Looking to get more involved in the Nashville community but not sure where to start? We’ve put together a guide to some organizations in and around the city that provide opportunities for volunteers to make an impact. While we encourage you to do your own research before volunteering, these are great starting points for getting more involved in the greater Nashville community.
Dream Streets
Dream Streets is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to protect and empower individuals living in distress. Their programs serve under-resourced communities in West and North Nashville. They offer a variety of services, all tailored to what the community says it needs.
There are many ways you can be a part of the dream and serve with Dream Streets. First, the mobile food program distributes food seven days a week to neighborhoods that are often in a food desert. Volunteers can help with food rescue, distribution, snack bags and taking care of the truck and pantries. Next, the after-school program serves K-5 students Monday through Thursday. Volunteers can help with meals, transportation and serve as a trusted mentor and friend to the students. Lastly, Dream Streets hosts a Moms Group + Sunday Kids. Volunteers can help with meals and volunteer with the kids through Bible stories, arts and crafts and free play.
Nashville Humane Association
The Nashville Humane Association is a perfect volunteer opportunity for those who miss their dogs and cats at home. Opened in 1946, the NHA is a local non-profit animal shelter that aims to help sick pets and find homes for adoptable animals. They also work to rescue pets from neglect and abuse, provide disaster relief and promote humane treatment of animals in the community.
The NHA provides many volunteer opportunities for animal lovers. Volunteers can do hands-on work, such as walking dogs, or work on the administrative side by helping with adoption processes and working events. There are five different volunteer teams for every shelter-related interest: Pet Services Team, Dog Care Team, Cat Care Team, Community Outreach Team and Shelter Operations Team.
Each volunteer is required to serve a minimum of six months and for a minimum of six hours per month. The three training components for regular volunteers include an online orientation, online animal training modules and in-person shadow days. While this is a bigger commitment than some of the other opportunities on this list, the NHA also facilitates a shorter-term volunteer commitment called Doggie Dates, where eligible volunteers are able to take a dog out for a couple of hours, which is separate from the regular volunteer program, with no training required.
The Nashville Food Project
The Nashville Food Project’s mission is to help those who are hungry in Nashville through their community-based initiatives to grow, cook and distribute food across the city. They work to support their mission during each step of the process by growing produce in community gardens, cooking healthy meals in their kitchens and distributing them in partnership with community groups and nonprofits to maximize reach.
Volunteers can do a variety of jobs within the organization, including meal prepping, sorting food donations and working in the community gardens. Both long-term volunteers and drop-ins are welcome to contribute their time, making The Nashville Food Project’s volunteer schedule friendly for the busy Vanderbilt student.
For those who are not able to volunteer but are interested in contributing to their mission, visit their Growing Together Farmers Market, which will be open from May 3 to Nov. 22. It would make for a lovely early fall outing once students return to campus in August.
ThriftSmart
ThriftSmart is a thrift store that donates 100% of proceeds to local nonprofits that promise an environmentally friendly and clean shopping experience while still providing low prices for its customers. In addition to ThriftSmart’s four main charities, proceeds are donated to many other local, community-based organizations like schools and churches. The store itself also serves as a welcoming place for the refugee community in Nashville.
Volunteers can do many different tasks, such as organize and hang clothes, sort goods to be recycled and help customers with the shopping experience. ThriftSmart is flexible with volunteers’ schedules, as they are open seven days a week.
Water Walkers
Water Walkers is a nonprofit organization that believes in transforming the lives of at-risk youth in Nashville. They utilize water sports, outdoor activities and education to help youth walk on the rough waters of life. They empower students through five pillars of programming: outdoor adventure, education, wellness, basic needs and leadership.
There are many ways to get involved through Water Walkers. As nearly all of the students who enter this program are multiple grade levels behind in reading and math, volunteers can provide support through their after-school tutoring program. If you enjoy being outdoors and helping kids overcome their fears, getting involved with their outdoor adventures may be a great fit. Additionally, they provide a youth leadership program where mentors are able to share their experiences and serve as an example for a high school student. Lastly, they offer a financial literacy curriculum where volunteers can teach classes to teens in the Youth Leadership Development Program.
There are so many volunteer opportunities here in Nashville. You can find more information about other opportunities online, through campus resources and by asking around. Hopefully, this list assists you in getting out of the Vanderbilt bubble and into the Nashville community.
