Opportunities From: Connect2Community

Elms Family and Community Services is seeking mentors for its 2025 - 26 Youth Programs.  Mentors will assist in guiding middle and high school youth.  The mentor will serve as lead support to youth involved in EFCS programs, assist in facilitating group workshops and coordinating experiential learning opportunities for program participants.

This position would require 2 hours for weekly program meetings with participants and 4 hours monthly for engagement with mentees.

All volunteers must complete a background check and must be cleared as a school volunteer with participating schools.  Click RESPOND in the upper right corner of the screen and you will be prompted to complete the background check questionnaire. This may open a second window.

The Sterling Volunteer background check will come at no cost to the volunteer. Once the background check is complete (average 1-2 business days), you will receive an email notifying you that you may complete your registration. There is a School Volunteer background check required, which will also come at no cost to the volunteer.

Please visit our website at elmsfamilyandcommunityservices.org, to learn more about us!

Help provide support to individuals and families in need across Macomb County.  Distribution Associates will assist with organizing or delivering items for community distributions.

Monthly every third Friday Shifts:

Preparation
12-2 PM Drivers

3-5 PM Distribution Organizers

Monthly every third Saturday Shifts:

9:30 - 11:30 AM Prep Team

11 AM - 1:30 PM Distribution Team

2 hours per shift or both shifts

Please visit our website at elmsfamilyandcommunityservices.org to learn more about us.  Contact us at info@elmsfamilyandcommunityservices.org or 313-398-9445.

The Event Growing Hope is organizing a two-day volunteer canvassing effort to promote the Ypsilanti Farmers Market. Volunteers will fan out through downtown Ypsilanti neighborhoods and businesses on two separate sessions  Friday, June 5 at 3pm and Saturday, June 6 starting at 9 AM —all starting and ending at the market at 16 S Washington St.

Join us for a hands-on volunteer day at Towne Center Community Garden, located at a senior living facility in Ypsilanti. This garden is designed to provide residents with a beautiful, accessible outdoor space for relaxation, connection, and growing fresh produce. With your help, we’re preparing the garden beds for a productive season ahead!

We’ll be adding compost to existing raised beds, and possibly some weeding. Expect a lot of shoveling, wheelbarrow work, and some heavy lifting—great for folks who like to break a sweat and see immediate results.

We’ll have tools and gloves available, but feel free to bring your own shovel, pitchfork, or wheelbarrow if you have a favorite. Please wear sturdy shoes and dress for the weather.

Whether you're an experienced gardener or just want to help out your community, your time and energy will directly support a space that brings joy and food to senior residents.

We will meet at the Growing Hope Urban Farm to shovel compost into buckets and then travel the very short distance to Towne Center. Volunteers must provide their own transportation. 

Join us for a hands-on volunteer day at Chidester Community Garden, located at a senior living facility in Ypsilanti. This garden is designed to provide residents with a beautiful, accessible outdoor space for relaxation, connection, and growing fresh produce. With your help, we’re preparing the garden beds for a productive season ahead!

We’ll be moving large piles of mulch and compost to improve soil health, suppress weeds, and create clean, walkable paths. Expect a lot of shoveling, wheelbarrow work, and some heavy lifting—great for folks who like to break a sweat and see immediate results.

We’ll have tools and gloves available, but feel free to bring your own shovel, pitchfork, or wheelbarrow if you have a favorite. Please wear sturdy shoes and dress for the weather.

Whether you're an experienced gardener or just want to help out your community, your time and energy will directly support a space that brings joy and food to senior residents.

Overview: Learn about the relationship between food and the environment, focusing on the environmental benefits of a plant-based diet. Plan and execute an event on campus that highlights the accessibility of plant-based foods, communicates environmental issues through the lens of our food system, and brings the campus community together.

Overview: Learn about the benefits of a plant-based diet for environmental and social justice. Then, share this information with the public by writing a series of articles elaborating on the connection between food choices and the environment. These articles will be eligible to be posted on the Switch4Good blog. 

Learning objectives: 

Stages:

Investigation

Preparation and Planning

Action/Demonstration

Deliverables:

Join us as we gift new books to K-8th grade students to help them grow into strong readers!

United Way for Southeastern Michigan is partnering with Scholastic, Inc. to host several My Home Library Book Fairs at local elementary schools throughout the year. At these book fairs, students will get to pick out free books to take home with them to create a home library.

Volunteers are needed at Avalon in St. Clair Shores to:

To register to volunteer, click Respond at the top of the page. Lunch will not be provided so please plan to bring snacks and a lunch (if you sign up for multiple shifts). There will also be a break if you prefer to go out and get your lunch.

