Can you feel it? The wintry nip in the air, the smell of fire pits, football fever, the darker days?
It must mean that the holidays are right around the corner. While this season can be a festive, fun and exciting time for many of us, it can be a sad and lonely time for others. The good news is that you can help.
That’s right, with so many reputable and impactful nonprofits in our community, you can make a difference in many ways, and not just by donating money. You can also contribute your time and talents. And don’t forget to get the kids involved!
According to Charity Navigator, a charity assessment organization that evaluates hundreds of thousands of charitable organizations based in the U.S., while there is nothing wrong with donating at any time, your donations can be more impactful if you build a giving strategy with the needs of nonprofits in mind.
That’s good advice to heed as we venture into this giving season, especially when there are matching opportunities and built-in incentives that will make your gift go farther for the organization you choose to support.
While the following list could fill an entire page, I decided to share a short list of five of my favorite nonprofits to support:
Room in the Inn – Memphis
Sheltering those experiencing homelessness in a safe environment of hospitality, RITI Memphis is always looking for volunteers and in-kind donations like clothing, food, appliances, etc. Their overall philosophy is that no one should sleep in the cold while churches are warm and empty each evening. That’s something I think we can all agree on. Getting your place of faith committed or donating monthly is a great way to get involved.
Just City
From holding officials accountable to supporting and encouraging people with their criminal record, via the Clean Slate Fund, Just City’s mission is to transform local criminal justice policy and practice to ensure it is fair for all people regardless of wealth, race, or ethnicity. If you care about criminal justice reform, there are many ways to volunteer and contribute.
Music Export Memphis
According to their website, Music Export Memphis was founded on two core beliefs: Music makes cities better, and musicians choose to live in cities where there are opportunities. As a musician who has benefitted from their programming and someone who supports this cause, hosting an event or becoming a monthly donor are easy ways to throw your hand on the pile of this worthy cause.
Volunteer Odyssey
Plain and simple, Volunteer Odyssey makes volunteering easy. They are a volunteer center based in and built for Memphis and a one-stop shop for meaningful volunteer opportunities. Whether you want to volunteer with kids or animals or in an office setting, they have you covered. The organization itself even offers volunteer opportunities, but supporting them with a donation is always welcome.
Church Health
Church Health provides affordable healthcare including dental, eye care, and more to folks who fall through the gaps of our healthcare system. They’ve been around more than 30 years, and honestly have helped out so many people who thought they had nowhere else to turn. They accept medical supplies as well as cash donations.
Jeff Hulett is a freelance writer, musician, and PR consultant in Memphis. He lives in the Vollintine Evergreen neighborhood with his wife Annie, two girls Ella and Beatrice, and dog Chalupa.