Stronger Together – Community Outreach Recap
September 2026
Thank you to everyone who joined us for this month’s Community Outreach meeting! We had another great group of community partners sharing upcoming events, volunteer opportunities, resources, and ways we can support one another.
Here’s a quick look at what’s happening around our community:
📅 COMING UP IN OUR COMMUNITY
🎬 Movies in the Park — Natchez Trace Parkway
Through October, the Natchez Trace Parkway is continuing its free, family-friendly Movies in the Park series. Four movies remain on the schedule.
Movies are held outdoors unless weather or extreme heat requires moving the event indoors. A short ranger talk takes place before each movie.
Help spread the word! Flyers are available to share or post in your organization, church, business, or community space.
The Parkway also has staff available to participate in community events. If your organization has an upcoming event and would like a National Park Service presence, reach out to the Parkway team.
🧠 Health Alliance of Northeast Mississippi
Mental Health & Substance Use Recovery Summit
📅 Tuesday, September 22 • 8:00 a.m.
Organizations and nonprofits can reserve booth space to share information about their services. CEUs will be available for several professional credentials.
Recovery at the Park
📅 Saturday, September 26 • 2:00–5:00 p.m.
📍 Ballard Park
This free community event will include:
- Live music
- Petting zoo
- Mobile medical unit
- Free HIV testing and other screenings
- Narcan distribution
- Community resources
💉 Free Community Flu Shots
Catch Kids + Walgreens
📅 September 24 • 5:00–7:00 p.m.
Free flu shots will be available for children and adults through a partnership between Catch Kids and Walgreens.
🏃 Tanglefoot Trot
Catch Kids Annual Fundraiser
📅 November 14
Catch Kids' only fundraiser of the year is back for its 11th year!
Choose from:
Walking is welcome, too! Come support Catch Kids, enjoy some free pizza, and bring the family for activities afterward.
🐾 Tupelo-Lee Humane Society
Free Cat & Dog Adoptions
Through a partnership with the Lee County Library System, anyone with a library card can receive a free cat or dog adoption during September.
Halloween Event
📅 October 22 • 4:00–7:00 p.m.
Free and open to the public.
Instead of handing out candy, the Humane Society will be collecting dog treats and allowing attendees to give treats to the animals.
⛳ Community Golf Tournament
October 6 • Tupelo National Golf Course
Registration and lunch begin around 11:00 a.m., with tee-off around 1:00 p.m.
Team registration, sponsorships, and opportunities to participate are available. A portion of the proceeds will benefit SAFE this year, with future years planned to support other local nonprofits.
🌎 Celebration of Cultures
📅 September 20
A community celebration featuring cultural performances, dances, food, and opportunities to learn about different cultures represented in our community.
🎉 Family Fun Day
📅 October 10
A community opportunity for families to get together and enjoy activities and fun.
🌶️ Chili Fest
📅 October 16
Community groups are encouraged to participate.
🎶 Down on Main
📅 September 26
The free community event returns with an Elvis-themed celebration connected to this year's homecoming concert.
❤️ COMMUNITY NEEDS
🥜 September Food Drive — Peanut Butter Needed
Gentiva Hospice is collecting food and monetary donations throughout September for Hunger Awareness Month.
In Lee County, donations will go to St. Luke Food Pantry, which has specifically identified peanut butter as a current need.
Donations can be made through Gentiva Hospice through September 28.
🎫 Bus Tickets Needed
The Tupelo Homeless Task Force is currently out of bus tickets, ID, and Birth Certificate funds.
Bus tickets are purchased through community donations and are used to help people experiencing homelessness reconnect with:
- Family
- Treatment
- Housing
- Employment
- Other needed resources
The tickets are also being used in partnership with Municipal Court for a jail-diversion effort. If you would like to sponsor a bus ticket or donate to the bus ticket fund, please reach out to Hannah or Kim.
🩷 Feminine Hygiene Products Needed
Positive Period is packing supply bags for students in the Okolona schools.
Current need: Regular-size feminine hygiene pads
Donations can be dropped off at Good Samaritan Health Services.
🤝 VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
🏠 Habitat for Humanity
Northeast Mississippi Habitat for Humanity is looking for individuals, businesses, civic groups, churches, and organizations interested in volunteering on homes.
No construction experience is required.
If you can show up, swing a hammer, and help a deserving family, Habitat would love to have you!
Habitat is also currently looking for reasonably priced land in Tupelo and Lee County.
📚 El Centro
El Centro is celebrating 20 years of providing free after-school tutoring and educational opportunities for Hispanic families and children throughout North Mississippi.
Volunteers are always needed — and you do not have to speak Spanish.
If you can help a child with homework, you can help!
🥜 Peanuts Place
Peanuts Place is a life-skills center for adults with special needs.
They are currently looking for retired teachers who would like to volunteer with academics, including math, science, and other learning activities.