Volunteers are required to complete a background check per the district policy. After registering, volunteers will receive the background check procedure for this particular school.

Sign up today to be a part of this impactful event!

Description of position and core responsibilities:

The Development Intern will play a critical leadership role in planning and executing the silent auction for our fall fundraiser, Flutter. This project is a significant, time- and labor-intensive undertaking that has raised more than $30,000 in the last two years, supporting scholarships for over 3,000 students in recent years. The intern will helm the silent auction from start to finish, working closely with the Development team and engaging deeply with community members, donors, and local businesses. This means conducting initial outreach to previous donors, updating our auction platform with packages, arranging for pick-up and storage of items, recording the in-kind donations in our CRM, issuing thank you letters, preparing the physical auction space, and executing the auction at the event. A great deal of documentation and guidance exists from the past three years of auctions to help guide a candidate through this process. 

Additionally, the Development Intern will take part in Development department meetings (with our President/CEO) and engage in event planning tasks. The intern will gain skills in gift entry into our database, sending gift acknowledgement, and running gift reports. This internship is an excellent opportunity for a student interested in nonprofit development, communications, fundraising, donor engagement, and event planning. You will get an in-depth look at how a development department functions in an esteemed community non-profit. Ultimately, this opportunity can serve as something of a portfolio piece to carry forward into a candidate's next stage, demonstrating the ability to helm a substantial project leading to meaningful, impactful results for youth throughout Southeast Michigan. 

Desired qualifications:

Schedule/Funding:

There is funding for 120 hours. We anticipate a candidate working 12-14hrs/week, depending on their preference and availability. 

Instructions on how to apply:

To be considered, please email a .pdf of your resume and a brief cover letter detailing your interest in the position to development@aahom.org. We hope to schedule preliminary interviews (via Zoom/Teams) in late May/early June and in-person interviews before 6/15. 

Fish & Loaves is a non-profit organization serving Downriver and Wayne County with our client choice pantry. Our pantry serves over 25,000 households each year. To lower our food costs, we welcome businesses, churches, school groups, and other organizations to host community food drives.

Dedicated volunteers are needed on a weekly basis to support our warehouse operations and help us distribute food to our neighbors who need it.

Responsibilities include: 

The volunteer must have the capacity to lift and carry 15-20 pounds. We are looking for individuals who would like to commit to a long term volunteer position. Our regular volunteers work one 3-4 hour shift each week. This is a great opportunity for retirees or other folks with availability during week days.

There are several shifts available:

Please send an email to volunteer@flcfp.org to learn more about this position and how to get started.

Fish & Loaves Community Food Pantry is seeking dedicated regular volunteers to fill positions in our intake office during weekdays. We are one of the largest client choice food pantries in Michigan. We provide assistance to many families. Do you enjoy working with and helping folks? Do you like speaking to people both in person and on the phone? Skills that are useful to this position are customer service, managing phone calls, data entry, scheduling appointments, as well as helping clients find available resources in the area.

Shifts are available on Mondays 9am-noon, 1pm-4pm, or 4pm-7pm and Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday 9am-noon or 12pm-3pm. Ideally, the volunteer is willing to commit to one 3-hour shift per week

If you are seeking a fulfilling way to give back to the community, please contact us. We will promptly get in touch, answer questions and provide additional information.

Grocery help could be help grocery shopping and/or picking up donations from Forgotten Harvest and other locations that donate food to HAVEN.

Pantry help could be making sure non-perishable items are dated and stocked properly, helping unload, portion, and put away perishable grocery items. 

Background check would be required before volunteers begin, agency will cover costs. 

Tuesday 9:00am-12pm

Friday 1:30pm-3:30pm

At Avalon, housing is a human right. Our mission is to build healthy, safe and inclusive supportive housing communities as a long-term solution to homelessness. Avalon Housing is a non-profit supportive housing provider. Supportive housing is a combination of affordable housing paired with services, such as case management. We don’t just help people find housing, we help people stay and thrive in their homes.

If you are passionate about creating more diverse, inclusive, and equitable communities where all people are welcome, Avalon may be a good fit for you.

Avalon operates food pantries at a number of our properties. Avalon’s Food Pantry Volunteers will work with both our Community Building team and our tenant group on all aspects of running the food pantry.

Volunteers may need to lift and carry items weighing up to 50 pounds.

Job Title: Food Pantry Volunteer

Reports To:

Location: On-site at one or more of our Food Pantry locations:

Compensation: This is an unpaid and voluntary role. However, any direct and approved expenses related to the role will be reimbursed.

