Happy New Year! We’re happy to launch our Featured Volunteer Spotlight with the start of a new year. We value and want to recognize all the wonderful individuals that continuously donate their time and energy to make a difference in our communities.

This week’s Featured Volunteer is Kumasi Turner. Check out our Q&A with Kumasi.

What motivates you to volunteer in Memphis? 

Being that I was born and raised in Memphis, I have always enjoyed giving back to the city that has given me so much. My motivation for giving back is knowing that my service will have a positive impact on multiple people and that others will see me leading by example. This, in return, will inspire more Memphians to get involved across the city.

What causes are you passionate about? What are some of your favorite non-profits in Memphis?

One of my favorite non-profit organizations is Clean Memphis. This organization is focused on engaging and educating communities, providing high-level cleanup of key areas, and implementing a comprehensive environmental education program. During the fall of 2017, I had the opportunity of volunteering with Clean Memphis by picking up trash near the organization’s location. I love this organization because it showed me that something as simple as picking up trash can make a huge difference in how Memphians view a certain area. 

Can you tell us about your best volunteer experience so far? What makes it memorable?

My favorite volunteering experience was during the summer of 2017 when me and a group of students from the University of Memphis’s TRIO Student Success Program volunteered at Youth Villages. When we arrived at the site, we were given a tour of their amazing facility and the staff treated us with care. We played basketball and dodgeball with the kids. This experience was memorable because seeing how happy the kids were to spend the afternoon with my volunteering group made the day more enjoyable.

What are some lessons that you’ve learned from volunteering in Memphis?

I learned that Memphis has so many ways that you can give back to the community. You don’t always have to donate large sums of money to positively impact the people in Memphis. All you need is a goal and plan on how to accomplish it.

—

Visit VolunteerCompass to find your ideal volunteer opportunity.