At N Her Footsteps, we are driven by our mission to support and empower our community, especially the students and educators of Jefferson County. Our impact over the past months reflects our commitment to making a meaningful difference, one step at a time. From our launch in July to our community-focused initiatives in August, we've been able to create positive change thanks to the unwavering support of our donors, volunteers, and partners. Here's a look at how we've impacted lives so far.
March 2026
We’ve expanding our food access work across Jefferson County. This month, we created a countywide Blessing Box map, visited 12 boxes in one day, and continued partnering with the Jefferson County Health Department by providing food boxes. The Health Department shared how much the food boxes are helping local families.
We kicked off a new partnership with Jefferson County Head Start, donating pre K supplies, care kits, and coats to support kids both in the classroom and at home.
This month we were featured as the nonprofit of the month at The Smokey Q. This is giving us even more visibility and community support.
We’re moving toward a more partnership driven model—and it’s helping us reach more families, strengthen our impact, and explore thoughtful growth beyond our current service area.
February 2026
N Her Footsteps continues to deepen its community impact through expanding partnerships and increased access to essential resources. In collaboration with the Jefferson County Health Department and the Share the Love initiative, food boxes have been successfully distributed to local families, generating strong community engagement. Based on this positive response, the organization is now exploring the development of a recurring monthly food distribution program to better meet ongoing needs.
Access to Care Kits has also grown significantly, with kits now available at the Jefferson City Community Center and the Jefferson City Public Library—marking a meaningful expansion beyond school-based distribution. Plans are underway to extend availability to the Boys & Girls Club and potentially Head Start programs, ensuring that families can receive support in multiple trusted community spaces.
Community partnerships continue to strengthen awareness and support for the organization’s mission. Smokey Q restaurant has selected N Her Footsteps as its featured nonprofit for the month of March, promoting the organization on social media, displaying materials in the restaurant, and hosting a donation box. This collaboration not only elevates visibility but also invites the broader community to participate in sustaining the organization’s work.
January 2026
We experienced some no-shows at the 2nd Annual Bundle Up and Pack Up event. To address this, we went to work to redistribute the remaining items through collaborations with local organizations, including elementary schools, the Jefferson Middle School Girl Scouts, Safe Space of East Tennessee, and a planned partnership with the Jefferson County Health Department in February.
December 2025
A total of 116 families, representing 256 students, registered for the 2nd Annual Bundle Up & Pack Up event scheduled for January 3, 2026. To prepare, we hosted a pre-packing party on December 13, 2025, at First United Methodist Church in Jefferson City, which saw over 40 volunteers in attendance. This was followed by two additional volunteer opportunities, one the day before and another on the event day. In total, more than 100 volunteers signed up. We received a generous donation of beans from Bush’s Beans. Additionally, Drs. Morrill and Diamond collected school supplies, canned goods, and other basic items for our Bundle Up and Pack Up and Care Kits initiatives.
November 2025
In November, we were awarded a grant from the Jefferson County Health Foundation to support the 2nd Annual Bundle Up & Pack Up. Our Teacher Steering Committee continues to meet monthly and provided valuable feedback during their November meeting on both the Teacher Supply Stations and the school supplies we provide for the Bundle Up & Pack Up, offering helpful insights to guide future improvements.
October 2025
In October, we completed the establishment of Teacher Supply Cabinets in all 11 Jefferson County schools and officially formed the Teacher Steering Committee, achieving full school representation.