“I should have been a history teacher,” said Volunteer Odyssey volunteer Walker after his first shift as a history tutor.
Walker saw an email request calling for history tutors for students living at Dorothy Day House. He decided to give it a try—and while he may have missed his calling to become a full-time teacher, he’s been able to use his passion for history to create positive change in local lives
Like many, Walker works an 8-5 job and hasn’t found the opportunity to volunteer very often because many nonprofits need volunteers during the workday or on the weekends. When Walker saw he could commit one hour, one evening a week, he knew he could do it.
He just didn’t know how much he would enjoy it!
"if I want to do something, I want to fully commit—with life, work, school, and other hobbies. I was worried that tutoring once a week for an hour wouldn't have much impact. But the longer I did it, the sillier the thought became. It doesn't matter how long or how often you volunteer. What matters is that you do it, and that you fully commit yourself to the time you’ve made available to do it.”
Walker
Volunteer Odyssey Volunteer
At Volunteer Odyssey, we encourage volunteers to find the intersection of what they love and what they are good at.
That feeling- of finding a new part of yourself, of tapping into a new passion, or rediscovering one of years past- is the cornerstone of volunteerism.
Schedules, life goals and directions change. The ability to give yourself to others is a constant. The avenue in which you do so may differ over time, but the need is constant. Walker found his calling as a volunteer, and we think you can too.
Here are 12 ways to get started this month:
For the Kingdom, Feed the Block Initiative, April 11th
- From 1PM-4PM daily
- Through the kindness of many partners, For the Kingdom works to end food disparity in Raleigh, serving hot meals for parent/guardian pick up or delivery at no charge to children 18 under and seniors 65 and over. FTK needs assistance plating and packaging food to be picked up by drivers in the afternoons.
- Sign up here.
YMCA of Memphis and the Mid-South, Tutoring Volunteer
- 1-hour shifts weekdays
- The YMCA is looking for volunteers that can work alongside teachers to help facilitate prepared materials and guide students in a classroom setting for grades 1-8. There is flexible scheduling and no experience required. Volunteers are subject to a background check and must commit to at least 1 hour a week to help children recapture learning lost experienced during the pandemic.
- Sign up here.
JustCity Court Watch Virtual Orientation
- Tuesdays 3PM-4PM and Fridays 10AM-11PM
- Just City works to transform local criminal justice policy and practice to ensure it is fair for all people regardless of wealth, race, or ethnicity. Their Court Watch program encourages transparency, accountability, and community participation in the courts. Court watch invites community volunteers into courtrooms to observe proceedings that are typically invisible to the general public. Interested volunteers are required to attend orientation before sitting in on court.
- Sign up here.
Arrow Creative, Event Photography
- Various events and shifts throughout the month
- If you have experience and understanding of techniques, equipment, and processes related to photography and want to use your skills to capture professional, high-quality images of guests, event details, and retail imagery then Arrow Creative needs you. This is an incredible opportunity to practice your skills, network, and bring your own unique style and ideas to the shoot.
- Sign up here.
Shelby Farms Park, Spread the Mulch Volunteer Work Day, April 16th
- From 8AM-11PM
- Celebrate Volunteer Month and show the Park mulch love! More than just a pretty accent to the trees, mulch plays an important role in tree care and helps keep the trees in the Park happy and healthy! Mulch helps retain water and helps prevent erosion. It also adds nutrients to help the trees grow strong and remain healthy. Volunteers are needed to help spread mulch in various areas of the Park.
- Sign up here.
Memphis Rox, Volunteer Community Clean-Up, April 16th
- From 10AM-2PM
- It’s that time again for Memphis Rox to host their Soulsville Neighborhood Volunteer Cleanup. This is a great way to engage with and give back to this community. Volunteers will meet at Rox and disperse from there. All necessary materials for the cleanup, including trash bags, gloves, high-visibility vests, and water will be provided.
- Sign up here.
Memphis Animal Services, Dog Volunteer Orientation, April 16th
- From 12PM-1PM
- The first step to volunteering with Memphis Animal Services is to attend orientation for the type of animal you would like to work with. Orientation introduces you to MAS and what volunteer needs they have. After orientation, you are able to volunteer for animal enrichment, photography, adoption assistance, and more. Your support ensures that more animals are healthy, happy, and safe.
- Sign up here.
Memphis Botanic Garden, Spring Plant Sale Volunteer, April 21st through 23rd
- From 8:30AM-1PM and 12:30PM-6PM
- Year after year, plant nerds, and novice and expert gardeners flock to the Garden’s Spring Plant Sale. It is the event that every green thumb (and not so green thumb) looks forward to. MBG will have local artisans with specialty garden items and gifts, talks by local gardening experts, and our horticulture staff and Tennessee Master Gardeners will be on hand to answer your questions. Volunteers will assist shoppers with finding shopping carts as well as returning carts to the proper place.
- Sign up here.
Wolf River Conservancy, Earth Day on the Greenway, April 23rd
- From 10AM to 12PM
- Join the Wolf River Conservancy for their Earth Day on the Greenway service event! WRC will be focusing their efforts on the Kennedy Park section of the Wolf River Greenway, with a larger project to clean up the accumulated trash along the adjacent N. Highland Street, and several smaller projects on site. This is a great opportunity to be outside, celebrate Earth Day, and work to make our city cleaner.
- Sign up here.
Boys and Girls Club of Greater Memphis, Steak N Burger Annual Fundraiser, April 28th
- Shifts throughout the day
- Help the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Memphis set up, host, and/or clean up for the longest-running and highest grossing fundraiser of the BGCGM. Steak n’ Burger has been bringing Club members and donors together to share conversations and a meal for 50 years- all while supporting the expansive efforts of clubs across Greater Memphis.
- Sign up here.
Memphis Oral School for the Deaf, SpeakEasy Annual Fundraiser, April 29th through May 1st
- Shifts throughout each day
- SpeakEasy is MOSD‘s biggest fundraiser of the year with a roaring 20’s themed night of dancing, music by Nick Black, fabulous food from some of our area’s finest restaurants, drinks, casino-like entertainment, and a live and silent auction. Every dollar raised throughout the night benefits the students at MOSD. Typically, SpeakEasy raises over $100,000 for our school in one night. Join them in making this event a tremendous success by volunteering for one (or more) available shifts.
- Sign up here.
Art in the Loop Annual Festival, ArtWorks Foundation, April 29th through May 1st
- Shifts throughout each day
- ArtWorks Foundation presents its 5th edition of Art in The Loop, the Art Festival in East Memphis, featuring works of Fine-Craft in metal, glass, wood, clay, & fiber, as well as 2-D disciplines. In addition to our juried artists market, you’ll also enjoy the fare of the town’s top food trucks, and plenty of fresh air. Admission is free. Volunteers are needed to ensure the event runs smoothly and will get to enjoy the event for themselves, too.
- Sign up here.
