Category: Philanthropy

Animals, Chattanooga, Chattanooga Audubon Society, community, donate, Entertainment, Environment, Healing, History, outdoors, Philanthropy, Sustainability, Uncategorized

Healing Wings

Written by Alexis McMurtry

John Stokes transfers one of his two eagles, Yazta, from the pen to his enclosure at his and his wife’s house in Trenton, Georgia. Monday, November 11, 2024. Photo by Alexis McMurtry.

At the end of a rugged, unpaved mountain road in Trenton, Georgia, John Stokes and Dale Kernahan’s home stands as a sanctuary surrounded by the wild beauty they work to protect. Outside, hand-built enclosures house majestic birds of prey, while bird feeders invite a chorus of smaller birds. Here, nature is more than a backdrop – it’s the heartbeat of their lives.

Wings to Soar, a nonprofit organization founded by the duo 11 years ago, serves as a sanctuary for birds of prey that can no longer survive in the wild alone. These raptors – many of whom are injured or have imprinted on humans – are given to them by various wildlife veterinarians and rehabilitation facilitators. This organization also focuses on education by offering programs that help the public understand the vital role these birds play in maintaining the balance of nature.

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Chattanooga, Chattanooga outreach, community, Daily Life, Diversity, donate, Family, History, Philanthropy, Sustainability, Uncategorized, UTC, women

Home Sweet Home

Written by Connor Spelta

Trish King, the Construction Office Manager at Habitat for Humanity of Greater Chattanooga Area talks about her experience working with volunteers and homeowners in the local community.

A public park, a mountain view, colorful homes, and bustling construction sites: these are all things you wouldn’t typically expect to see in a community with subsidized housing, but thanks to the work of the city and Habitat for Humanity of Greater Chattanooga, this is the scene at the Villages of Alton Park.

Construction Office Manager Trish King has seen firsthand the effect that they’ve had fostering a community in the neighborhood.

“We are not building one house for one person in isolation,” said King. “It’s that there are people around here who’ve been through the same process, it’s being part of something bigger.”

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art, Chattanooga, Chattanooga outreach, community, Daily Life, Diversity, Entertainment, Music, Philanthropy

Rising Culture

Written by Connor Spelta

Alex Newton spoke with Shateria Smith and Shane Morrow about Responsive Initiatives for Social Empowerment (RISE)—a black-led nonprofit organization that has been serving the community with free programming, concerts, and communal events since 2011. They hosted the Levitt BLOC Music Series during the month of September, which consists of free concerts for the public every Sunday.

For the most part, a drive down Taylor Street in East Chattanooga looks like any other street in the city’s poorer river-to-ridge region. The blur of closely packed industrial, commercial and residential lots aging into historic status is interrupted by a sprawling 14,000-square-foot complex adorned with stained glass windows and statues. 

The over 100-year-old building, formerly the Solid Anchor Church, hosts Chattanooga non-profit Responsive Initiatives for Social Empowerment (RISE). The black-led non-profit was started in 2011 by current CEO Shane Morrow and his partner.

Known originally as Jazzanooga, the organization began with a single-day Jazz festival as a part of the Community Foundation of Greater Chattanooga (CFGC). After the initial success of the festival, the organization spun off from CFGC into the independent non-profit it is today.

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Animals, Chattanooga, Chattanooga outreach, community, Daily Life, donate, Environment, Family, Food, Healing, Health, History, Love, outdoors, Philanthropy

Protecting Pets

Written by Olivia Smith

Alyssia Rich, left, trims Terri Greer’s dogs nails during a routine free pet food & supply delivery to a local neighborhood. Thursday, February 22, 2024. (Photo by Noah Camacho)

McKamey Animal Center is ten miles from Alton Park, one of the poorest zip codes in Tennessee. The Center is a thirty-minute drive but without other means of transportation, a three-and-a-half-hour walk, one way. 

During MAC C.A.R.E.S grand opening, Heather Hensley, the Community Solutions Manager at McKamey said, “Being at MetMin [Metropolitan Ministries] is such a big relief, we are closer to Alton Park and other populations that are looking for this assistance… We can spread the love so much better by being here with MetMin.”

In late January McKamey Animal Center and Metropolitan Ministries Impact Hub partnered to open MAC C.A.R.E.S Center. Located at 4001 Rossville Blvd., less than two miles from Alton Park. 

The grand opening being at noon, staff spent their morning giving pet supplies to people in need.

“More than half of MetMins clients have pets, they were already talking about this,” Hensley said. “As we were unloading food this morning people were coming to us, so we were giving it out.” 

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Chattanooga, Chattanooga outreach, community, Family, Healing, History, Military, Philanthropy

Flying Behind a Hometown Hero

Written by Mason Edwards

Video by Will Chen
In our media, we often hear about the remarkable stories of inspiring heroes, but it’s important to remember that behind every leader, there are many more individuals who choose to follow. One such follower was Retired Chief Warrant Officer Freddy Few, who had unwavering faith in his hometown hero, Larry Taylor, who later received the Medal of Honor. Few reflects on the pivotal moment he chose to enlist in the fight against Vietnam, and in doing so, sheds light on the voices of those who draw inspiration from heroes.

The decision that shaped the course of Freddy Few’s life happened not because of a recruiter, advertisement or newscast. Instead, Few followed in the footsteps of a hometown hero. Over forty years ago, he decided to enlist as a helicopter pilot in the Vietnam War.

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Chattanooga, Chattanooga outreach, community, Family, History, Military, Philanthropy

Uncle Doss’ Legacy

Written by Bethany Cothran

Desmond Doss, the first conscientious objector to receive the Medal of Honor, continued to serve people following his return home. Through the process of building Lookout Mountain Seventh Day Adventist from scratch, Doss was there to lend a helping hand every step of the way.

Eighteen miles south of the museum housing Desmond Doss’ Medal of Honor, his legacy lives on in Georgia’s northern hills. There, Doss’ homegrown church still stands. 

Raised down the road from the Dosses in Rising Fawn, Georgia, Glenn Burchard remembers Doss from the time he was three years old and called him Uncle Desmond. With his birthday a day after Doss’, Burchard recalled years sharing his birthday celebrations with Doss and learning how to tie a knot resembling the one that helped Doss receive his Medal of Honor.

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Chattanooga, community, Family, Healing, Hugs, Philanthropy, Sports

Addie’s Angels

By Kylee Boone

Chris Ray pushes his daughter Addie during a training session for Addie Ray Racing while volunteers follow. Wednesday, April 5, 2023. (Photo by Kylee Boone).

From the sweat dripping down a runner’s back to the endorphins rushing through their veins, racing is an activity many would describe as euphoric, including married couple Chris and Michelle Ray. Knowing how empowering a runner’s high feels, the Ray’s made it their mission to share the unique experience of racing with the disabled community by founding a nonprofit organization, Addie Ray Racing.

The inspiration behind this was Chris and Michelle’s 16-year-old daughter Addie who was born with Angelman Syndrome. After taking her along for her very first race and seeing the joy that it brought her, they knew this was something that needed to be shared with the people of Chattanooga.

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