Needs From: Volunteer East Tennessee

Looking for a wonderful opportunity to make a significant impact on the young lives and future of students? Maynard Elementary Community School and Amachi Knoxville are partnering to provide small group mentoring during the school day this school year. Mentors will meet with 2-3 students 2nd-5th grade for 1 hour per week to encourage, help build confidence, teach friendship and leadership skills, among other things. Group activities could include sports, arts/crafts, discussion topics, and/or special group projects. Mentor training is provided through Amachi and onsite orientation is provided at Maynard Elementary. Please go to Amachi – One Friendship, Two Lives Changed for more information and to start the signup process. You can also reach out to griggse@unitedwayknox.org for general inquiries. Thank you!

The Vine Volunteer Collective is a collaborative initiative at Vine Middle Magnet School, made up of businesses, nonprofits, churches, neighborhood organizations, and individual volunteers working together to support our educators, staff, and students. This collective provides practical, hands-on assistance to help meet the day-to-day needs of our school and create a supportive, uplifting environment for everyone. As a volunteer, you’ll have opportunities to:

Whether you’re representing an organization or volunteering as an individual, your time and efforts will directly impact the educators and students of Vine Middle Magnet School.

Join the Vine Volunteer Collective today, where Community Takes Root. 

CURRENT PROJECTS/OPPORTUNITIES\

WHEN ARRIVING AT THE SCHOOL:

Address: 1807 Martin Luther King Jr. Ave. Knoxville, TN, 37915

Please park on Martin Luther King Jr Avenue and then come to the front office doors underneath the awning. You will need to have your drivers license or some other form of verification to sign in at the front. All volunteers must complete an orientation with the Site Coordinator, Kyle Pickell, so please plan to arrive 15 mins early to your volunteering event. 

Use this to check-in to reoccurring site steering committee

Join the Vine Volunteer Collective for a fun, hands-on way to give back to our community! Keep Knoxville Beautiful is hosting their 5th Annual East Knoxville Clean-Up, and we’re putting together a VMMS team — staff, students, families, and neighbors — to help beautify our neighborhood. Volunteers of all ages are welcome. Let’s come together to make East Knoxville a cleaner, greener, and more vibrant place while representing Vine Middle Magnet School!

WHAT: Keep Knoxville Beautiful — 5th Annual East Knoxville Clean-Up
WHEN: Saturday, September 27 | 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon
WHERE: Caswell Park, 616 Jessamine St., Knoxville, TN

Volunteer Responsibilities:

Help pick up litter and debris

Assist with organizing collected items

Support fellow volunteers in a positive, community-focused way

Additional Info:

Dress for the weather and wear comfortable shoes

Bring a water bottle to stay hydrated

Gloves and trash bags will be provided by KKB

This is a family-friendly event

Sign Up: Be part of the VMMS team and help make a difference in our community!

Contact Kyle Pickell if you have questions: pickellk@unitedwayknox.org

Join us for one of Dogwood's biggest events- our fall festival! 

Our fall festival is a night full of games, treats, and fun. Our festival is a fall themed carnival where students and families attend to play games, have fun with teachers, and win different prizes.

We need extra hands playing games, passing out tickets, and making our festival as fun as possible for our families!

Site Steering Committee Meetings

The Vine Volunteer Collective is looking for Spanish and Swahili-speaking volunteers to support Family Engagement events at Vine Middle School throughout the school year. We are building a network of volunteers who can be called upon to assist with language support as needed—there’s no expectation to be at every event, just those you have capacity for! Your help will play a vital role in strengthening connections and improving communication with our multilingual families during after-school events. By joining our volunteer network, you’ll help create a welcoming and inclusive environment for all Vine Middle families. Interested in being part of this effort? Sign up today to be contacted when opportunities arise!

UPCOMING EVENTS:

Contact Kyle Pickell at pickellk@unitedwayknox.org for more information

Beaumont Magnet Academy provides weekly food bags for students who need food support over the weekends.  These bags contain easy to make food and snacks, as well as fresh produce ensuring that kids have food when school is not in session.  Glen Oak Missionary Baptist Church packs the nonperishable items from Second Harvest for us.  Beardsley Farm and the Rotary Club of Knoxville add the fresh produce to the bags 1-2 times a month.

To make this process work, we need help!  We need volunteers to transport our food bags from Glen Oak Missionary Baptist Church to Beaumont Magnet Academy or to Beardsley Farm on the weeks they will be adding produce.

Volunteers will pick up the food bags in the morning and drop them off at BMA or Beardsley Farm depending on the week.  We usually have approximately 100 to 130 bags.  Rolling bins are available to move items to and from your vehicle at each location.  