Avalon Housing is an equal opportunity employer. We welcome all applicants including applicants from diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds, as well as historically marginalized groups. This includes but is not limited to underrepresented gender identities, sexual/romantic orientations and/or relationship structures, people living with disabilities or mental health conditions, and with lived experience with homelessness or recovery from a substance use disorder, and people with underrepresented religious and/or socio-economic backgrounds. Avalon also encourages those with criminal histories to apply. Avalon doesn't request information about criminal histories until an offer of employment is extended. Avalon will not exclude someone based on criminal history unless it is determined the criminal history is related to or directly conflicts with the responsibilities of the position. We are committed to transparency about our decision making process, and will seek clarifying information from an applicant to help us make a determination in this regard

At Avalon, housing is a human right. Our mission is to build healthy, safe and inclusive supportive housing communities as a long-term solution to homelessness. Avalon Housing is a non-profit supportive housing provider. Supportive housing is a combination of affordable housing paired with services, such as case management. We don’t just help people find housing, we help people stay and thrive in their homes.

If you are passionate about creating more diverse, inclusive, and equitable communities where all people are welcome, Avalon may be a good fit for you.

Avalon operates food pantries at a number of our properties. Avalon’s Food Pantry Volunteers will work with both our Community Building team and our tenant group on all aspects of running the food pantry.

Volunteers may need to lift and carry items weighing up to 50 pounds.

Job Title: Food Pantry Volunteer

Reports To: Marian Turner, Community Builder

Location: On-site at Miller Manor (727 Miller Ave, Ann Arbor, MI 48103) - Fridays 9 AM - 12 PM

Compensation: This is an unpaid and voluntary role. However, any direct and approved expenses related to the role will be reimbursed.

Avalon Housing is an equal opportunity employer. We welcome all applicants including applicants from diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds, as well as historically marginalized groups. This includes but is not limited to underrepresented gender identities, sexual/romantic orientations and/or relationship structures, people living with disabilities or mental health conditions, and with lived experience with homelessness or recovery from a substance use disorder, and people with underrepresented religious and/or socio-economic backgrounds. Avalon also encourages those with criminal histories to apply. Avalon doesn't request information about criminal histories until an offer of employment is extended. Avalon will not exclude someone based on criminal history unless it is determined the criminal history is related to or directly conflicts with the responsibilities of the position. We are committed to transparency about our decision making process, and will seek clarifying information from an applicant to help us make a determination in this regard

At Avalon, housing is a human right. Our mission is to build healthy, safe and inclusive supportive housing communities as a long-term solution to homelessness. Avalon Housing is a non-profit supportive housing provider. Supportive housing is a combination of affordable housing paired with services, such as case management. We don’t just help people find housing, we help people stay and thrive in their homes.

If you are passionate about creating more diverse, inclusive, and equitable communities where all people are welcome, Avalon may be a good fit for you.

Avalon operates food pantries at a number of our properties. Avalon’s Food Pantry Volunteers will work with both our Community Building team and our tenant group on all aspects of running the food pantry.

Volunteers may need to lift and carry items weighing up to 50 pounds.

Job Title: Food Pantry Volunteer

Reports To:

Location: On-site at one or more of our Food Pantry locations:

Compensation: This is an unpaid and voluntary role. However, any direct and approved expenses related to the role will be reimbursed.

Please apply to this position on our volunteer application site here: avalonhousingvolunteers.applicantpro.com/jobs.

Avalon Housing is an equal opportunity employer. We welcome all applicants including applicants from diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds, as well as historically marginalized groups. This includes but is not limited to underrepresented gender identities, sexual/romantic orientations and/or relationship structures, people living with disabilities or mental health conditions, and with lived experience with homelessness or recovery from a substance use disorder, and people with underrepresented religious and/or socio-economic backgrounds. Avalon also encourages those with criminal histories to apply. Avalon doesn't request information about criminal histories until an offer of employment is extended. Avalon will not exclude someone based on criminal history unless it is determined the criminal history is related to or directly conflicts with the responsibilities of the position. We are committed to transparency about our decision making process, and will seek clarifying information from an applicant to help us make a determination in this regard.

Elms Family and Community Services (EFCS) is seeking volunteers to provide general office and programs support. This is a volunteer (unpaid) role. EFCS is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, located in Macomb County, Michigan. 

We service youth, families and individuals in the Macomb/Wayne counties and the surrounding community. We aim continuously to provide services, resources and support that will enable under-represented families, individuals and youth to overcome social, economic, educational and other barriers in which they face by gaining and sustaining successful outcomes in life. We do this through our support services, programs and community projects.

Role: Office & Programs Support

This role will support EFCS's general office and programs activities.

Commitment: Successful candidates must be available to volunteer approximately 4-8 hours/month.

