Below is a collection of STL resources that can help you give back and connect with kindness. If you have additions to recommend, shoot us an email.
Animal Welfare
Gateway Pet Guardians
GPG is a shining example of a nonprofit meeting a true community need. They formed 20 years ago through community efforts to feed and neuter packs of stray dogs roaming in East STL. The organization gained support and now operates as a full-service animal shelter with strong community ties.
CARE STL
This is one STL’s few no-kill animal shelters (see them all here) and they service the City of STL. Often this shelter reaches capacity and they are constantly looking for volunteers and fosters. If you find a dog in the city, reach out to this shelter for
City of St. Louis
The City of St. Louis has put together a list of resources to help residents respond to animal welfare issues within the community. Explore their list and resources using the link below.
Queer and LGBTQ+ Resources
Metro Trans Umbrella Group
MTUG is a beloved STL space for the queer community. They offer community events, support groups, and love connecting people with resources. Their mission is to bring together queer community members and allies through community visibility, advocacy, and education.
STL Queer Support & Healing (SQSH)
SQSH is a nonprofit strengthening the local queer community! They maintain a peer support line, training and consulting services, storytelling and healing events, and lead data collection initiatives with the goal of accurate representation of queer lives.
Immigration Services & Support
International Institute of STL
Nonprofit organization supporting immigrants as they settle and learn to thrive within St. Louis. IISTL assists with complete immigration and sponsorship documents, finding English-Second language classes, celebrating cultural annual traditions, and sharing American culture with new STL locals.
Kindness Begins with Me
Kindness Me is a nonprofit, community-based organization that helps new immigrants create community in STL. They sponsor group field trips, offer English classes, and host fundraisers to help make life a little more enjoyable for new families.
Mental Health Resources
Call 9-8-8 for mental health support
Call 2-1-1 for support with basic needs
NAMI (Association of Mental Health)
NAMI offers virtual resources and loads of virtual/in-person support groups for those struggling with mental health. They also have a robust list of resources for individuals in crisis, accessed here.
Environmental Justice
EarthDay 365
EarthDay365 is the group responsible for coordinating the Earth Day Festival annually in Forest Park. Their work extends past the festival though: they coordinate community clean-ups and co-host a monthly happy hour for local environmentalists.
Simply Sustainable
Simply Sustainable is an online group for all seeking to be more eco-friendly and sustainable. Join a monthly community call or become a paying member!
Operation Clean Stream
Operation Clean Stream is a community-based initiative to clean STL streams sponsored by Open Space STL. This event takes place in August annually and volunteer teams are always needed to choose a stream to tackle.
Criminal Justice
SoulFisher Ministries
SoulFisher Ministries responds to the needs of youth with incarcerated parents promotes restorative justice for those currently or formerly incarcerated. They accomplish this through educational programming for students with justice-impacted parents and re-entry programs for justice-impacted women.
Racial Justice
LEAD STL
LEAD STL provides social and emotional learning for students, allowing them to lean into challenging conversations surrounding racism, antisemitism, Islamophobia, homophobia, and other forms of inequity and injustice. They lead summer programs, after-school programming, and multi-day educational trips for rising 10th & 11th grade students.
Action STL
Action STL supports the development of local organizing infrastructure to increase strategic impact of movement building and policy advocacy. They accomplish this by financially supporting student education and political organizing.
OTHER DATABASES
A queer-centered, community-owned database of 1,200+ resources in the St. Louis region and beyond, compiled from various local resource lists and vetting efforts by the St. Louis LGBTQIA+ community and SQSH’s partners. Use SQSHBook to find resources for housing, food, healthcare, socio-emotional support, and more. View Resource Here
Clark-Fox Family Foundation Resource Mapping
Maxine Clark and Bob Fox are a kind STL dream team and they’ve pooled their resources to create a mapping service that provides a comprehensive view of STL resources addressing areas like homelessness, immigration, criminal justice reform and more! Explore this fun display of interconnected resources and learn about a new kind organization! View Resource Here