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This story originally appeared in the Jackson Free Press. It was added to the Mississippi Free Press website in 2025.
Note that any opinions expressed in legacy Jackson Free Press stories do not reflect a position of the Mississippi Free Press or necessarily of its staff and board members.

Your social-media wall looks like a community service newsletter or political platform.

You have a drawer full of T-shirts for all your organizations and events.

You’re always in charge of fundraisers for good causes.

You’ve posted multiple inspirational quotes on social media.

You’re always debating about something important to you.

You can’t see out of your rearview mirror because of all your bumper stickers.

You’ve picked up litter when no one was watching.

You spend your Saturdays volunteering or going to charity events.

Your bookshelf is entirely non-fiction.

Your feet have calluses from all your volunteering and charity runs.

You’ve won an award from a charity organization.

MFP Solutions Lab logo

The Mississippi Free Press produced this story through the MFP Solutions Lab, supported by the Solutions Journalism Network. This series digs into Mississippi’s systemic issues and sheds light on responses to them in other communities. Beyond just reporting on problems, these stories interrogate their causes and inspect potential solutions.