“My husband and I are both nurses and have always tried to help people, but about a year and a half ago we decided it was time to do something more. We started a nonprofit [Merge Memphis], got some volunteers together, and began to supply monthly food boxes to a group of struggling families that we personally know. We also make up care packages and put them in bus stops all up and down Poplar, and in the winter we tie scarves and care packages to trees in Court Square for anyone who's cold; you don’t have to be homeless to take one. People donate food, hats, gloves, socks, and other items. In fact, someone even donated a food truck to us---it’s the only nonprofit food truck in Memphis---and we use the proceeds to help fund our projects. One of the things we’ve used those funds for is to make curtains for the Opportunity Center at 600 Poplar. Forty-two men live there, but when the temperature gets below 36 degrees, other people come and stay the night on mats in the front room. It’s a big glassed-in area and there was no privacy, so we measured the windows, got a volunteer to sew the curtains, and now they’re up. It gives our friends a little bit of dignity not to be right out there in the open where people passing by can gawk at them and at what little they have. Plus, car headlights don't beam in on them all night.
“I just feel like we need to help people. That’s what we’re supposed to be doing. I don’t see how a person can go to work for eight hours a day, come home, watch television all evening, and close their eyes to what’s happening all around them. If you stay open, listen to God, and are willing, he’ll show you what you can do. You don’t have to build a $200,000 gym for people to play basketball in, in order to help them. We’ve got plenty of those. You don’t have to be somebody special to help either; I’m nobody. All I try to do is see needs and look for ways to fill them. Anyone can do the simple things. I never recommend handing out money, but anybody can make up care packets with basic toiletries, socks, and other things. Maybe include a bus pass. Keep the packets in your car and hand them out when you see a person in need. Keep your heart and your eyes open, and if you see something that needs doing, just do it. Treat people the way you'd want somebody to treat your grandmother.”
“I just feel like we need to help people. That’s what we’re supposed to be doing. I don’t see how a person can go to work for eight hours a day, come home, watch television all evening, and close their eyes to what’s happening all around them. If you stay open, listen to God, and are willing, he’ll show you what you can do. You don’t have to build a $200,000 gym for people to play basketball in, in order to help them. We’ve got plenty of those. You don’t have to be somebody special to help either; I’m nobody. All I try to do is see needs and look for ways to fill them. Anyone can do the simple things. I never recommend handing out money, but anybody can make up care packets with basic toiletries, socks, and other things. Maybe include a bus pass. Keep the packets in your car and hand them out when you see a person in need. Keep your heart and your eyes open, and if you see something that needs doing, just do it. Treat people the way you'd want somebody to treat your grandmother.”
Photos below courtesy of the Merge Memphis FB page:
Before and after at the Opportunity Center at 600 Poplar (part of Union Mission):
Sherry and Keith McClure are co-founders of Merge Memphis, a 501c3 (non-profit).
FB: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100008136078846
FB: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100008136078846
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