Safety Exit

Get Involved

Mentoring Program

The Mentoring Program was established in 1998 as a safety net for survivors when they exit the Morning Star Sanctuary shelter. This program seeks to empower women to achieve self-sufficiency through counseling, education, and financial literacy training.

Since the implementation of the Mentoring Program in 1998, there have been more than 150 participants plus numerous children. Nearly every participant is gainfully employed and living independently.

Each month, our mentors, mentees, and their children gather for a meal and motivational or educational program. This aspect of community is an important part of the overall mentoring program and the relationships that are formed between survivors and their mentors.

Through our Mentoring Program, more than 5,000 hours of volunteer service are given annually. If you would like further information about the Mentoring Program, please contact Mary Lee Thompson, Mentoring Program Coordinator at 615-373-1032 or

Volunteer Opportunities

How You Can Serve

We rely on the collective support of our community and the kindness of volunteers to provide services to victims of domestic violence. Even with the confidentiality that is required to keep our clients safe, there are many opportunities for volunteers to get involved, including yard work, cleaning, painting, tutoring, job search assistance, and resume preparation.

The participants in our Mentoring Program also have need for free or reduced-cost assistance with medical, dental, and optometry care. Volunteers can also assist Morning Star Sanctuary by coordinating donation efforts at their local church, school, civic association, etc. These donation sites can be set up to accept items such as household good, non-perishable food items, linens, clothing, etc.

Take the Next Step to Change Lives

Each week, many needs walk through the doors of our foster homes, emergency shelters, court, and counseling offices. Meeting each need presents us with a variety of challenges, but also opportunities. AGAPE shares the love of Christ to all who seek our services.

AGAPE can only fulfill its mission to strengthen children and families through the generous financial support from individuals, families, churches and organizations who are willing to step into the difficult spaces in our community.

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Current Needs

AGAPE has an ongoing list of needed items for the children and individuals we serve through our foster care/adoption and Morning Star Sanctuary domestic violence relief programs. If you’d like to support AGAPE/Morning Star in a tangible way, this is a list of items we currently need. If you have questions or would like to coordinate a donation, please contact us.

There's now an easier way to purchase needed items! You can shop our Amazon Charity List, and items will be shipped directly to AGAPE.

Foster Care/Adoption Needs:

Meal Sponsor for weekly foster parent training courses (to feed 7-10 per class)
Carseats
Booster Seats
Donations for childcare costs
$25 Visa Gift Cards for Birthday Gifts (Foster Children)
Zoo Memberships
Adventure Science Center Memberships
Movie gift cards

General Needs:

Gift cards to the following stores can be used for needed supplies:

Staples
Amazon
Walmart
Kroger

Morning Star Sanctuary Needs:

Snacks for kids (chips, granola bars, etc.)
Food for emergency hotel stays: canned foods with pull top lid (chili, soups, ravioli, fruit, tuna, etc.), instant oatmeal, easy mac
Plastic ware (forks, spoons, knives)
Paper Towels
Disinfectant Spray
Disinfectant Wipes
Medical gloves
Hand Soap
Dish soap
Toilet Paper
Baby wipes
Liquid laundry detergent
Swiffer Sweeper Wet Cloth refills
Swiffer Duster refills
Umbrellas
Trash Bags (13 gallon)
Cleaning supplies
Women’s, Men’s, and Children’s underwear (new)
Body wash
Face cleanser
Hairbrushes/combs
Gift cards (gas stations, grocery stores, Waffle House, CVS, Cracker Barrel, Walmart, Kroger, Target, etc.)
Girl's and boy's pull-ups
Headphones