MIFA (Metropolitan Inter-Faith Association)

We're incredibly grateful for the amazing volunteer groups who've helped us out this summer!

Looking to volunteer on weekends? Become a MIFA Volunteer Ambassador!

Help us at events by setting up, greeting attendees, and handing out materials. Events last 2-3 hours. Interested? Email [email protected].

Join us for the Saturday Mobile Pantry once a month from 7:30-10:30 a.m. at 277 S. 4th St! Help us assemble food boxes and deliver meals to seniors while enjoying music from DJ Stan Bell and a drink from TQ’s Coffay.

Upcoming dates: July 27, August 31, September 28, October 26, November 23. To sign up email [email protected].

MIFA will be closed on Thursday, July 4, in observance of Independence Day. Have a safe and happy holiday!

The Hospitality Hub will open an emergency cooling center on Sunday morning starting at 11:00 a.m. https://tinyurl.com/2po2ts57

Looking for a volunteer opportunity? Become a MIFA Meals on Wheels volunteer and deliver meals to homebound seniors across Shelby County!

Come as an individual, group, or congregation. Shifts are available M-W at 9 a.m. and take 1-2 hours. Visit mifa.org to learn more.

Every summer, MIFA is buzzing with new energy thanks to the awesome groups from Memphis Youth Mission! We're so grateful for these enthusiastic young volunteers delivering smiles and meals on our routes.

Making a difference together! Peggy Jean Craig, one of our amazing board members, recently brought her little helpers along to deliver a Meals on Wheels route.

A huge shoutout to Victory Bicycle Studio for donating these fantastic bikes! We passed them along to the top servers who helped us raise funds for Spring for a Meal.

Thank you to Max at Huey's Restaurants Collierville and Destinee at Kooky Canuck - Cordova.

MIFA will be closed on Wednesday, June 19, in observance of Juneteenth. Have a safe and happy holiday!

MIFA was honored with the Impact Award at the 2024 Volunteer Memphis Awards! A heartfelt thank you to Volunteer Memphis and to every supporter who has helped us create lasting change in our community.

Elder abuse prevention services through MIFA’s Ombudsman program Learn how MIFA’s Ombudsman program supports our elderly community. See the full segment to learn how to file a complaint and what happens next.

We want to thank everyone who participated in this year's No-Go Gala Garden Edition! This year, take a packet of seeds and tips from our gardeners, and grow something good.

We also want to thank everyone who has donated to the campaign. If you haven't please make a gift to support MIFA’s programs, which have grown from a little seed to serve 30,000 people each year. We provide nutrition for seniors, shelter for families, and stability for our community. From seed to stem, from bud to blossom, your gifts ensure that MIFA’s garden continues to thrive. Donate at mifa.org/nogogala!

The No-Go Gala So trade your white gloves for garden gloves. Ditch those high heels and slip on your mud boots. Forget about your coat and tie—try overalls.

In this year’s No-Go Gala, we celebrate other neighbors who connect their community through growth and cultivation. Four of the board members for Shelby County Community Gardens—Bruce Buchanan, Bill Cummings, Gene Mangiante, and Bill “Mack” McLaughlin—collectively have been gardening for over a whopping 100 years. Their dedication to tending their plots is evident, as they spend five to seven days a week with their crop. The roughly 400 plots, which are off Farm Road at Shelby Farms Park, are free, but because of their popularity, there is currently a waiting list.

You’re invited NOT to attend MIFA’s No-Go Gala. Instead of a night on the town, spend a day in the garden and give what you saved to MIFA to help grow more good in our community. Visit: mifa.org/nogogala

“We want anyone who has an interest in gardening, whether you're brand new or doing it for 30 years, we want to have this garden to be as prolific as possible!” explained Karen Bell, a manager within Shelby County Government. Community gardens play an important role, as they provide a rewarding experience and can provide food security for those in need. “One thing that I love about the garden here is that almost everybody is willing to help somebody else,” added Cummings.

In this year’s No-Go Gala, we celebrate other neighbors who connect their community through growth and cultivation. The Tea Bar 901 led Tee Niamke down the path to making honey. She wanted her own line of honey to pair with her teas to share with customers at the Memphis Farmers Market and Cooper-Young Community Farmers Market. She learned from a mentor and passes her knowledge on by employing young people and teaching them business skills.

