“If you are able to find the time, I encourage you to volunteer at New Leash or any other organization. The rewards are immeasurable—you will experience countless moments of fulfillment, knowing that your efforts truly make a difference.” — Pam Black, New Leash On Life volunteer
In a world that often feels hurried and fragmented, service has a quiet way of stitching communities back together. Pam Black’s words remind us that loving local doesn’t always begin with grand gestures—it often starts by simply showing up. Finding a place to give your time is, in many ways, finding your place in the community itself. Across Wilson County, dozens of nonprofits are proving that acts of service—whether offered to animals, neighbors in crisis, or older adults—are a powerful love language that strengthens the fabric of where we live. Meet three of those passionate organizations.
New Leash On Life: Compassion in Motion
For more than four decades, New Leash On Life has been a constant source of hope for companion animals and the families who love them. Touching the lives of more than 7,000 animals each year, the organization’s Adoption Center has served as both a safety net and a fresh start since 1978. For many families, it is the last stop before surrender—and often, the bridge to a new beginning.
At the heart of New Leash On Life’s impact is a simple belief: keeping pets and people together whenever possible matters. Programs like the Paw Pantry, which now serves more than 500 pets each month, help families facing financial hardship keep animals safely at home. The JOY Clinic, founded in 2017 by original founder Joy Bishop, expands access to affordable spay and neuter services. In 2024 alone, the clinic completed 5,759 surgeries, easing the burden of pet overpopulation across the region.
Service here takes many forms. Volunteers walk dogs, sit quietly with cats, foster kittens and medical cases, staff adoption events, stock pantry shelves, and even lend creative skills through social media. With approximately 150 active volunteers—and a broader network of more than 300 supporters—New Leash On Life runs on generosity.
Few embody that spirit more fully than Pam Black. A Wilson County resident since 2002, she began volunteering in 2003 and has spent the past eight years fostering pregnant cats and newborn kittens 365 days a year. Her home has become a sanctuary, offering vulnerable animals the calm and care they need to survive and thrive. Letting go is never easy, she admits, but seeing each kitten adopted into a loving home is its own reward.
As New Leash On Life looks ahead, its needs are clear: funding to expand the Paw Pantry, support for the Mobile Foster Program, increased access to spay and neuter services, and general operating support as intake rises. Upcoming events—including Slumber PAWty, the Pooch Pool Party at Nashville Shores, and Tail Waggin’ Tuesday with the Nashville Sounds—offer joyful opportunities to give back. At every level, this organization reminds us that service can be hands-on, heartfelt, and deeply personal. newleashonline.org
The Volunteer Network: Connecting Willing Hands to Real Needs
When tornadoes tore through Wilson County in March 2020, the community responded with overwhelming generosity. More than 4,000 volunteers showed up—but amid the goodwill, a gap became clear. There was no centralized way to manage volunteers, match skills to needs, or prepare proactively for future crises.
That realization led Regina Girtin and Jamie Tyner—then outreach leaders at local churches—to envision something new. Drawing from their experience in disaster recovery and nonprofit collaboration, they founded The Volunteer Network: Wilson County’s own volunteer management hub.
Launched publicly in May 2023 with just 14 organizations, The Volunteer Network has since grown to more than 60 nonprofits using the platform. Nearly 7,000 hours of volunteer service have already been logged, connecting individuals, churches, and businesses to meaningful opportunities throughout the county.
The organization’s mission is deceptively simple: make it easier to serve. Nonprofits can post volunteer needs, individuals can track their service, and during disasters, trained leaders step in to manage everything from donation centers to volunteer reception sites. Looking ahead, The Volunteer Network is seeking corporate partners interested in curated volunteer experiences and individuals willing to serve as leaders during emergencies—including inclement weather shelters and disaster response roles.
Service, here, becomes scalable. One volunteer hour can ripple outward, empowering dozens more. By creating infrastructure for compassion, The Volunteer Network ensures that when people are ready to help, there is a clear and effective path forward. volunteernetworktn.org
Wilson Rides: More Than Transportation—A Lifeline to Community
At first glance, Wilson Rides may appear to be a simple solution to a simple problem—helping older adults get from point A to point B. But within Wilson County, this volunteer-driven nonprofit has become something far more meaningful. Wilson Rides is not just about transportation; it is about preserving independence, dignity, and connection for adults age 55 and older who want to remain active participants in the community they call home.
For many riders, a car ride provides access to healthcare, groceries, and daily necessities. For others, it offers something equally vital: companionship. A familiar face at the door, a conversation along the way, and the reassurance of being seen and valued. In 2025, Wilson Rides provided more than 5,200 rides within the county, logging over 75,000 volunteer-driven miles. While most trips supported medical needs, nearly one in five helped riders attend social outings—small moments that play a powerful role in preventing isolation.
Service through Wilson Rides extends well beyond the driver’s seat. Volunteers serve meals at Easter and Thanksgiving luncheons, deliver food boxes, Easter bags, and Christmas gifts, and support office projects such as preparing care items and writing cards to older adults. These acts, though quiet, create consistent touchpoints of care throughout the year.
Community partnerships further amplify the organization’s reach. Collaborations with One Generation Away and local volunteers ensured that nearly 1,000 food boxes were delivered in late 2025 alone, while seasonal programs reached older adults in private homes, assisted living, and memory care communities across Wilson County.
Volunteer drivers remain the greatest need—and the greatest impact. Each ride offers more than transportation; it builds trust, routine, and connection. With 155 active riders and a growing waiting list, Wilson Rides continues to invite the community to step in and help carry the miles.
Support also comes through two annual fundraisers: the Give65 Online Event, a 65-hour campaign celebrating generosity, and Sips & Sounds, a singer-songwriter night that brings the community together in support of older adults. Together, these efforts sustain a mission rooted in service.
Wilson Rides fills a critical gap, but its influence reaches far beyond logistics. It is a reminder that loving local often looks like showing up—opening a car door, delivering a meal, or taking time to listen. In these simple acts of service, connection is preserved, dignity is honored, and community grows stronger. wilsonridesinc.org
Where Love Becomes Action
Acts of service are often quiet. They look like stocked shelves, logged miles, cleaned kennels, answered phones, and fostered kittens. Yet together, they form a language of love that speaks loudly across Wilson County.
Whether you are walking a dog, organizing volunteers, or driving a neighbor to a doctor’s appointment, loving local begins with showing up. As Pam Black reminds us, the rewards are immeasurable—not just for those served, but for those who choose to serve.