Calvert Street Group: Serving the Community
Did you know?
Three million people and thousands of species depend on a clean Cumberland River?
Nashville teens and young adults in crisis have a place to turn for shelter, food, clothing, and support in the Oasis Center, which helps an average of 15 young people per day just in their Street Outreach Center?
Food insecurity impacts 1 in 8 Middle and West Tennesseans daily?
In honor of Earth Day, our staff spent an April afternoon riparian planting at North Creek Park with the Cumberland River Compact. We planted more than 300 trees, a challenge since most of us are more community organizer than gardener.
Planting the tiny trees in rows along Mansker Creek meant we helped filter pollutants from stormwater, prevent erosion, and provide habitat and shade for wildlife. We learned that trees are crucial to protecting waterways and public health. What a thrill to be a part of keeping our waterways clean.
If you’re in Middle Tennessee, the Cumberland River Compact offers some great programs you can be involved in. Besides volunteering like we did, you can also request information about planting a rain garden. The compact will provide native plants and teach you how to plant your own rain garden.
Our next quarterly service event was volunteering with the Oasis Center.
First, a group of staffers and interns made snack packs for the young people who benefit from the programs offered by this multi-faceted organization that offers crisis support, education, social programs, and more to people in the community aged 13 to 24.
After delivering 50 packs, we toured the facility and got to see multiple painted murals, a signature of the Oasis Center; the bike shop; art center; and education and laundry areas. We were impressed by the work the center does to help young people transition to a happy, healthy, productive adulthood.
The Oasis Center accepts donations and always is on the lookout for volunteers to mentor young people, take photos, help with administrative tasks, and other work.
In early November, our team had the pleasure of volunteering at Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee. We got down to business packing emergency food boxes for those who were recently impacted by Hurricane Ian in Florida. In two hours, we were able to fill 649 boxes, which will feed 600 people.
Like the other two organizations, Second Harvest has many opportunities for individuals and groups to get involved and we recommend box packing as a fun and worthwhile activity.
Calvert Street Group is proud to serve our community in Nashville. Staff members often comment on the positive team-building aspects of these projects. We appreciate the opportunity to play a role in addressing local problems and look forward to what’s in store in 2023!