You’re invited NOT to attend MIFA’s No-Go Gala. Instead of a night on the town, spend a day in the garden and give what you saved to MIFA to help grow more good in our community. Visit: mifa.org/nogogala

Tee's beekeeping tip: “Make sure that you have a passion for it, because lives are on the line—the bees. Make sure you have the patience for it, because it doesn't happen overnight. And make sure you have the purpose for it. You don't want to get into things just because it's popular, you want to pursue it if it's your passion. If you do these three things, you have a greater chance of being a successful, long-term beekeeper.”

In this year’s No-Go Gala, we celebrate other neighbors who connect their community through growth and cultivation. The Works, Inc.’s mission is to rebuild, restore, and renew Memphis neighborhoods through innovation, advocacy, and collaboration. From regenerative initiatives working to restore green spaces and ecosystems to providing equitable access to nutritious, fresh food in Memphis neighborhoods.

The Works is building a circular food economy with benefits at every step along the way. Their approach preserves resources, recycles waste, reduces blight, and fills once-vacant urban lots with thriving farm plots. Works Urban Farms stocks the Mobile Food Grocer and South Memphis Farmers’ Market to offer fresh produce in food deserts and underserved communities.

You’re invited NOT to attend MIFA’s No-Go Gala. Instead of a night on the town, spend a day in the garden and give what you saved to MIFA to help grow more good in our community. Visit: mifa.org/nogogala

Mike's gardening tip: “It all starts with the soil. If you have healthy soil, you will have healthy and productive plants. Soil is biology, not synthetic chemistry. It is an ecosystem to be stewarded, not a medium to apply chemical inputs to. That's not fertility, that's industry forcing you into a culture of dependency. Add organic to your soil if you want to be a successful gardener. You will water less, save money and time, and have better results whether it's in your veggie patch, flowerbed, or landscape.”

In this year’s No-Go Gala, we celebrate other neighbors who connect their community through growth and cultivation. Whitton Farms is thriving in the tiny town of Tyronza, Arkansas, about 35 from Memphis. Their history dates to the early 1900s when Keith’s great-grandmother settled in the area and began farming.

Today, along with their son Fox, they grow flowers, plants, herbs, and “everything from asparagus to zucchini” on their 15-acre farm. They sell their harvest on their property and at Memphis Farmers Market and Cooper-Young Community Farmers Market.

You’re invited NOT to attend MIFA’s No-Go Gala. Instead of a night on the town, spend a day in the garden and give what you saved to MIFA to help grow more good in our community. Visit: mifa.org/nogogala

Jill's gardening tip: “Grow what you enjoy eating. Start small, and don't be afraid to fail. We've had so many failures at the farm! Enjoy the process.”

In this year’s No-Go Gala, we celebrate other neighbors who connect their community through growth and cultivation. Andrew Adams, executive chef at ACRE Restaurant, backs up his words with action. Adams places an emphasis on locally sourced products and ingredients to help to create a dynamic menu at the respected restaurant nestled among picturesque trees in East Memphis.

“A lot of the sources I use for produce have been long relationships. I have a list with the farmers and the specific produce that they carry and the seasons that their produce will be available,” he explains.

You’re invited NOT to attend MIFA’s No-Go Gala. Instead of a night on the town, spend a day in the garden and give what you saved to MIFA to help grow more good in our community. Visit: mifa.org/nogogala

In this year’s No-Go Gala, we celebrate other neighbors who connect their community through growth and cultivation. How do you take something that’s almost 94 years old and make it vibrant and relevant in a modern world? For Memphis City Beautiful, it’s all about their longstanding and timeless mission: working together for a clean, green, beautiful Memphis.

When Memphis City Beautiful was established in 1930, it was the first beautification commission in the United States. To this day, its staff members strive to make a difference now and for future generations.

You’re invited NOT to attend MIFA’s No-Go Gala. Instead of a night on the town, spend a day in the garden and give what you saved to MIFA to help grow more good in our community. Visit: mifa.org/nogogala

Margaret's gardening tip: “Pollinators are a diverse group that includes birds, bees, butterflies, bats and beetles. The majority of flowering plants, including food crops, require pollinators to grow and reproduce. Thus, the health of our air, soil, and food sources depends on pollinator species, and they need food, water, and shelter to survive and thrive.”

