35 Non-Profits Memphians Love (And Counting!)

35 Non-Profits Memphians Love (And Counting!)

First off, a warning: This post gave me all the feels. I'm lucky enough to have met many of the readers—some now friends—who contributed to this post, and they're wonderful people. I'm proud to share this city with y'all.

You can check out the giant Guide To Giving Back and Volunteer, but I also wanted to take it a step further.

So, I asked I Love Memphis readers and my friends about their favorite non-profits and charities and why they, as Memphians, decided to commit to supporting those orgs.

Here are some of your answers. (Some have been edited for length or clarity.)

Boys & Girls Club of Memphis. These clubs open their doors to teens when often there are no others.  - Erina V.

Forrest Spence fund! Helping families of hospitalized children with non medical expenses. - Melissa M.

Boys & Girls Clubs of Memphis, for the data supported results in positively influencing the youth in this City. - Paulo T.

Memphis CHOICES. Having worked here and been a patient, I have a deep respect and appreciation for the pro-educational, pro-individual way they approach their work…and the myriad services they offer the entire community regardless of background, gender identity, or sexual orientation. - Bethany V.

Make-A-Wish® Mid-South because the smile on a sweet child's face who might not have much to smile about is the best. - Nina W.

How can I choose just one? Mid-South Food Bank, Planned Parenthood Greater Mid-South, & various animal rescue groups are the last few I've donated to this fall. - Sarah B.

Merge Memphis. I imagine someone with no food when my belly is full every night, the least my family can do is provide food for someone hungry in The Little Free Pantry. - Laurie M.

Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Memphis because generational poverty is being broken daily because of the outstanding mentoring, college preparation, and technical education students receive from kindergarten to career. - Tiffanie G.

Manna House is (literally) a shelter from the storm for so many homeless Memphians. Not an overnight shelter, but they provide hot showers, clean clothes, and endless cups of coffee for their patrons, at no cost. Radical Hospitality at its finest. - Samantha V.

Methodist Hospice; they do difficult and amazing work! - Liz H.

MIFA. I'm very new to knowing the extent of MIFA's contribution to Memphis. Not only do they run Meals on Wheels for the elderly, they provide transportation to medical appointments. And not only do they help provide housing for families in need, they work to keep them in neighborhoods where their support systems are located. - Kendyl M.

Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Memphis is my favorite non-profit. Every child deserves a chance to become the best person they can be. Boys & Girls Clubs offer a safe place with caring mentors where a child can learn, grow and reach their full potential. - Creston B.

I support St. Jude, Le Bonheur, Streetdog Foundation, Boys and Girls Club, Planned Parenthood, Project Green Fork, Clean Memphis, West TN Veterans Home! - Nathan S.

Le Bonheur Children's Hospital. They do an outstanding job at taking care of sick children. - Zoraya R.

Alzheimer's Association - West TN. They are a tremendous non-profit who provides free services to families dealing with dementia and alzheimer's diagnosis. From hosting meetings and conferences for caregivers around the west TN area to advocating for research dollars and programs, they truly have a passion for their work. I'm grateful for them and the work they do each day. - Robynn H.

Community Legal Center provides access to civil legal counsel for Shelby County residents of limited means, from single moms and elderly widows to abuse victims and asylum seekers. In 2016, the CLC responded to 4,266 calls for help, represented 310 clients in civil matters, assisted 133 immigration clients, aided 75 elder clients, and successfully handled 21 conservatorships. These may seem like just numbers, but each one represents a real person in Memphis in need! - Jerri G.

Red Shoe Society - Ronald McDonald House of Memphis because we raise money towards hosting fun activities and dinners at the house where most families have been uprooted to come to Memphis for their child to be in the care of St. Jude. - Elizabeth E.

I support 3 in December. They are: Toys for Tots, The Salvation Army Red Kettle Drive, and Angel Tree. - Denny W.

SMA (South Memphis Alliance, Inc.) for the work they do with foster youth aging out of the system. - Shahidah J.

Alpha Omega Veterans Services, Inc. - because we are helping veterans get off the street and the help that they need to be successful in life!! - Stacie S.

COMEC- Commission on Missing and Exploited Children team does drug testing and counseling to get students back in Shelby County/Memphis City Schools, has executed AMBER Alerts in West Tennessee for 20 years, runs the drug hotline and has numerous other educational programs related to sex trafficking, runaways, cyberbullying, etc. - Kristen W.

I work there, but I started back as a volunteer, adopter, foster, and donor in 2009 before that. My vote is the Humane Society of Memphis & Shelby! I am a monthly donor. Our mission focuses on critically injured animals, and we don't receive any government funding for that. - Katie P.