Please visit our website at elmsfamilyandcommunityservices.org to learn more about us.

Make a Difference in Your Community — Right from Home!

Are you passionate about your local community and want to help others discover how to give back? We're looking for enthusiastic volunteers to help us update and enrich local pages on Ways to Connect, our national directory of volunteer sites.

Ways to Connect is a crowdsourced platform that's making it easier for people to find local volunteer opportunities. With just a bit of online research and your enthusiasm, you can help neighbors quickly find nearby service clubs, nonprofit organizations, mutual aid groups, and more — making it simpler than ever for everyone to make a local impact.

Volunteer contributors have already helped us identify over 3,600 ways to volunteer across 380 communities in the US!

What You'll Do:

Conduct quick, simple online research to identify active service clubs, mutual aid groups, and upcoming volunteer events in your community.

Enhance your community's page on Ways to Connect by ensuring the information is current, accurate, and inviting for potential volunteers.

Optional: Share your community’s page on social media to help friends and family find a path to service.

Why Volunteer with Inspiring Service?

Easy and flexible: Volunteer remotely at your convenience.

Immediate community impact: Help your neighbors discover meaningful ways to contribute.

Small commitment: Volunteer for as little as 2 hours, or as much as you'd like.

Growth opportunities: Volunteers can explore deeper involvement through our Ambassador program.

Ready to help your community thrive? Join us today and make volunteering more accessible for everyone.

At Avalon, housing is a human right. Our mission is to build healthy, safe and inclusive supportive housing communities as a long-term solution to homelessness. Avalon Housing is a non-profit supportive housing provider. Supportive housing is a combination of affordable housing paired with services, such as case management. We don’t just help people find housing, we help people stay and thrive in their homes.

If you are passionate about creating more diverse, inclusive, and equitable communities where all people are welcome, Avalon may be a good fit for you.

Support Avalon Housing through a Property Beautification Day! Join our grounds team on a clean up day at one of our many supportive, affordable housing properties. You can participate with your friends, family, community group, or co-workers, helping beautify our properties with seasonal clean up, planting, and weeding.

Want to double your impact from a Property Beautification Day? Consider purchasing native plants or making a restricted gift to support beautifying our properties! To donate native plants, please contact John Slowey, Avalon’s Senior Groundskeeper, to learn about which native plants are needed at jslowey@avalonhousing.org.

Job Title: Service Day Volunteer

Reports To: Aleah Pisarz, Volunteer Program Coordinator

Location: On-site at one of our properties located around Washtenaw County

Compensation: This is an unpaid and voluntary role. However, any direct and approved expenses related to the role will be reimbursed.

Avalon Housing is an equal opportunity employer. We welcome all applicants including applicants from diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds, as well as historically marginalized groups. This includes but is not limited to underrepresented gender identities, sexual/romantic orientations and/or relationship structures, people living with disabilities or mental health conditions, and with lived experience with homelessness or recovery from a substance use disorder, and people with underrepresented religious and/or socio-economic backgrounds. Avalon also encourages those with criminal histories to apply. Avalon doesn't request information about criminal histories until an offer of employment is extended. Avalon will not exclude someone based on criminal history unless it is determined the criminal history is related to or directly conflicts with the responsibilities of the position. We are committed to transparency about our decision making process, and will seek clarifying information from an applicant to help us make a determination in this regard.

At Avalon, housing is a human right. Our mission is to build healthy, safe and inclusive supportive housing communities as a long-term solution to homelessness. Avalon Housing is a non-profit supportive housing provider. Supportive housing is a combination of affordable housing paired with services, such as case management. We don’t just help people find housing, we help people stay and thrive in their homes.

If you are passionate about creating more diverse, inclusive, and equitable communities where all people are welcome, Avalon may be a good fit for you.

Avalon Housing’s main office has a front desk that serves our tenants, staff, and members of the community. Our Front Desk Volunteers provide coverage and help assist with questions and needs throughout the day.

Volunteers may need to lift and carry items weighing up to 25 pounds.

Job Title: Front Desk Volunteer

Reports To: Aleah Pisarz, Volunteer Program Coordinator

Location: On-site at our main office: 1327 Jones Drive, Ann Arbor, MI 48105

Hours: Shifts available Monday through Friday, 9 AM - 5 PM with shifts starting at 9 AM, 11 AM, 1 PM, and 3 PM

Compensation: This is an unpaid and voluntary role. However, any direct and approved expenses related to the role will be reimbursed.

