While we love sharing all the fun events going on in Memphis, we also want to highlight some important invest opportunities that exist.

From fundraisers to volunteer opportunities, we’ve got several ways to invest in the 901 this week.

Volunteers Needed:

Ongoing – Kitchen Community Volunteers Needed

In order to sufficiently maintain and fund these gardens, the organization needs citizens to help build, develop, and fund their locations. This season, planting and volunteer days will be throughout August and through October. The events will be at schools in the Shelby County School District, the Jubilee School District, and the Achievement School District. If you would like to either help or donate, visit The Kitchen Community and fill out this Google Form.

Ongoing – Lunch Buddies at Grizzlies Prep

Interested in having the opportunity to help middle schoolers build the skills and attitude they need to navigate life’s challenges? Want to serve as an influential mentor to young minds, guiding them to future success? Grizzlies Prep is a charter school in the heart of downtown educating young men in grades six to eight. Within a rigorous and disciplined middle school, students become equipped for success in high school, college, and life. The Lunch Buddies Program encourages adults to directly impact these scholars lives by dedicating one day a week to attend a 30-minute lunch period with them where they can talk, bond, and grow.

Ongoing – National Civil Rights Museum – The National Civil Rights Museum has several ongoing opportunities to volunteer: Exhibit Monitor: As an exhibit monitor, you are responsible for assisting visitors within the exhibition space by answering questions and/or directing them through the exhibits. You also assist Security in maintaining a safe and clean environment for visitors and exhibits. Greeter: As a greeter, you are responsible for assisting guests, directing groups, and providing Museum information with a warm, friendly attitude. Gallery Attendant: Gallery Attendants are responsible for directing guests through the Tennessee Changing Gallery, providing an overview of the temporary exhibits, and answering guest questions.

The National Civil Rights Museum has several ongoing opportunities to volunteer:

Ongoing – Lifeblood Donors Needed

Anyone who wants to give back to the community should consider giving blood as an important way to touch the lives of patients in local hospitals. One pint of blood can help save up to 3 lives. Lifeblood has 5 donor centers across the Mid-South with varying hours to make it as easy as possible for you to stop in and help save lives. Donors will have a brief medical screening to make sure they are in good health to give blood, be provided with snacks to keep their energy up after donating and receive a free t-shirt. Find the most convenient center for you here or call 1-888-LIFEBLOOD to schedule an appointment today. Volunteer blood donors must be at least 16 years old with parental consent, weigh at least 115 pounds and be in good health. Donors receive a free cholesterol test. A photo ID is required to donate.

Ongoing – Teacher Toolbox

Sign up here to volunteer with Teacher Toolbox, a free classroom supply resource for teachers that relies solely on volunteers to operate. Volunteer shifts are available at various days and times, and positions include stocking, sorting, packaging, and office assistance. Individuals with experience in warehouse management, store management, or special events planning and coordination are also welcome to assist them.

Ongoing – Memphis Public Library Welcome Desk Greeter – Enthusiastic volunteers needed to greet visitors and provide directions to customers entering the library. Shifts are available Monday – Thursday from 10 a.m. – 8 p.m. or Saturday and Sunday from 1 – 5 p.m. Bookstore Volunteer – Volunteers are needed for a variety of tasks that enable our bookstore to run smoothly. Shifts are available Mondays, Thursdays, and Fridays from 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. or Mondays and Fridays from 3 – 6 p.m.



September – West Cancer Clinic – Volunteers Needed

West Fight On: Cycle. Run. Walk. needs volunteers to help work various positions for their September event that helps raise funds for the University of Tennessee/West Institute for Cancer Research. Sign up here.

Monthly – VolunCheers by Volunteer Odyssey

If you’re short on time and big on service check out VolunCheers by Volunteer Odyssey! Their monthly volunteer happy hour makes it easy to give back. Learn more and sign up.

Weekly – St. Jude Memphis Marathon Training Runs Every Saturday leading up to the marathon Groups of 2 each week at 5:30 am to help with water stations. Sign up here: http://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0a4dadaa28a6f58-2016



September 24 – Indie Memphis Youth Film Festival Contact Mandy at indiememphisvolunteer@gmail.com in order to sign up for shifts. Location: The Halloran Center Shifts: 10:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. or 2 – 6 p.m.



