Volunteer Ministry Center

Volunteer Ministry Center VMC's mission is to prevent and end homelessness through compassion, accountability and results.

Small acts. Meaningful impact.This International Day of Charity, turn kindness into action for our Knoxville neighbors.T...
09/05/2026

Small acts. Meaningful impact.

This International Day of Charity, turn kindness into action for our Knoxville neighbors.

Three ways you can make a difference with VMC:

🤝 Volunteer — Give your time and talents to support our neighbors and our mission.

🔥 Community Support — Attend a VMC event, invite a friend, or help us share our mission throughout the community.

❤️ Give Generously — Donate needed items or make a monetary gift to help provide resources and support for our neighbors.

However you choose to give, every act of kindness matters.

How will you make an impact today?

CARRY THE TORCH 2026 🔥November 10, 2026 | Knoxville Convention CenterWhat happens when a community comes together with a...
09/04/2026

CARRY THE TORCH 2026 🔥
November 10, 2026 | Knoxville Convention Center

What happens when a community comes together with a shared purpose?

Change happens. Hope grows. Lives are transformed.

Join us for Carry the Torch, Volunteer Ministry Center’s premier fundraising event, as we unite community leaders, businesses, supporters, and advocates with one ambitious goal: raise $250,000 to help our unhoused and vulnerable neighbors move toward stability, dignity, and a brighter future.

Our $250,000 goal represents more than a number. It represents people. It represents a neighbor who needs a safe place to turn, someone seeking a path forward, and individuals who deserve the opportunity to rebuild their lives.

✨ Our featured keynote speaker: Jeannette Walls, bestselling author of The Glass Castle and Half Broke Horses, will join us to share her powerful story of resilience, perseverance, and the transformative power of hope.

Your partnership can help light the way.

For sponsors, Carry the Torch is an opportunity to do more than support an event. It’s an opportunity to invest in our community.

Your sponsorship can:

• Demonstrate your organization’s commitment to Knoxville and our neighbors in need
• Put your brand alongside a meaningful, community-centered mission
• Engage your employees, customers, and community in making a tangible difference
• Help provide critical resources and pathways to stability for people experiencing homelessness and vulnerability

On November 10, we’ll gather at the Knoxville Convention Center to carry that torch together.

🔥 Become a sponsor. Attend the event. Make a gift. Share our mission. Visit our event webpage to make an impact: https://www.vmcinc.org/carry-the-torch

Every partnership brings us closer to $250,000—and closer to a community where every neighbor has the opportunity to find hope, stability, and a place to call home.

📅 November 10, 2026
📍 Knoxville Convention Center
🎤 Keynote: Jeannette Walls
🎯 Fundraising Goal: $250,000
❤️ Benefiting Volunteer Ministry Center

Please join us in congratulating VMC CEO Tracey Williams on being selected for the Leadership Knoxville Class of 2027! 🎉...
09/02/2026

Please join us in congratulating VMC CEO Tracey Williams on being selected for the Leadership Knoxville Class of 2027! 🎉

Over the next nine months, Tracey and her fellow class members will take a deeper look at the opportunities and challenges facing our region through experiences focused on local government, education, economic development, the arts, and more. Along the way, they’ll build new relationships, broaden their perspectives, and continue developing as servant leaders in East Tennessee.

When asked to share her vision for Knoxville 10 years into the future, Tracey said:

“To cultivate a safe, affordable, and fun Knoxville where permanent residents and economic drivers coexist, ensuring every person has space to live, thrive, and raise future generations.”

At VMC, we know how important it is to be part of the conversations shaping Knoxville’s future, and to advocate for a community where everyone has the opportunity to live with stability and dignity.

We are excited to see Tracey represent VMC, learn alongside other community leaders, and bring new perspectives and connections back to our work.

We are also excited to celebrate one of our current Board members, Eric Lutton, who was also announced as a part of this class! Join us in congratulating Tracey, Eric, and the entire Leadership Knoxville Class of 2027! 👏

This month, we're celebrating Stanley Taylor’s two-year anniversary at Volunteer Ministry Center! 🎉As a Permanent Suppor...
08/31/2026

This month, we're celebrating Stanley Taylor’s two-year anniversary at Volunteer Ministry Center! 🎉

As a Permanent Supportive Housing Case Manager, Stanley works alongside our Neighbors as they transition into and maintain permanent housing. Through building relationships, connecting individuals with resources, and providing ongoing support, he helps Neighbors navigate challenges and work toward greater stability.

Over the past two years, Stanley has brought dedication, compassion, and plenty of joy to VMC. And if you’ve ever been in the same room as Stanley, chances are you’ve heard his unmistakable laugh! His big, contagious laugh has a way of filling the room and putting a smile on everyone’s face. It’s just one of the many ways Stanley brings warmth and positivity to our team and the Neighbors we serve.

Stanley, thank you for the care you show our Neighbors, the dedication you bring to our mission, and, of course, all the laughter along the way. We are grateful to have you as part of the VMC team!

Join us in celebrating Stanley and this special milestone! 🎊

Wondering what volunteering at VMC actually looks like?It might mean gathering a group to serve a meal in our Resource C...
08/31/2026

Wondering what volunteering at VMC actually looks like?

It might mean gathering a group to serve a meal in our Resource Center. It could be celebrating Neighbors with a birthday lunch at one of our Permanent Supportive Housing communities. Maybe you’d rather roll up your sleeves to organize a closet, tackle a deep clean of our kitchen, or help with one of the many behind-the-scenes projects that keep VMC running.

There are so many ways to lend a hand—and finding the right fit starts with Volunteer Orientation!

