Monthly Service Challenge
Each month, a new mission will be posted as motivation for us all to roll up our sleeves and serve our communities. Be sure to keep the Office of the First Lady in the loop by posting on social media using #TennesseeServes for a chance to be recognized as a Service Spotlight. Grab your friends, family, classmates or colleagues and join us as Tennessee Serves!
August
As summer comes to a close and students head back to school, Tennessee Serves is working to support classrooms across the state. Tennessee youth are our state’s future, so it’s important that we make sure they have everything they need to receive a quality education.
Throughout August, serve alongside Tennessee Serves as we work to support students, teachers, faculty, and schools across our state. There is so much to be done, and we need your help to ensure Tennessee is prepared for another successful school year.
Service Opportunities
Tennessee Nonprofits that Serve Back to School
East Tennessee
Cocke County Cradle to Career Coalition
Public Education Foundation Chattanooga
Friends of Literacy
Knox Education Foundation
Little Tennessee Valley Educational Cooperative
Mission of Hope
Rise Up for Kids
Good Samaritan Ministries
Middle Tennessee
Nashville Public Education Foundation
DreamStreets
PENCIL
Harvest Hands CDC
Salama Urban Ministries
Book’Em
BeWell in School
East Nashville Hope Exchange
Read to Succeed
YES: Youth Encouragement Services
Teach for America
Homework Hotline
Oasis Center
West Tennessee
AGAPE Memphis
Arise2Read
First 8 Memphis
Hope House Memphis
Memphis Youth Arts Initiative
Urban Child Institute
Literacy MidSouth
Teach for America
Bridges
Porter Leath
Homework Hotline
Statewide/National
TN Achieves
Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library
Governor’s Early Literacy Foundation
Tennessee Public Libraries
TN After School Network
TN SCORE
Boys & Girls Clubs of TN
Communities in Schools TN
Kids In Need Foundation
Operation Warm
Girls on the Run
Junior Achievement
United Ways of TN
Communities in Schools
Suggested Service Opportunities
**Please note that First Lady Maria Lee and the TN Serves team will not be attending these specific projects in-person**
Knoxville Area Urban League, Knoxville, Aug 3 at 9 am: KAUL is teaming up with local nonprofits to give away shoes, school supplies, and more to students going back to school.
Mission of Hope, Knoxville, Sept 12 (Registration Deadline Aug 30): Mission of Hope’s annual Golf tournament raises funds to supply 10,000 students in 29 schools with backpacks, school supplies, and hygiene items at the beginning of the school year.
Glencliff Highschool, Nashville, Aug 10 from 9 am-11 am: Help beautify Glencliff Highschool’s garden! Students use the garden throughout the school year. They rely on volunteers to upkeep the garden during the summer.
Excel Children and Youth Services, Memphis, Ongoing from 3-6 pm: Become an afterschool tutor to assist students with schoolwork.
Refugee Empowerment Program, Memphis, flexible dates and hours: Volunteers help prepare toddlers to enter preschool and kindergarten.
Everyday Ways to Serve
- Donate any extra school supplies you have to your school or a local nonprofit.
- Volunteer to be a guest reader or career day speaker at a local elementary school.
- Donate old books to your neighborhood school, local library, or nonprofit serving school-aged children.
- Send a note or a small gift to a teacher.
- Prepare some baked goods for janitorial staff or support staff at your child’s school.
- Reach out to a foster family, military family or other family with young kids to offer help with back to school shopping.