Take a Crack at it
Addicted to Winning
take a crack at it
Better Yourself
body
Exercise & Movement
YMCA — https://www.ymca.net/
Community gyms, free/low-cost classes, youth programs and many local branches offering sliding-scale memberships and online workouts.American Heart Association (Movement Resources) — https://www.heart.org/
Free plans, how-to guides for cardio, walking programs and heart-healthy exercise tips.American College of Sports Medicine (Public Resources) — https://www.exerciseismedicine.org/
Evidence-based exercise guidance and community programs encouraging regular physical activity.National Recreation and Park Association — https://www.nrpa.org/
Helps users find local parks, recreation programs and free/outdoor fitness opportunities.Girls on the Run — https://www.girlsontherun.org/
Nonprofit youth running and empowerment programs that promote a lifetime of health.Active Living Research — https://activelivingresearch.org/
Research and community guides for designing active neighborhoods and walking/biking initiatives.SilverSneakers (senior fitness through community partners) — https://www.silversneakers.com/
Free/low-cost fitness classes for older adults via community centers and partner plans.Operation Fitness (community-based programs) — https://www.usa.gov/local-programs (local programs directory / search your city)
Listings and guidance for community-based free fitness events and bootcamps.Girls Inc. (physical activity for girls) — https://girlsinc.org/
After-school and community programs that include physical fitness and resilience training.Special Olympics — https://www.specialolympics.org/
Free sports training and competitions for people with intellectual disabilities; inclusive fitness resources.Parks & Recreation Departments (local) — search your city parks & rec website (e.g., “City Parks & Recreation”)
Local free group classes, trails, and community sports; check your municipal parks site for schedules.Trail Conservancy / Rails-to-Trails — https://www.railstotrails.org/
Resources to find safe walking & biking trails and community trail programs.Boys & Girls Clubs of America — https://www.bgca.org/
Youth fitness and athletics programs available through local clubs (often subsidized).Move Your Way (U.S. federal campaign, guided by health nonprofits) — https://health.gov/moveyourway
Practical activity plans, tips and tracking for adults and youth (free downloadable resources).Community Health Clinics / Federally Qualified Health Centers — https://findahealthcenter.hrsa.gov/
Many FQHCs run free community wellness and exercise classes; use the locator to find local programs.
Nutrition & Healthy Eating
Feeding America — https://www.feedingamerica.org/
Nationwide food bank network, nutrition tips, and local food assistance programs.Meals on Wheels America — https://www.mealsonwheelsamerica.org/
Home-delivered meals for older adults with nutrition information and community resources.Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics — https://www.eatright.org/
Free articles, recipes, meal planning tools and guidance from registered dietitians.SNAP-Ed / Local Food Education Programs — https://snaped.fns.usda.gov/ (search local partners)
Free, evidence-based nutrition education for SNAP-eligible communities.FoodCorps — https://foodcorps.org/
School-based nutrition education and resources to help families and schools create healthier eating environments.Local Food Banks & Community Pantries — search via Feeding America or local listings
Besides food distribution, many offer cooking classes and nutrition counseling at no cost.National Farm to School Network — https://www.farmtoschool.org/
Resources to connect families and schools to local produce and nutrition education.Cooking Matters (Share Our Strength) — https://cookingmatters.org/
Free cooking and budgeting classes that teach healthy, affordable meals.WIC (Women, Infants, and Children — state programs) — https://www.fns.usda.gov/wic
Nutrition support for pregnant/postpartum people and young children (public program run through local nonprofits & clinics).Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) & Veggie Box Programs (many nonprofits offer subsidized shares) — check local community farm orgs (search “CSA + your city”)
Subsidized produce programs and educational guides for cooking with seasonal food.
Sleep & Recovery
National Sleep Foundation — https://www.sleepfoundation.org/
Free, research-backed advice on sleep hygiene and improving sleep quality.American Academy of Sleep Medicine (Patient Resources) — https://aasm.org/patients/
Guides about sleep disorders and healthy sleep practices.Local Libraries (sleep & wellness events) — check your county library website
Many libraries host free workshops on sleep, stress reduction, and relaxation techniques.Veterans’ Affairs Sleep Health Programs (for veterans) — https://www.va.gov/opa/ feature (search VA sleep programs)
Free programs addressing insomnia, particularly for veteran populations.Community Health Centers — often run free sleep-hygiene workshops linked to chronic disease programs; check local health center listings.