📅 September 21
⏰ 12:00–1:00 PM
📍 Volunteer Ministry Center

At orientation, you’ll learn more about VMC, the Neighbors we serve, and the different opportunities available for individuals and groups to get involved.

Whether you have a few hours, a group ready to serve, or simply a desire to help, there’s a way for you to be part of the work happening at VMC.

Ready to find your place? Join us for Volunteer Orientation and discover how you can get involved! To RSVP for Volunteer Orientation, please contact us at [email protected] or 865.524.3926 x230.

This month, we're celebrating Stephanie Ballinger’s two-year anniversary at Volunteer Ministry Center! 🎉As a Housing Cas...
08/29/2026

This month, we're celebrating Stephanie Ballinger’s two-year anniversary at Volunteer Ministry Center! 🎉

As a Housing Case Manager, Stephanie plays an important role in walking alongside our Neighbors as they work toward greater stability. Through encouragement, advocacy, and connection to resources, she helps individuals navigate challenges, work toward their goals, and build a strong foundation for the future.

Over the past two years, Stephanie has brought compassion, dedication, and a genuine commitment to the people we serve. Her willingness to meet Neighbors where they are and support them through each step of their journey reflects the heart of VMC’s mission.

Stephanie, thank you for the care and encouragement you bring to our Neighbors each day and for your continued dedication to VMC. We are so grateful to have you as part of our team!

Join us in celebrating Stephanie and this special milestone at VMC! 🎊

There’s always more to learn—especially when it comes to caring for the people behind mission-driven work. Two members o...
08/28/2026

There’s always more to learn—especially when it comes to caring for the people behind mission-driven work.

Two members of VMC’s Development team recently attended a luncheon hosted by the Great Smoky Mountain Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP), featuring Ragan Schriver, Vice President of VMC’s Board of Directors.

The conversation focused on an important topic for nonprofit and fundraising professionals: mental health and well-being. From recognizing burnout and compassion fatigue to creating workplaces that support resilience, communication, and psychological safety, it was a valuable opportunity to learn and connect with others doing this work in our community.

Thank you to AFP Great Smoky Mountain Chapter for bringing local fundraising professionals together—and to Ragan for helping lead such a meaningful conversation!

What’s one way your workplace helps support the well-being of your team? Share it with us in the comments!

This month, we're celebrating Dustin Heffner’s 19-year anniversary at Volunteer Ministry Center! 🎉For nearly two decades...
08/27/2026

This month, we're celebrating Dustin Heffner’s 19-year anniversary at Volunteer Ministry Center! 🎉

For nearly two decades, Dustin has dedicated himself to VMC’s mission and to serving our Neighbors with compassion, respect, and a commitment to lasting stability. As our Director of Permanent Supportive Housing, Dustin plays an important role in helping individuals transition from homelessness into permanent housing and access the ongoing support they need to remain housed.

Throughout his time at VMC, Dustin has brought experience, dedication, and a deep understanding of the challenges our Neighbors face. His leadership helps guide our Permanent Supportive Housing team as they walk alongside Neighbors, build relationships, connect them with resources, and support them as they work toward greater stability and independence.

Dustin, thank you for 19 incredible years of service and for the commitment you continue to bring to our Neighbors, our team, and our mission. We are grateful for the impact you have made at VMC and throughout our community.

Join us in celebrating Dustin and this incredible milestone! 🎊

We need your pants! 👖No, not the ones you're wearing right now. Please keep those. 😉Our clothing closet is running low, ...
08/26/2026

We need your pants! 👖

No, not the ones you're wearing right now. Please keep those. 😉

Our clothing closet is running low, and we're asking our community to help us restock the items our neighbors need most.

We've worked hard to be more intentional about the clothing donations we accept so that our closet is filled with items that are practical and useful. Right now, we especially need smaller sizes of men's and women's pants and shorts.

We're looking for:

Jeans and casual pants
Athletic pants
Comfortable shorts
T-shirts in all sizes
Walking shoes in all sizes

For pants and shorts, think comfortable, everyday clothing someone could wear while spending much of their day outside. We are not currently seeking dress pants.

If you're cleaning out your closet and have gently used items that fit these needs, we'd be grateful to receive them. And please share this post with friends and family who might have a few pairs to spare!

Donations can be dropped off at VMC - for scheduling a drop off, email us at [email protected].

OR shop our Amazon Wish List and have items shipped directly to:

Volunteer Ministry Center
511 N. Broadway
Knoxville, TN 37917

View our Wish List here:
https://www.vmcinc.org/donate-items

Sometimes helping a neighbor can start with something as simple as cleaning out your closet.

This month, we're celebrating Paula’s nine-year anniversary at Volunteer Ministry Center! 🎉Paula has brought kindness, c...
08/24/2026

This month, we're celebrating Paula’s nine-year anniversary at Volunteer Ministry Center! 🎉

Paula has brought kindness, compassion, and a welcoming smile to VMC as our Director of the Dental Clinic. Her dedication helps ensure that our Neighbors receive quality dental care while being treated with the dignity, respect, and compassion they deserve.

Paula’s care extends to everyone who walks through the clinic doors. From supporting our Neighbors to welcoming and coordinating the incredible dental professionals who volunteer their time and talents, she has a special way of making people feel valued and appreciated.

Paula, thank you for the kindness you show each day, and for the many smiles you help make possible—both inside and outside the dental chair! We are so grateful to have you as part of the VMC team.

Join us in celebrating Paula and her nine wonderful years at VMC! 🎊

Address

511 N Broadway Street
Knoxville, TN
37917

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 4pm
Tuesday 9am - 4pm
Wednesday 9am - 4pm
Thursday 9am - 4pm

Telephone

+18655243926

Website

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