September 24 – MEMFix Film Row

Sign up here to help make MEMFix a success. Volunteers are needed to help set up, work the information table/volunteer check in, greet the community, assist the food truck and pop up businesses, and more. There is a volunteer meeting on Thursday night (9/22) for more info.

September 26 – Indie Memphis Film Festival Preview Party Contact Mandy at indiememphisvolunteer@gmail.com in order to sign up for shifts. Location: The Rec Room Shift: 5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.



September 27 – I’ve Got the Power Attendance Rally – 8:30 a.m. & 2 p.m.

Communities In Schools of Tennessee at Memphis is looking for volunteers to help with their upcoming event that will encourage students of all ages and grade levels to improve on good attendance this school year. Volunteers are needed to serve as Hall and Section Monitors and as part of the Hype Team. Email Andrea Hill at ahill@cistn.org if you are interested in volunteering.

Donations:

The Mid-South Peace and Justice Center is hosting a series of workshops using interactive theatre to teach young people about their rights and demystify encounters with law enforcement. Go here to learn more, and go here to donate and support their work.

ioby Memphis projects ioby helps neighbors grow and implement great ideas one block at a time. Their crowd-resourcing platform connects leaders with funding and support to make our neighborhoods safer, greener, more livable and more fun. SchoolSeed Foundation With every 10$ dollar donation, a teacher will have access to a supply toolkit that includes paper, pencils, glue sticks, rulers, scissors and so much more. $10 impacts one student and allows that child to focus on being taught as opposed to worrying about what he/she does not have to do the work. In addition to donations, you can also consider volunteering. There are plenty of ways you can lend a hand, such as stocking, sorting, packaging, store management, etc. Click here to donate. Click here to volunteer. Chef Shuttle and St. Jude To raise awareness about September being Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, Chef Shuttle will donate 100% of its delivery fee to St. Jude this week The $5 fee for each order will be donated to St. Jude and customers will have an option to make an additional donation upon check out. Order here to enjoy some lunch or dinner from the comfort of your own home, and help Chef Shuttle raise awareness and funds for the kids at St. Jude.

Events:

September 22 – National #RentersDayofAction For Dignity & Respect – 1pm

H.O.P.E. will join the National Renters Day of Action for Dignity & Respect to declare a Renter State of Emergency and take to the streets to demand an end to Rising Rents, Evictions and Gentrification. Join the rally and host an action in solidarity with 40 other cities around the nation but with not only our brothers and sisters who live on our streets, in our shelters and in low income housing. Housing is the single biggest unaddressed civil rights issue in our city. After the rally you will return to Morris Park and share a meal together in fellowship.

Everyone is urged to bring dishes, fruit and water to share. If you would like to participate we urge you to contact us via Brad@Midsouthpeace.org or Tamera@Midsouthpeace.org

September 23 – 25 – Block Party for Peace – 10 a.m.

This family friendly event aims to empower and educate through job creation and access, workforce development, higher education and healthy living. There will be music, food, and fun for all ages. Block Party for Peace is a free resource to the community, and there is an emphasis on personal and professional growth and community building.

September 23 – Music is Healing – 4:30 p.m.

This community benefit concert will be collecting donations for The Jett Family, who tragically lost their mother and seven children in the Severson St. fire last week. It will be an evening of community building and healing filled with music from some of Memphis’ most well known artists including Fro, Tim “Big Homie” Change, Paige Brown, Tonya Dyso, Deneka Lewis, JUJU BUSHMAN, Bird Williams, Artistic Approach, and MEMPHOENIX. The family also has a GoFundMe set up.

September 24 – St. Jude Walk/Run to End Childhood Cancer – 8 a.m.

One of the most unique events St. Jude hosts, this race begins and ends on Memphis’s St. Jude campus and patients and families participate as well. There will be live music and entertainment, activities and games for kids, and more. Register now to help raise funds for St. Jude as they work to end childhood cancer.

Find specific volunteer opportunities with Volunteer Odyssey and Volunteer Memphis.

Looking to bring a volunteer team to Memphis? Check out Serve901.