2011 I Love Memphis Charitable Giving Guide

2011 I Love Memphis Charitable Giving Guide

Last week, I published my annual holiday gift guide. It was stuffed with gifts from local businesses for your family, friends and co-workers. This week, it's time for the annual I Love Memphis Charitable Giving Guide, which lists a ton of deserving charities based in Memphis that could use your time, cash or help.

This list is by no means complete - there are hundreds of great organizations working to improve Memphis. This list is just a small sampling of those. If your favorite local charity or non-profit isn't listed here, leave it in the comments so that others can find it.

Deneuville Learning Center Mural

DeNeuville Learning Center

The DeNeuville Learning Center knows that there are few things in life more valuable than education. The center's mission is to guide women through education (they offer all kinds of classes, including GED, ESL, and practical skills like job searching and money management). They also offer counseling, babysitting and emergency services to women in need. The center always needs monetary donations, but occasionally, they need volunteer teachers. Here's how to help

Hospitality Hub

The Hospitality Hub isn't a shelter, but it does provide for the basic needs of Memphis' homeless population. The Hub allows people to use computers, have access to a phone and permanent address (helpful when job searching), counseling, restrooms, assistance in aquiring birth certificates, traveler's aid and locker storage. Hospitality Hub relies on donations to stay open ($35 covers the cost of eight shelter vouchers), but they also need supplies like gently used professional clothing and books for their library. Here's a full list of what the Hub needs.

Meritan Silver Bells

You've heard of the Salvation Army's Angel Tree, which gives people a chance to fulfill a kid's Christmas wishlist. Silver Bells is just like that, only instead of children, the presents go to homebound senior citizens. These seniors need pajamas, books, hygeine products, bedding, slippers, and towels. Here's how to donate.

Porter-Leath

Porter-Leath Children's Center

Porter-Leath works directly with at-risk children and families in Memphis to help parents give their children healthy and safe lives. They run a Head Start preschool, provide meals and snacks, partner kids with foster grandparents and offer parenting support to at-risk families. They need monetary donations, but they also need volunteers and donated goods.

Advance Memphis

Advance Memphis works with Memphians in the Cleaborn and Foote neighborhood (just east of Downtown) to become empowered, economically self-sufficient citizens through education, jobs training, job placement and mentoring. Here's how you can help.

Memphis Gay and Lesbian Community Center

The MGLCC provides a safe, welcoming space for Memphis’ gay and lesbian community. They provide HIV testing, support groups, and clothing and food for gay and lesbian youth, and resources for families. They’re in constant need of monetary gifts, items from their wish list, and volunteers.

Girls, Inc.

Girls, Inc. provides after school programs and mentoring to girls ages 6 - 18. Through these programs, girls learn the skills they need to become confident, strong and self-sufficient women. Currently, Girls, Inc. needs monetary donations. They also need volunteers and mentors to help with their programs.

Community Foundation of Greater Memphis: Give365

The Community Foundation of Greater Memphis matches large philanthropic donors with organizations in need. If you're not a large donor, though, consider contributing to the Community Foundation's Give365 program: donors in the program give $1 per day. The money is pooled and then get to vote on which organizations recieve the money.

Hope House

Hope House works to better the lives of children and families who have been affected by HIV. They provide day care, pre-school, therapy, residential assistance, HIV/AIDS education, counseling and emergency financial assistance. They need financial donations (especially to their emergency fund) and items from their wish list (including toys and books, clothing, diapers and household goods).

Memphis Child Advocacy Center

The Memphis Child Advocacy Center works improve the lives of sexually and physically abused children through prevention, intervention and education. All of the money that they receive in donations goes directly toward giving children in the Memphis area that have been in some pretty awful situations better lives through crisis intervention, medical services and education. Here's how you can help.

Revolutions Community Bicycle Shop

Revolutions Community Bicycle Shop Memphis

Revolutions Community Bicycle Shop is working to make Memphis a healthier and more sustainable place by helping Memphians get access to bicycles. Everyone that goes through the Revolutions program learns bike repair skills and walks away with a cycle that they built themselves. This year, Revolutions is working to refurbish 30 bikes for kids at the YMCA. If you'd like to volunteer your time (or donate a bike), here's how to help.

