In a world where many conversations about community challenges remain just that—conversations—Help Memphis stands out as a model for action. What began as a simple idea from an 11-year-old has grown into a meaningful, expanding initiative addressing real needs across the Memphis area.
Help Memphis is a youth-led community pantry initiative founded by Jack Knight, with the mission of making essential resources more accessible to families facing food insecurity and everyday hardship. Built on the guiding principle, “Take what you need, leave what you can,” the initiative removes barriers to access and empowers communities to support one another in a simple, dignified way.
The Inspiration
The idea behind Help Memphis was inspired by the Little Free Library concept—something Jack connected with personally as an avid reader. He recognized that the same approachable, neighborhood-based model could be applied beyond books to meet more urgent needs, such as food and basic household essentials.
From that insight, Help Memphis was born—not as a large-scale nonprofit from day one, but as a grassroots effort with a startup mindset: test, learn, build, and grow.
The Model
At its core, Help Memphis operates through small, accessible pantry cabinets placed in high-visibility, community-centered locations. These pantries are stocked with non-perishable food items, hygiene products, and increasingly, baby essentials like diapers and wipes.
What makes the model powerful is its simplicity:
- No sign-ups
- No qualifications
- No barriers
Anyone can take what they need, and anyone can contribute when they are able.
This approach not only meets immediate needs but also fosters a sense of shared responsibility and community ownership.
Expansion into Diaper Pantries
As the initiative evolved, one critical gap became increasingly clear: access to diapers and baby essentials.
Diapers are a basic necessity—but they are expensive and, importantly, cannot be purchased with SNAP benefits. For many families, running out of diapers creates an immediate and urgent challenge.
Recognizing this need, Help Memphis expanded its efforts to include dedicated diaper pantries stocked with:
- Diapers (commonly sizes 2–5)
- Baby wipes
This expansion represents a thoughtful evolution of the mission—addressing not just food insecurity, but broader everyday needs that impact families with young children.
Key Milestones and Recent Activity
Help Memphis has continued to build momentum through strategic partnerships and consistent community engagement.
One of the most meaningful recent milestones occurred on March 12, 2026, when three new diaper pantries were installed in collaboration with Porter-Leath, a leading organization serving children and families across Memphis.
These new pantry locations include:
- 2869 Park Avenue (Porter-Leath & University of Memphis Early Childhood Academy at Orange Mound)
- 3060 Baskin Road (Karl & Gail Schledwitz Porter-Leath Early Childhood Academy in Frayser)
- 4207 American Way (Patricia Taylor Porter-Leath Early Childhood Center)
Each pantry was stocked with diapers and wipes, directly supporting families in neighborhoods where access to these essentials can make a meaningful difference.
These installations represent more than just new locations—they demonstrate the power of collaboration and the ability of a simple idea to scale through trusted community partnerships.
Building with a Startup Mindset
While Help Memphis is rooted in service, it is also being built with intentionality and structure—much like a startup.
From website development and branding to partnerships and operational planning, the initiative reflects a thoughtful approach to growth. It is part of a broader ecosystem of projects within the Knight Family Office portfolio, where purpose-driven ideas are developed with both heart and discipline.
This mindset was recently highlighted during an interview with Richard Gentry, Co-Director of the University of Mississippi Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship. During that conversation, Alex Knight shared insights into his professional journey and discussed Help Memphis as an example of how meaningful ideas can grow into scalable, community-impact initiatives.
The takeaway is simple but powerful: purpose and execution can—and should—go hand in hand.
Community Engagement and Support
A key driver of Help Memphis’ success is the community itself.
Local businesses, schools, churches, and individuals all play a role in:
- Hosting pantry locations
- Donating food, diapers, and supplies
- Spreading awareness
The model invites participation at every level, making it easy for people to contribute in ways that fit their capacity.
Importantly, Help Memphis is currently focused on collecting goods rather than monetary donations. This keeps the initiative grounded, tangible, and directly connected to the needs it serves.
Looking Ahead
Help Memphis continues to expand with a clear vision:
- Increase the number of pantry locations across Memphis and surrounding areas
- Deepen partnerships with organizations serving families and children
- Grow awareness to inspire others—especially young people—to take action in their own communities
There is also a long-term goal of formalizing the initiative as a nonprofit as it reaches scale, ensuring sustainability and broader impact.
A Model Worth Replicating
Perhaps the most inspiring aspect of Help Memphis is not just what it has accomplished—but what it represents.
It shows that:
- Age is not a barrier to leadership
- Simple ideas can create meaningful change
- Communities are willing to show up when given a clear, accessible way to help
What started as one idea has become a growing network of support—and a blueprint that could be replicated in cities across the country.
Final Thoughts
Help Memphis is more than a pantry initiative—it is a reminder that real impact often begins with a simple question:
What can I do to help?
From that question, an 11-year-old built something that is now feeding families, supporting parents, and strengthening communities across Memphis.
And this is just the beginning.
This blog was written by Alex Knight (Father of Jack Knight)
Mr. Alex Knight, first generation, single family office founder and retired PBM Executive, has left a profound mark in the healthcare sector. While at Citizens Rx, he spearheaded strategies to curtail rising healthcare costs for various groups across the US and Puerto Rico. His strategic vision led to successful equity divestitures in 2015, 2017, and 2019.
With a rich history in various domains of pharmacy and pharmaceuticals, Alex’s contributions haven’t gone unnoticed; he was celebrated in the Memphis Business Journal’s “Top 40 Under 40” in 2011 and was honored as the “Big of the Year” by Big Brothers Big Sisters of Memphis in 2013 for his mentoring. Today, while he actively engages in philanthropy, he also invests in and serves on the boards of several private companies.
