.
In 2025, we rolled out a sustaining donor program. These monthly contributions ensure that we can cover the monthly operating costs of the organization and fund a much-needed part-time House Manager position. This position is central to moving into the next stage for the AWM, engaging with the community.
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