A fraction of the books available at the Pop Up Bookstore One of my recurring career aspirations in my twenties was to be a librarian. I once had occasion to survey a whole group of librarians about their jobs, and they were all very quick to make one
I don't know where to begin! Do I start with all the amazing people (dogs and cats too) I met through my Volunteer Odyssey week? Or with the vital services the organizations I volunteered with bring to our community? Or with how great it felt to support these organizations
People often ask how soon they can take their kids to volunteer. We have good news: It's never too early to start volunteering with your kids! There are several great volunteer opportunities in Memphis where your whole family can get involved. Your winter break is the perfect time to get involved
Cake-fueled creativity “Promises to children are sacred.” This mantra from my days as a KIPP teacher kept scrolling through my mind as I promised several dozen elementary school kids that they would absolutely all get to have one of the pieces of cake spread out on the table
Life on the Mississippi I think of myself as a Memphian. After all, I spent the first 18 years of my life in this city. I went ice skating at the Mall of Memphis, ate my weight in Danver’s cheeseburgers, and still refer to the flagship university as
Helping prepare the dessert! I had driven by the building thousands of times but never knew of the kindness and generosity happening inside. If I hadn't known I was visiting the Dorothy Day House and sharing dessert with homeless families and other volunteers, I would have thought
Serving breakfast at Peace Lutheran Church It was 26⁰ with a wind chill of 19⁰. At 5:00 this morning, frost covered the trees, coated grass on the ground and reflected the season's festive holiday light decorations. It was quiet and still with few if any people traveling the
Trust the journey. It's the natural course of life, losing our parents, but just because it’s natural doesn’t make it easier. Whether it is sudden or a child loses their parent little by little over a period of time, losing a parent brings heartbreak like no other. "I
"Hey, Hot Chocolate Lady! My mom wants some, too!" the younger sibling of a Le Bonheur patient excitedly hollered as he placed his order with me at the Hot Drinks Beverage Cart. Four donated hot beverage dispensers and one awesome Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital volunteer is all it took to
After delivering the last meal to a senior in our community earlier this week, I glanced in my rearview mirror. There she was. Her eyes met mine. She was wet, cold, emaciated, and by the looks of her, had given birth to who-knows-how many litters of puppies. It didn't matter