In this year’s No-Go Gala, we celebrate other neighbors who connect their community through growth and cultivation. Debi Havner’s love of gardening started at an early age when her 7th grade science teacher taught her about the function and growth of plants and flowers. She loved watching flowers grow and even had a flower shop which specialized in planting perennial gardens for others.

Her lifelong passion continues to bring her joy to this day, and last year she received Memphis Garden Club’s Margaret Oates Dixon Award. Memphis Garden Club, which was formed in 1921, is committed to civic improvements and was instrumental in Meeman-Shelby Forest becoming a Tennessee state park.

You’re invited NOT to attend MIFA’s No-Go Gala. Instead of a night on the town, spend a day in the garden and give what you saved to MIFA to help grow more good in our community. Visit: mifa.org/nogogala

Debi's gardening tip: “I personally like full flower beds in small spaces. When planting I put the flowers a little closer than most recommend. It makes your small space look bigger.”

In this year’s No-Go Gala, we celebrate other neighbors who connect their community through growth and cultivation. For the dedicated members of Temple Israel Sisterhood, selling Holland bulbs has been a labor of love for over 75 years. The results of their work are evident each spring, when first daffodils then tulips carpet our city with color.

Originally, money raised from the annual bulb project was earmarked for Temple Israel, the prominent Jewish congregation tucked away on 30+ acres in East Memphis. Now, funds raised not only help the synagogue, but also community organizations, including MIFA.

You’re invited NOT to attend MIFA’s No-Go Gala. Instead of a night on the town, spend a day in the garden and give what you saved to MIFA to help grow more good in our community. Visit: mifa.org/nogogala

Judy's gardening tip: “Beginning gardeners should start with daffodils because they are beautiful and reliably bloom year after year. Those with limited space can fill large outdoor pots with colorful tulips that match the surroundings.”

In this year’s No-Go Gala, we celebrate other neighbors who connect their community through growth and cultivation. At the blooming age of 13, Steve Richardson started working on his dad’s Mississippi farm, raising cucumbers for a commercial pickling company. Over the years, he grew his skill and expertise, and in 1989 he founded the Tate County Farmers Market in Senatobia.

Today, he tends his 75-acre farm in Tyro. You may recognize him from Memphis Farmers Market, where he sells his produce, including cucumbers, tomatoes, peas, corn, bell peppers, melons, and sweet potatoes.

You’re invited NOT to attend MIFA’s No-Go Gala. Instead of a night on the town, spend a day in the garden and give what you saved to MIFA to help grow more good in our community. Visit: mifa.org/nogogala

Steve's gardening tip: “Feed your soil, because the soil feeds you.”

MIFA’s seed was planted more than 50 years ago and sprouted from the idea that more good could grow in our community. We continue to thrive and provide for our neighbors today thanks to the people who tend MIFA’s garden year after year.

In this year’s No-Go Gala, we celebrate other neighbors who connect their community through growth and cultivation. They are farmers, gardeners, beekeepers, and chefs. But they are also advocates, leaders, teachers, and neighbors.

You’re invited NOT to attend MIFA’s No-Go Gala. Instead of a night on the town, spend a day in the garden and give what you saved to MIFA to help grow more good in our community.

The No-Go Gala So trade your white gloves for garden gloves. Ditch those high heels and slip on your mud boots. Forget about your coat and tie—try overalls.

The Tennessee Department of Health is asking for your input! Complete this Tennessee Community Health Survey. Your feedback will help researchers understand the most important health concerns and better serve our community. Responses are anonymous.

Visit: https://tdhrc.health.tn.gov/redcap/surveys/?s=9LRPXKDNN4EECRP9

This we’re exploring how connectedness supports aging in place. Check out engagingolderadults.org, which helps organizations and communities address the root causes of social isolation.

engAGED engAGED: The National Resource Center for Engaging Older Adults, is a national effort to increase the social engagement of older adults, people with disabilities and caregivers by expanding and enhancing the Aging Network’s capacity to offer social engagement. Check out our training and technical ...

Guest Column: 'Making a difference and making connections' “Older Americans Month recognizes ‘the profound impact that meaningful relationships and social connections have on our health and well-being.’”

The 2024 Orion 5K is in the books, and it was a smash hit! Thank you to our wonderful partners at Orion FCU.

Over 600 people gathered for the Orion 5K event in The Edge District, enjoying races and a lively street party with pickleball, food, music, and drinks.