Preventive Care & Screening
American Cancer Society (screening info & local navigation) — https://www.cancer.org/
Free guides and local program listings for screening, plus patient navigation support.American Diabetes Association (prevention and screening resources) — https://www.diabetes.org/
Free educational materials on healthy lifestyle changes and local prevention programs.Planned Parenthood (preventive sexual health & screening) — https://www.plannedparenthood.org/
Low-cost or free STI testing, contraception counseling, and preventive care at local clinics.Free & Reduced Screening Events (local health departments) — search your county health dept site
Regularly posted free screening event calendars (blood pressure, cholesterol, etc.).United Way 2-1-1 — https://www.211.org/
A searchable service to find local free health screenings and preventive services.
Chronic Disease Support & Rehabilitation
American Lung Association — https://www.lung.org/
Free pulmonary rehab resources, exercise guides for lung disease, and local support groups.Arthritis Foundation — https://www.arthritis.org/
Free exercise programs for joint health, pain management resources and community classes.American Cancer Society (survivorship & wellness) — https://www.cancer.org/
Wellness programs and physical-activity guidance for cancer survivors.National Multiple Sclerosis Society — https://www.nationalmssociety.org/
Free resources for exercise programs tailored to MS and local support services.American Stroke Association (rehab & resources) — https://www.stroke.org/
Recovery guides, exercise recommendations and community-based support networks.LIVESTRONG Foundation — https://www.livestrong.org/
Wellness resources for people living with chronic illness, including physical-activity and nutrition guides.
Injury Prevention & First Aid
American Red Cross — https://www.redcross.org/
Free first-aid/CPR classes online resources, and community preparedness programs.Safe Kids Worldwide — https://www.safekids.org/
Injury-prevention guides for families, car-seat checks, and safety campaigns.National Safety Council — https://www.nsc.org/
Free resources and checklists for home, workplace and road safety (many resources available gratis).
Outdoor, Community & Recreational Programs
The Trust for Public Land — https://www.tpl.org/
Helps communities create accessible parks and offers resources to get active outdoors.Rails-to-Trails Conservancy — https://www.railstotrails.org/
Trail-finding resources and community programs for walking and cycling.Appalachian Trail Conservancy / Local trail organizations — https://appalachiantrail.org/ (and local trail orgs)
Volunteer and free hike programming for fitness and community connection.National Park Service (free programs & Junior Ranger activities) — https://www.nps.gov/
Guided hikes, free outdoor programming and resources to get families active.Local Community Centers & Boys & Girls Clubs (youth outdoor programs) — check local directories (e.g., bgca.org)
Free or subsidized sports, camps and outdoor activities.Volunteer Match (active volunteer projects) — https://www.volunteermatch.org/
Find free, local volunteer opportunities that combine physical activity and community service.
Mind
Mental Health & Crisis Support
National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) — https://www.nami.org/
Peer-led support groups, educational programs and an extensive library of free mental health resources.Mental Health America (MHA) — https://www.mhanational.org/
Screenings, toolkits and community programs focused on prevention and early intervention.Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) — https://www.samhsa.gov/
National helplines and directories for behavioral health services and free guides (government-run but widely used nonprofit-style services).Crisis Text Line — https://www.crisistextline.org/
24/7 text-based crisis support from trained volunteers (free).988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline — call/text 988 — https://988lifeline.org/
National, 24/7 suicide and crisis lifeline with chat and text options.The Trevor Project — https://www.thetrevorproject.org/
24/7 crisis intervention and resources tailored to LGBTQ+ youth (chat, text, phone).Veterans Crisis Line — https://www.veteranscrisisline.net/
24/7 confidential support for veterans and families (call, text, or chat).Befrienders Worldwide / Local crisis hotlines — https://www.befrienders.org/
Global directory of emotional-support helplines.National Domestic Violence Hotline — https://www.thehotline.org/
Confidential support and safety planning for people affected by domestic violence.RAINN (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network) — https://www.rainn.org/
24/7 confidential support for sexual assault survivors and educational resources.Mental Health First Aid (training & resources) — https://www.mentalhealthfirstaid.org/
Free awareness resources and community training (some free materials available).Local community mental health centers — search via your county health department or 211.org
Often provide free or sliding-scale counseling and group programs.Centerstone — https://centerstone.org/
Community behavioral health nonprofit offering free educational resources and local support.NEDA (National Eating Disorders Association) — https://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/
Helpline, peer support and free resource libraries for individuals and families.Black Mental Health Alliance & peer organizations — https://www.blackmentalhealth.com/ (and similar orgs)
Culturally specific mental-health resources and community programs.
