Community Outreach

TMPI Community Outreach Project 2010-2011

Our chapter is full of wonderful individuals who are community minded. This year we have decided to help channel that spirit of giving by featuring 12 different area organizations who are in need of contributions. Each month our chapter will accept donations to benefit a particular charitable organization at the monthly meetings.  Members will be notified through the e-newsletter, meeting registration emails and reminders. Members will be asked to bring their donations and place them in the collections bins at the meeting registration desk. Items will then be taken to the appropriate organization for distribution.  If you are interested in joining the Community Outreach Committee, please contact Aven Humphreys.

For the months when there are East and West Regional Meetings, donations will be collected at those meetings then distributed to a similar organization in that area.  A detailed calendar of regional outreach projects is coming soon!

August 17, 2010 – The Pencil Foundation’s LP Pencil Box. www.pencilfoundation.org . Bring any type of school supplies with you to the August MPI:TN Meeting, the Vendor Trade Show, at the Berger House. 

The Pencil Foundation helps link community resources with Nashville Public Schools to help young people achieve academic success and prepare for life. The LP Pencil Box is a free school supply store for educators that provides learning materials for impoverished students in Metro Nashville Public Schools. For a Teacher Wish List visit the foundation website and click on the LP Pencil Box Learn More link on the left side then click on the Donate Today option.

September 2010 – Sports 4 All Foundation. www.s4af.org . The Sports 4 All Foundation’s mission is to improve the quality of life of individuals with disabilities by providing funding, equipment, programming and education to enable full participation in sports and recreation activities. Members are asked to donate new or gently used sports equipment – something small – such as baseball gloves, baseballs, softballs, bats, etc. – so that items will be portable enough to be placed in the collection bin and delivered to the foundation.

October 2010 – The W.O. Smith Music School. www.wosmith.org . The W.O. Smith/Nashville Community Music School, founded in 1984, is a nonprofit educational institution created for the purpose of making quality music instruction available to talented, interested, deserving children from low income families at the nominal fee of 50 cents a lesson. The school also seeks to encourage student participation in the cultural life of the community through concert attendance and performance.

November 2010 – Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee. www.secondharvestmidtn.org .  Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee was founded in 1978 by a group of citizens who were concerned about their hungry neighbors. The Food Bank was designed to collect food that would otherwise be wasted, inspect and sort that food, and distribute it to not-for-profit agencies serving hungry people. Members are asked to bring non-perishable staple items such as peanut butter, pasta, canned soup, canned meats, etc.

December 2010 – Nashville Rescue Mission. http://nashvillerescuemission.org .  The Nashville Rescue Mission seeks to help the hurting of Middle Tennessee by offering food, clothing and shelter to the homeless and recovery programs to those enslaved in life degrading problems.  Members are asked to bring scarves, hats, gloves, sweatshirts, heavy socks in all sizes, etc..

January 2011 – Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt. www.vanderbiltchildrens.org . The Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt treats the region's sickest patients, caring for patients in 44 states in the past year. Children’s Hospital treats all children regardless of ability to pay. Members are asked to bring small items such as card games, crayons, coloring books, comfy socks, small puzzles, books, etc. that will be distributed to the children. PLEASE, NO CANDY OR FOOD due to health and dietary restrictions.

February 2011 – Nashville Humane Association. www.nashvillehuman.org . The Nashville Humane Association is committed to: promoting humane treatment of animals, finding good homes for stray or abandoned dogs and cats, educating the public about their responsibility to help control the pet population, and providing treatment and care to ensure the well being of animals in our community.  Members are asked to donate items such as Milk Bone treats for all dog sizes, Collars of all sizes, 6 foot leashes, 13 gallon/55 gallon trash bags, etc. To see the full wish list please visit the website and click on the You Can Help tab.

March 2011 – Oases Center. www.oasiscenter.org . Oasis Center began in 1969 as a drop-in center for young people in crisis. Over the past four decades it has evolved into one  of  the nation’s leading youth-serving organizations, offering safety and intervention to our city’s most vulnerable youth, while also seeking to teach young people how to transform the conditions that create problems for them in the first place. To this end, we provide award-winning residential, counseling and youth engagement services. Members are asked to bring items of ongoing need such as toothpaste and tooth brushes, dental floss, bandaids, new or gently used backpacks, rain ponchos (disposable work well), journals and ink pens, etc. For a more extensive list visit the website and click on the Get Involved tab.

April 2011 – Hospital Hospitality House of Nashville. www.hospitalhospitalityhouse.org . Hospital Hospitality House is a home away from home for patients and caregivers seeking medical treatment in Nashville hospitals, providing lodging, meals and other supportive services. Members are asked to donate notepads and pencils, puzzle and activity books, games, travel size toiletries, shower curtain liners, cleaning supplies. For a more complete wish list visit the website and click on the Donate tab.

May 2011 – YWCA of Nashville and Middle Tennessee Confidential Shelter for Victims of Domestic Violence Program.  www.ywcanashville.com . The YWCA Weaver Domestic Violence Center is the largest domestic violence shelter in the state of Tennessee and is housed at a confidential location.  Shelter services include:  therapeutic counseling and case management for all residents, therapeutic programming for children and teens, addictions treatment, legal advocacy and limited on-site medical care.  “After care” is available for many women and children when they leave the shelter.  In July of 2008, we began offering affordable transitional housing for women and families who need it when they leave the shelter. Members are asked to donate new items such as women’s socks, hair care products for women of color, hair brushes, shampoo and conditioner, facial care products, sanitary products, razors and shaving cream. Visit the website for more information on donations.

June 2011 – Walden’s Puddle. www.waldenspuddle.org . Walden’s Puddle provides care and treatment to sick, injured, and legitimately orphaned Native Tennessee Wildlife, as well as educational experiences to the community. Members are asked to donate applesauce, jars of pureed baby food meat and fruit, wild bird seed, triple sized cotton balls, etc. Visit the website for a more complete wish list.

July 2011 – CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate) of Nashville. www.casa-nashville.org . CASA provides trained community volunteers to advocate for the best interests of children who come to the attention of the court primarily as a result of abuse or neglect. CASA’s mission is to expedite the process through which these abused and neglected children find permanent, safe homes. Members are asked to donate small, beanie baby type stuffed animals to be given to children working within the CASA program.