Choices: Memphis Center for Reproductive Health of course! When you donate to CHOICES, you are literally giving the gift of reproductive health care to a patient. All donations during our annual fundraising campaign (which is happening right now, conveniently) go directly to help patients pay for their services. - Holly C.

Just City is doing important work as advocates for those who have been ignored, left behind, and treated unjustly in the criminal justice system. - Amanda H.

I love supporting Restore Corps. They are the sole nonprofit fighting human trafficking in West TN (and we're a HUB for trafficking). They are the sole point of contact for work with victims and work directly with the FBI and local government. Many of the news stories you hear about where pimps have been busted? It's because of them. - Shannon L.

I also love supporting Good Shepherd Health, a nonprofit pharmacy in Memphis that has completely changed the health care game. They save me personally and many others over $1000 on prescription drugs. They make medicine affordable for the uninsured, insured, AND self insured. - Shannon L.

The Memphis Child Advocacy Center does more than help kids after sexual or physical abuse. It is a team that fosters healing that lasts a lifetime...strengthens families...collaborates for justice. - Beryl W.

The Alzheimer's Association, so we can ensure that everyone in Memphis can keep their most cherished memories. We all deserve a world without Alzheimer's. Wes M.

Please consider CodeCrew! My daughter has participated in several of their programs. It's an amazing org dedicated to providing our youth with essential computer science skills that will better prepare them for the future. I also cannot forget the dynamic work for reproductive justice SisterReach is doing! - Shahidah J.

STS Enterprise offers career development, networking and mentorship programs for minorities aged 13-24 in Memphis. The mission of STS is to prepare future leaders to excel in school and careers, providing resources like workshops, talent placement and transferable skills.  If you are interested in signing up for a mentoring program, donating to the organization, or joining the team visit our website to learn more about STS Enterprise Corporation. - Anne Margaret Cartihers

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Want to add your favorite non-profit or charity that hasn't already been listed here? That's what the comments section is for!

Imagine that! A positive comments section! We're doing it here on I Love Memphis.

Comments Make Us Happy

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Connie Dyson
What about the National Civil Rights Museum? It is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization too!
November 29, 2016 3:06pm
Holly Whitfield
Love it! Tell me why you personally support this org (aside from serving it) and I'll add you to the list. :)
November 29, 2016 3:16pm
Beth Okeon
I love a positive comments section! Memphis also loves Agape Child & Family Services (a non-profit whose logo is a heart, plus the word "agape" means love!). Agape is a faith-based, non-profit organization dedicated to providing children and families with healthy homes in the Memphis area. Agape serves nearly 10,000 children and families each year in an effort to keep them safe, smart and successful through school-based initiatives and site-based services in under-resourced communities; counseling; homeless services; adoption and foster care. For more information, call 901.323.3600 or visit www.agapemeanslove.org.
November 29, 2016 9:34pm
Clinton
How about Special Olympics of Greater Memphis? Reaching over 2,500 children and adults with disabilities each year with free sports training and competition as well as building social skills.
November 30, 2016 6:47am
Kenisha Becton
The Arc Mid South...Empowering people with intellectual and developmental disabilities to achieve their full potential
January 9, 2017 12:45am
Holly Whitfield
Thank you Kenisha! Great addition to the list.
January 10, 2017 9:56am
DEBRA NESBIT
I would like to add Debra's House Of Care a care home that provides service to the homeless and disable
December 3, 2017 11:14am
Kellie
Unforgettable Change Foundation-UCF is a great non profit organization. They really operate in their mission which is to create long lasting development enhancements . They also have great mentor resources. They are not a normal non profit, they go over and beyond measures.
February 16, 2018 11:34am
Jessica R.
I am involved in two nonprofits in Memphis. One is Les Passees, Memphis' oldest philanthropic women's organization. The focus for over 100 years has been programs for children in our city. Our major fundraiser is the annual Stock Exchange Consignment sale held in late summer. The second organization near to my heart is Creative Aging, an organization that brings the arts to senior citizens in locations where seniors gather.
June 1, 2018 11:30am
Hannah Hornsey
The Bridge is a non-profit street newspaper that works to give a source of income to people who are currently experiencing or have experienced homelessness. It's a great organization!
June 12, 2018 12:13pm
Pete
Orphanos foundation cares for children at risk around the world. They pass thru 100% of our gifts for orphan homes and kids abandoned due to abuse, neglect, incarceration, etc. We have a little extra to Keep The Lights On because they don’t take anything for overhead. A wonderful Memphis charity with a global reach!
July 18, 2020 1:22pm