Mid-South Food Bank

The Mid-South Food Bank fights hunger by distributing donated food to the area's neediest residents. During the holiday season, you can help the Food Bank by donating food or cash to their food drive on Dec. 7th, sending a holiday card or cookie letter, or volunteering to sort and package food at the Food Bank's warehouse. Find out more about the ways you can help.

Dress for Success Memphis

Imagine landing a promising job interview, but not being able to afford appropriate clothing. Dress for Success helps make sure that doesn't happen by providing appropriate interview clothing to disadvantaged women in the Mid-South. They're in need of monetary donations, volunteers, and donations of business clothing, footwear and accessories.

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Katie
The Humane Society of Memphis & Shelby County always needs more volunteers too--especially during the holidays, as many of our volunteers often find that they have other commitments during this time and aren't able to contribute as much time as usual. We have a volunteer orientation this Wednesday at 6pm! Also right now we have our Santa Paws Donation Drive, which is requesting needed items for our animals, such as treats, toys, collars/leashes, kennels, dog beds, etc., to go under our tree to give our dogs and cats a comfortable and happy holiday.
December 5, 2011 4:06pm
Gregg
We would love for you to help support the Forrest Spence Fund. Our purpose is to help families with the non-medical needs during their kids long hospital stays. Check out the site above for more information. 
December 5, 2011 4:09pm
Michael
The teachers in Memphis need your help too.  Consider that many of the problems our city faces would be rectified by our children receiving better educations.  One way to help make that happen is to visit www.DonorsChoose.org and donate to projects created by Memphis classrooms.  You can search by state and then by city and school to find a particular school, subject, or teacher you might want to help out.
December 5, 2011 4:44pm
Hud
We at SRVS would love to show you our new facilities at 3971 Knight Arnold. We are "the family answer for disabilities," and we serve nearly 1000 individuals in the Memphis and Shelby County area. We are richly deserving of your support.
December 5, 2011 4:50pm
dminmem
Mid-South Spay & Neuter Services is a non-profit organization dedicated to reducing pet overpopulation through affordable spay and neuter services. According to Doris Day Animal League, an estimated six to eight million dog and cats are euthanized in shelters each year. Millions more are aboandoned, only to suffer from illness or injury before dying." Visit spaymemphis.org to learn how you can help.
December 5, 2011 4:52pm
Philip
One of my favorite charities that is doing great work in our city is HopeWorks. "HopeWorks, Inc. is a not-for-profit organization that seeks to serve the poor through outreach programs that develop individual worth, encourage personal responsibility and promote the honor and value of work. By implementing a holistic approach through daily classes and meals, educational training and spiritual counseling, HopeWorks strives to break the cycle of crime, addiction and irresponsibility that traps so many in our city." You can find out more about HopeWorks at http://www.whyhopeworks.org/.
December 5, 2011 11:05pm
Jennifer
Thanks for the love, Kerry!  I am the Direct of Development at DeNeuville Learning Center, and we are proud to be on your 2011 list.  Check out the video on our homepage for a peek at what we do.  Please contact us if you would like to tour our facility and learn more about how we are helping women in the Memphis area.  Thanks again!
December 6, 2011 3:27pm
Holden Potter
iTNMemphis is a brand new nonprofit dedicated to providing "Dignified Transportation for Seniors." We are in the start up phase and will become an affiliate of iTNAmerica, We will be one of 19 such centers across America. Our mission is to offer 24 hour transportation, seven days a week, 365 days a year. We expect to be up and running by the end of the second quarter of 2012. For further information: Holden Potter, Executive Director, iTNMemphis, info@itnmemphis,org. (901) 633-7666. 561 South Prescott, 38111
December 6, 2011 4:18pm
Rob
Thanks for featuring Porter-Leath, Kerry! We have an alternative donation site as well to help fill in our children's holiday wish lists - http://porterleath.5minutefundraiser.com/
December 8, 2011 10:02am
Kristen Waddell
The Commission On MIssing And Exploited Children (COMEC) is all about children and the issues that affect them. Today's world is filled with challenges for families. Some familiar such as truancy and others like Internet safety that are new territory for everyone. For over 23 years COMEC has identified and instituted programs that help children and those who are charged with their care. Promoting the safety and protection of all children and connecting families is what the organization is all about. www.comec.org
December 13, 2011 11:28am
Lunar
What a great list!  Thank you for compiling it. Literacy Mid-South is one of my favorites in Memphis - they serve the community by helping adults develop literacy skills.
January 14, 2013 8:41pm