There’s an important opportunity Sunday to connect with a valuable on-site volunteer opportunity.
It’s courtesy of Volunteer Odyssey, a volunteer center that offers a one-stop shop for meaningful volunteer opportunities.
It describes its work this way: “We connect volunteers to their ideal volunteer experiences in the Memphis area based on their interests, skills, or neighborhood. We also provide the software that our nonprofit partners use to recruit volunteers and track their impact. Our work creates effective nonprofits, empowered citizens, and revitalized communities.”
Volunteer Odyssey has done it well over the years: 291,737 hours of service; 49,642 acts of service, and $6.9 million in the value of the volunteer services.
You have the opportunity to join in this current of voluntarism and community impact and complete a service project on-site at a special community pop-up shop Sunday, January 30, noon until 2 p.m., at Higher Memphis at 70 Flicker Street.
The good news is that it’s a chance to optimize your time. You not only can be part of the volunteer engagement fair where there will be an array of volunteer service projects but you can also earn discounts for the fitness classes and memberships at Higher Memphis.
There will be three pop-up volunteer stations: donations for Memphis Animal Services (plus some adoptable puppies!), card-making (or bus pass donations) for Room in the Inn, and care kit packing for St. Vincent de Paul.
Here’s more info:
Memphis Animal Services:
Bring any animal supplies to donate to Memphis Animal Services. They use these to care for their animals or to send home to new pet owners. You can bring anything from food or toys to towels or bones. Their current highest needs for donations are:
– Wet kitten food (Purina one kitten or Hills Science diet kitten)
– Soft stinky treats like puperoni,
– Medium & Large harnesses
– Gently used towels and blankets
– Cat toys.
Room in the Inn:
You can impact the guests staying with Room in the Inn. Room in the Inn shelters those experiencing homelessness in a safe environment of hospitality. Room in the Inn is in need of cards for their guests, welcoming them to the Recuperative Care Center or Family Inn or wishing them well as they recover. Want to support RITI in another way? They are in desperate need of bus passes to give to folks who need a ride to a shelter, especially in these colder months.
St. Vincent de Paul:
SVdP operates a food mission every day of the year. This mission is largely volunteer run and serves a hot meal daily. In addition to handing out food, they also distribute hygiene kits and winter-wear for those experiencing homelessness.
You can pack a care kit with (some supplies will be on-site, but feel free to bring more):
– Mask
– Toothpaste
– Toothbrush
– Mouthwash
– Body Wash
– Shampoo/Conditioner
– Razor
– Shaving Cream
– Deodorant
– Small Pack of Tissues
– Comb
– Emery Boards / Clippers for Nails
– Antibiotic Ointment
– Sanitary Pads
and/or donate:
– Hats
– Gloves
– Scarves
– Jackets
– Other winter necessities
FAQs:
Q: Do I have to stay the whole time?
A: Nope, pop by anytime between 12:00 and 2:00 and complete the service projects on site.
Q: Can I help with more than one project?
A: Absolutely. You can support one project, or as many as you’d like!
Q: What do I need to bring?
A: If you are donating supplies to MAS or bus passes to RITI, you can bring those with you. Otherwise, the materials for the other projects will be on-site.
Q: What if I have a question not listed here?
A: Just email dannon@volunteerodyssey.com
