The Programs of FirstWorks
FirstWorks strives to meet the needs of the hungry, homeless, and displaced in downtown Memphis — serving over 3,800 clients through the Food Pantry, Clothes Closet, and the Children's Program.
Food Pantry
82 N. Second Street
Hours: Tuesday through Friday from 9:30 until 2:00
Providing food and hygiene products to those in needClients receive a week's supply of food, including such staples as cereal, pasta, rice, soup, canned meat, fruits and vegetables, as well as snacks and nutritional supplements. Hygiene bags, with toothbrushes, toothpaste, soap, feminine products and other necessary items, are also distributed as needed.
Families are referred to FirstWorks by many local social service agencies such as MIFA, the Street Ministry at 600 Poplar, the Salvation Army, the Red Cross, Memphis and Shelby County Homeless Children and Youth Program, among others.
Walk-ins are given travel bags containing nutritional snacks, such as granola bars, juice drinks, canned fruit and meat and travel-sized hygiene products.
Food to stock the Food Pantry is donated by the Memphis community, downtown churches, and other faith-based organizations and is supplemented, as needed, with purchases from the Memphis Food Bank. All non-perishable food and hygiene products are needed.
Clothes Closet
82 N. Second Street
Hours: Tuesday through Friday from 9:30 until 2:00
The only free source of clothing in the downtown area: Clothes are arranged by size and clients shop for their particular style and color preferences. A Career Closet offers a week's supply of workplace-suitable clothing for clients who are entering or perhaps re-entering the work force.
The Clothes Closet operates entirely on donations. New or gently-worn men's, women's and children's clothing is always needed.
Children's Program
Union Avenue United Methodist Church
2117 Union Avenue (corner of Union and Cooper)
Hours: Tuesday and Thursday evenings from 5:30 until 8:00
Operating two nights each weekHomeless and displaced children from three of the poorest zip codes in the nation, are referred into the program during the first or second grade by the Memphis City School system. The criteria for acceptance are children who have the academic ability to learn and excel in school but lack a support system at home.
Twice weekly during the school year, the children are picked up by the FirstWorks bus, brought in for a hot, nutritious meal, then participate in academic lessons, life-skill initiatives, tutoring, and assistance in completing class projects. Most importantly they experience love, acceptance, a sense of belonging and glimpses of hope for the future.
FirstWorks also provides back to school uniforms and backpacks with grade level school supplies, which are replenished every six weeks.