Counseling & Peer Support
Open Path Collective — https://openpathcollective.org/
Nonprofit network connecting people to low-cost counseling; also offers resources and directories.Support Groups Central (nonprofit directories) — https://www.supportgroupscentral.com/
Online support group listings for a wide range of issues (many free groups).Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA) — https://www.dbsalliance.org/
Peer-led support groups and educational programs (free local/online groups).SMART Recovery — https://www.smartrecovery.org/
Evidence-based, peer-run support meetings for addiction recovery (free online & in-person meetings).AA (Alcoholics Anonymous) — https://www.aa.org/
Free, community-based mutual-help meetings for people seeking recovery from alcohol use.Al-Anon Family Groups — https://al-anon.org/
Support for family/friends of people with alcohol use disorder (free meetings).GriefShare — https://www.griefshare.org/
Free, group-based resources and local meetings for people navigating grief and loss.Postpartum Support International — https://www.postpartum.net/
Free resources and support groups for new/expectant parents experiencing perinatal mood disorders.National Parent Helpline — https://www.nationalparenthelpline.org/
Emotional support and advocacy for parents (free line and resources).Local peer-run wellness centers — search “peer-run mental health center + your city”
Many communities have free peer-operated drop-in centers that provide support and skills groups.
Mindfulness, Meditation & Stress Reduction
Mindful (Mindful.org) — https://www.mindful.org/
Free articles, guided practices and how-to guides for developing a daily mindfulness practice.UCLA Mindful Awareness Research Center — https://www.uclahealth.org/marc/
Free guided meditations and mindfulness classes (many resources are free online).The Self-Compassion resources (Kristin Neff) — https://self-compassion.org/
Free exercises and guided practices to build self-compassion and reduce self-criticism.Insight Timer (community nonprofit-style meditation app with many free guided meditations) — https://insighttimer.com/
Thousands of free guided meditations from teachers around the world.Breathworks / community mindfulness programs — https://www.breathworks-mindfulness.org.uk/
Free resources and community courses on mindfulness for pain and stress.Greater Good Science Center (UC Berkeley) — https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/
Research-based practices, free exercises, and evidence-backed tools to increase resilience and compassion.Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) community trainings — search local universities & hospital programs (many offer free teacher-led resources)
Free introductory recordings and community classes in many regions.Local churches/community centers (mindfulness & yoga classes) — check community calendars
Many offer free stress-reduction and meditation sessions open to the public.
Addiction Recovery & Substance Use Support
SAMHSA Treatment Locator — https://findtreatment.samhsa.gov/
Nationwide directory of free or sliding-scale substance-use treatment & support services.Narcotics Anonymous — https://www.na.org/
Free mutual-help meetings worldwide for people recovering from drug addiction.SMART Recovery (already listed but also relevant here) — https://www.smartrecovery.org/
Tools-driven, non-spiritual peer support for addiction recovery.Harm Reduction Coalition — https://harmreduction.org/
Education, advocacy and free resources focused on safer substance-use practices and connections to services.Partnership to End Addiction — https://drugfree.org/
Free resources for families, including helplines and educational toolkits.Local needle-exchange & harm-reduction services — search your city’s public health/harm-reduction orgs
Free supplies, counseling and wraparound services often provided by nonprofit programs.
Education, Cognitive Skills & Lifelong Learning (6)
Khan Academy — https://www.khanacademy.org/
Free lessons in math, science, reading and life skills for learners of all ages.Coursera for Campus / free audits — https://www.coursera.org/ (many nonprofit partner courses available to audit for free)
Free audited courses from universities to upskill cognitive and vocational abilities.Public Libraries (free access to courses and learning platforms) — check your local library website
Free access to Lynda/LinkedIn Learning, language apps, and tutoring programs.826 National (youth writing & tutoring) — https://826national.org/
Free creative writing and literacy programs for young people.Literacy Volunteers / ProLiteracy — https://www.proliteracy.org/
Free adult literacy programs and tutoring that boost cognitive functioning and confidence.National Endowment for the Arts / local arts councils — https://www.arts.gov/
Free or low-cost creative learning programs that support cognitive flexibility and well-being.
Financial Wellness, Career & Life Skills
National Foundation for Credit Counseling (NFCC) — https://www.nfcc.org/
Free budgeting tools and low-cost financial counseling from a longstanding nonprofit.CareerOneStop (sponsored by U.S. Department of Labor) — https://www.careeronestop.org/
Free career resources, resume help, training search and local workforce program links.Economic and Community Development Nonprofits (local) — check United Way and local community action agencies via 211.org
Offer free job-readiness classes, financial coaching and skill-building workshops.
Creativity, Purpose & Community Connection
826 National (creative writing mentorship for youth) — https://826national.org/
Free writing support and creative projects to build purpose and self-expression.VolunteerMatch — https://www.volunteermatch.org/
Free searchable listings to find volunteer opportunities that build meaning, skills, and social connectedness.