I will reach out to you to let you know if you will be delivering to the school or to Beardsley Farm.  Dates for Beardsley Farm will be confirmed by beginning of September.  First Beardsley Farm date is 9/18.

Thank you for your support!

We are looking for Spanish-speaking volunteers to support a variety of Family Engagement events at Belle Morris Elementary. Your help will play a vital role in strengthening our connections and improving communication with our Spanish-speaking families during after-school events. We would love to have you join us in creating a welcoming and inclusive environment for all of our families!

PTO Meeting-September 4th, 6:30-7:30pm

Neighborhood Block Party-September 12th, 5-7pm

Hispanic Heritage Night- September 30th, 5-6:30pm

We are looking for Spanish-speaking volunteers to support a variety of Family Engagement events at Whittle Springs Middle School. Your help will play a vital role in strengthening our connections and improving communication with our Spanish-speaking families during after-school events. We would love to have you join us in creating a welcoming and inclusive environment for all of our families!

Are you passionate about theatre and love working with youth? Whittle Springs Middle School is seeking a dedicated volunteer to sponsor our brand-new Drama Club! This is an exciting opportunity to help bring the arts to a vibrant yet underserved student community.

As the Drama Club Sponsor, you will:

Develop and lead engaging, age-appropriate curriculum for middle school students (fall & spring semesters)

Guide students in acting, stage presence, and production planning

Direct student performances, with access to our state-of-the-art sound system

Foster creativity, teamwork, and confidence in young minds

Preferred Qualifications:

Background in theatre, education, or performing arts

Comfortable directing youth performances and organizing productions

Time Commitment: 1–2 days per week (1-hour increments), after school hours

Volunteer Age Requirement: 18+

Background Check Required

Our students deserve access to the arts—but many have never had the chance to take the stage. This is your chance to create meaningful change, helping students find their voice and shine in ways they never imagined.

No pay, just purpose. Join us and make a difference in a community that needs you.

Do you love food and want to empower kids with essential life skills? Whittle Springs Middle School is launching a Cooking Club, and we’re looking for a passionate volunteer to serve as Club Sponsor.

As the Cooking Club Sponsor, you will:

Design and lead middle school-friendly cooking lessons (fall & spring semesters)

Teach basic kitchen skills, food safety, and simple, nutritious recipes

Inspire students to develop healthy habits and culinary creativity

Preferred Qualifications:

Background in culinary arts, nutrition, or food education

Experience working with youth or in a teaching capacity

Time Commitment: 1–2 days per week (1-hour increments), after school hours

Volunteer Age Requirement: 18+

Background Check Required

Many of our students face daily food insecurity, and for some, school meals are the only ones they receive. This club will be so much more than just cooking—it will be a space of learning, self-sufficiency, and love.

No pay, but a priceless impact. Be the difference in a young person's life.

Are you excited about technology, engineering, or coding? Whittle Springs Middle School is launching a Robotics Club, and we’re looking for a volunteer who’s ready to inspire the next generation of tech innovators!

As the Robotics Club Sponsor, you will:

Design and lead engaging, age-appropriate STEM curriculum for middle school students (fall & spring semesters)

Teach foundational concepts in robotics, coding, and engineering using hands-on projects

Help students develop critical thinking, problem-solving, and teamwork skills

Foster a love of STEM in a student body with limited access to enrichment opportunities

Preferred Qualifications:

Background in STEM (engineering, robotics, coding, etc.)

Experience working with youth or in an instructional role

Passion for making tech accessible and fun for all learners

Time Commitment: 1–2 days per week (1-hour increments), after school hours

Volunteer Age Requirement: 18+

Background Check Required

Our school community faces economic barriers, and many students have never had the chance to explore the world of robotics. This club could be the spark that ignites a lifelong passion—or even a future career.

No paycheck. Just purpose. Come be a changemaker in the lives of students who need you most.

In these meetings, Site Steering Members are responsible for identifying, planning, advising, and evaluating services and programs to guarantee that the school community, students, and family's needs are met. The SSC meets once a month on the first Tuesday of the Month from 5pm-6pm at NES Library.  Your insights are crucial to our success, and I’m excited to see the great things we’ll achieve together this year. 

We are looking for Spanish-speaking volunteers to support a variety of Family Engagement events at Dogwood Elementary. Your help will play a vital role in strengthening our connections and improving communication with our Spanish-speaking families during after-school events. We would love to have you join us in creating a welcoming and inclusive environment for all of our families!

partner meeting

We are looking for Spanish-speaking volunteers to support a variety of Family Engagement events at Norwood Elementary. Your help will play a vital role in strengthening our connections and improving communication with our Spanish-speaking families during after-school events. We would love to have you join us in creating a welcoming and inclusive environment for all of our families!