Peanuts Place is also looking for creative ways for their participants to serve the community.
👩🏫 Fillmore Alternative School PTO
A new PTO is being established at the alternative school to help provide students with opportunities and experiences that traditional PTOs provide elsewhere.
The group is looking for community members willing to help support activities and student needs.
They are also seeking volunteers for Motivational Mondays, where community members can share real-life experiences, career information, resume-building, public speaking, and encouragement with students.
🌳 Community Outdoor Projects
Keep Tupelo-Lee County Beautiful is looking for volunteers for outdoor projects, beautification efforts, litter prevention, and recycling initiatives.
They also have opportunities involving:
- Daffodil planting
- Tire recycling
- Pumpkin recycling
- Cigarette receptacles
- Community cleanup projects
🏡 HELPING OUR NEIGHBORS WITH HOME REPAIRS
Community partners are exploring ways to help residents who may have home issues but don't have the financial or physical ability to make needed repairs. There is a particular need for volunteers who can help with small home repairs, exterior repairs, yard work, shrub trimming, and similar projects.
If you or your organization has skills or volunteers who could help, please reach out to Kim or Kathryn Rhea.
Sometimes a small repair can make a big difference for an elderly resident, disabled neighbor, single parent, or neighbor who simply needs a little help.
🩺 COMMUNITY HEALTH & RESOURCES
Good Samaritan Health Services
Good Samaritan continues to provide primary care services on:
Tuesdays & Thursdays • Evenings
Services include primary care, pharmacy, and lab work for individuals who may have difficulty accessing traditional healthcare. They are also partnering with Walgreens for free community flu shots on September 24.
Five Horizons Health Services
Five Horizons provides free testing and works to connect individuals with appropriate care. They are especially interested in developing additional opportunities for pop-up testing events, including outreach to people experiencing homelessness.
Organizations interested in partnering or hosting an event are encouraged to reach out.
Mississippi State Extension
Beginning in October, Mississippi State Extension will again be available to provide free cooking and nutrition classes. Classes can be hosted for community groups, or groups may be able to utilize available space through Extension.
Mental Health & Behavioral Health Services
Mississippi Behavioral Health Services is accepting clients who have Medicaid.
Other behavioral health providers represented at the meeting also shared that they are accepting new clients and/or working with major insurance providers.
Becky's Place is an independent living home currently located in Verona with plans to expand services throughout Mississippi.
- The organization works with individuals experiencing housing instability, homelessness, veterans, and others who need help transitioning toward independence. Services can include: Budgeting assistance, Job-search skills, Resume assistance, Employment support, Assistance with paperwork, Connections to community resources, and other wraparound services.
💰 NONPROFIT SUPPORT
Free Nonprofit Checking
FNB Bank offers a free nonprofit checking account with treasury services.
Community nonprofits interested in learning more can contact the FNB representative who attended this month's meeting.
MIC Solutions
MIC Solutions is looking for community partners and grant partners who can help provide assistance to people in need throughout North Mississippi. Potential areas of support include Childcare expenses for single mothers, Assistance for unemployed individuals, Support for people experiencing homelessness, and other community needs.
📰 MISSISSIPPI NONPROFIT NEWS
Mississippi Nonprofit News is returning online with new stories highlighting nonprofits and community issues across the state.
Nonprofits are encouraged to reach out with their upcoming events, news, and stories.
🎄 SAVE THE DATE
Peanuts Place Christmas Open House
📅 December 1
Peanuts Place will host a Christmas Open House as a way to thank the community for its support.
Come meet the Peanuts, enjoy some refreshments, and learn more about the work happening at the life-skills center.
⭐ NOMINATE OUR COMMUNITY SPIRIT 2026 WINNER
It's that time again!
Each year, we recognize an individual who demonstrates the Tupelo Spirit through service, dependability, kindness, and a willingness to show up for others.
We are looking for someone who quietly makes a difference — someone who volunteers, helps neighbors, supports community organizations, attends events, lends a hand, and consistently shows that Tupelo Spirit.
Please nominate someone you believe deserves to be recognized!
The award will be presented at the City's Community Thanksgiving Service in November.
💙 A COMMUNITY THAT SHOWS UP
One of the best things about our Community Outreach meetings is seeing how many organizations are willing to help one another.
Whether it's volunteering at a house, donating peanut butter, providing a bus ticket, tutoring a child, helping someone find healthcare, sharing an event flyer, giving a student encouragement, or simply showing up when someone calls for help — every contribution matters.
Thank you to everyone who continues to make Tupelo a community where people show up for one another.
That's the Tupelo Spirit.
Have a community event, volunteer opportunity, need, or resource you'd like included in next month's recap?
Please send it to Community Outreach so we can help spread the word!
City of Tupelo • Community Development & Outreach
Stronger Together • Tupelo Spirit
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