MEMPHIS, Tenn. – Every Tuesday, as part of our Community Changers series, we highlight organizations that are making Memphis better. This week we caught up with a group that believes in treating everyone with respect.
“I’m writing to you today to express my admiration for the work being done by a nonprofit organization called Big Brother Helping Hands,” said Derrick James, a team member, as he read the nomination email sent to News Channel 3.
Big Brother Helping Hands provides meals and essentials for the less fortunate. Keith Emmons is the founder. “Give them basic necessities like toothbrushes, toothpaste, soap, towels. Whatever we can get, we give it to them.”
Keith says they’re not rich, sure, but it doesn’t take much to feed someone.
WREG caught up with the Big Brother Helping Hands as they filled their SUV with brown paper lunch bags filled with ham sandwiches, crackers and pretzel bars along with bottles of water.
Growing up, Keith and his family didn’t have much. “Sometimes we had to eat sugar bread. Many people don’t know what it is. Ketchup sandwich. So I know how it feels to not have food.”
Each red bag is filled with essentials that everyone needs. Keith knows how critical these things are too. “To make you feel like you’re somebody. There’s nothing better than waking up in the morning and being able to wash your face and brush your teeth.”
We followed Keith and his team as they made their first stop at the corner of Poplar and Cleveland. That’s where we met Shandra Phillips, who says prices have gone up at the grocery store. “They have increased tremendously.”
“They’re human,” Keith said. “And just like you can be here today, you can be down here tomorrow. Like they’re down here today, they can be up here tomorrow. You never know when you’re going to need help. So you have to be careful how you treat people.”
That’s why Brown Missionary Baptist Church wanted to give Big Brother Helping Hands $1,000 because you should respect everyone, even your neighbors in need. A true social change.
For more information on Big Brother Helping Hands, click here.
