Nashville

For Joy Flores and Krystle Knight, volunteering isn’t just about meeting immediate needs—it’s about building relationships that lead to lasting change. Joy, who has spent more than two decades working in homeless services, joined the Nashville Rescue Mission staff two and a half years ago after relocating from Los Angeles. After years working near Skid… From Helping to Healing: How Volunteering at Nashville Rescue Mission Changes Lives...

  For Heidi Siefkas, volunteering isn’t an add-on to life—it’s a way of staying grounded, connected, and present in it. A four-time nonfiction author, TEDx speaker, and self-described adventurer, Heidi moved to Nashville in 2023 to care for her father and reconnect with a strong support system. That sense of community quickly became central to… Showing Up Where It Matters: Heidi Siefkas on Volunteering, Resilience, and Community...

On this episode of the Doing Good podcast, host Megan McInnis welcomes Dr. Rolanda Lister, a maternal–fetal medicine specialist, and Shawna Clay, fund administrator for the 37208 Fund. Together, they share how two very different paths—clinical care and community investment—intersect to support justice, healing, and hope in Nashville’s 37208 zip code. Dr. Lister cares for… Blooming Justice in Nashville’s 37208: How Housing, Health, and Community Grow Together...

“Hospitality isn’t just a table setting—it’s a way of life.” This week on the Doing Good Podcast, host Megan McInnis sat down with Corisa “Pine” Lewis, a Nashville native whose warmth and service have touched nearly every corner of her community. A mother of five, grandmother of seventeen, and great-grandmother of one, Pine has built… Feeding Nashville with Heart: The Story of Corisa “Pine” Lewis...

Bill Crump has worked hard, and now he’s playing hard. This career pilot flew for the United States Navy. While stationed in San Diego, he volunteered with the Wounded Warrior Project at the local hospital where he was moved by the resilience of children in recovery, seeing “these kids push themselves out of their comfort… Living Is Giving...

By Callie Carlucci Bernice has a catchy mantra to describe her work with animal rescue: “I don’t rescue dogs, dogs rescue me.” I think most dog people know exactly what she means. Dogs give our lives meaning in a way that isn’t necessarily describable. Maybe it’s the unconditional love that they exude; however, many canines… Bernice Karnett: Helping Dogs Become Dogs Again...

Shavonya Washington has always had a big heart, and even before she started volunteering, she shared it with her community. From being her parents’ full-time caregiver to serving as a healthcare professional, she has a knack for taking care of others. In 2009 Shavonya was looking for a life change and a community that shared… Shavonya Washington...

Growing up with a sister with Down Syndrome, Elizabeth Graham Pistole has a strong passion for helping individuals with special needs grow and develop. Her first experience volunteering was at her local church on “Special Saturdays” to serve church-goers living with disabilities broaden emotionally and spiritually. “The first time volunteering . . .  was way… Offering Opportunities, Reaching Potential...

Written by: Terri Seydel In many ways, Phillip Hyams is a typical American teenager, balancing his time between school, sports, and friends. He attends Brentwood High school and participates in the school’s sports program with the track, cross country, and basketball teams. Where he stands apart from other teenagers, is in what he chooses to… Volunteering with Friends – It’s Just Fun!...

Life experiences are often the best teachers and influencers of how we form our values and priorities. This has become powerfully evident in the mindful way that Fatema Chaklasi and her family volunteer within their own community of middle Tennessee. Inspired by their own modest origins in Mumbai and their move to the United States… Giving the Gift of Time...