Avalon Housing is an equal opportunity employer. We welcome all applicants including applicants from diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds, as well as historically marginalized groups. This includes but is not limited to underrepresented gender identities, sexual/romantic orientations and/or relationship structures, people living with disabilities or mental health conditions, and with lived experience with homelessness or recovery from a substance use disorder, and people with underrepresented religious and/or socio-economic backgrounds. Avalon also encourages those with criminal histories to apply. Avalon doesn't request information about criminal histories until an offer of employment is extended. Avalon will not exclude someone based on criminal history unless it is determined the criminal history is related to or directly conflicts with the responsibilities of the position. We are committed to transparency about our decision making process, and will seek clarifying information from an applicant to help us make a determinationin this regard.

At Avalon, housing is a human right. Our mission is to build healthy, safe and inclusive supportive housing communities as a long-term solution to homelessness. Avalon Housing is a non-profit supportive housing provider. Supportive housing is a combination of affordable housing paired with services, such as case management. We don’t just help people find housing, we help people stay and thrive in their homes.

If you are passionate about creating more diverse, inclusive, and equitable communities where all people are welcome, Avalon may be a good fit for you.

Avalon operates food pantries at a number of our properties. Avalon’s Food Pantry Volunteers will work with both our Community Building team and our tenant group on all aspects of running the food pantry.

Volunteers may need to lift and carry items weighing up to 50 pounds.

Job Title: Food Pantry Volunteer

Reports To: MaLinda Hall, Community Builder

Location: On-site at The Grove (2380 Veridian Cir, Ann Arbor, MI 48104) - Fridays 9 AM - 12 PM

Compensation: This is an unpaid and voluntary role. However, any direct and approved expenses related to the role will be reimbursed.

Avalon Housing is an equal opportunity employer. We welcome all applicants including applicants from diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds, as well as historically marginalized groups. This includes but is not limited to underrepresented gender identities, sexual/romantic orientations and/or relationship structures, people living with disabilities or mental health conditions, and with lived experience with homelessness or recovery from a substance use disorder, and people with underrepresented religious and/or socio-economic backgrounds. Avalon also encourages those with criminal histories to apply. Avalon doesn't request information about criminal histories until an offer of employment is extended. Avalon will not exclude someone based on criminal history unless it is determined the criminal history is related to or directly conflicts with the responsibilities of the position. We are committed to transparency about our decision making process, and will seek clarifying information from an applicant to help us make a determination in this regard

At Avalon, housing is a human right. Our mission is to build healthy, safe and inclusive supportive housing communities as a long-term solution to homelessness. Avalon Housing is a non-profit supportive housing provider. Supportive housing is a combination of affordable housing paired with services, such as case management. We don’t just help people find housing, we help people stay and thrive in their homes.

If you are passionate about creating more diverse, inclusive, and equitable communities where all people are welcome, Avalon may be a good fit for you.

Avalon operates food pantries at a number of our properties. Avalon’s Food Pantry Volunteers will work with both our Community Building team and our tenant group on all aspects of running the food pantry.

Volunteers may need to lift and carry items weighing up to 50 pounds.

Job Title: Food Pantry Volunteer

Reports To: Dei McCarty, Support Coordinator

Location: On-site at State Crossing (1525 S State St, Ann Arbor, MI 48103) - 2nd/4th Tuesdays 9 AM - 12 PM

Compensation: This is an unpaid and voluntary role. However, any direct and approved expenses related to the role will be reimbursed.

Avalon Housing is an equal opportunity employer. We welcome all applicants including applicants from diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds, as well as historically marginalized groups. This includes but is not limited to underrepresented gender identities, sexual/romantic orientations and/or relationship structures, people living with disabilities or mental health conditions, and with lived experience with homelessness or recovery from a substance use disorder, and people with underrepresented religious and/or socio-economic backgrounds. Avalon also encourages those with criminal histories to apply. Avalon doesn't request information about criminal histories until an offer of employment is extended. Avalon will not exclude someone based on criminal history unless it is determined the criminal history is related to or directly conflicts with the responsibilities of the position. We are committed to transparency about our decision making process, and will seek clarifying information from an applicant to help us make a determination in this regard

The Guidance Center provides a variety of mental health services and essential community resources to individuals and families facing real challenges.  One thing we see every day is how basic needs like hygiene items and diapers can impact a person's well-being.  When those needs go unmet, stress increases and it becomes even harder for people to focus on their health, stability, and recovery.

By organizing a drive for these items (any or all) you can help ease that burden.  The items you collect go directly to people in our programs, supporting both their immediate needs and their overall all wellness.  

Items include: Diapers of all sizes, sensitive baby wipes, feminine products, bar soap, body wash, deodorant, shampoo, conditioner, toothbrushes, toothpaste, floss, ect.

Select RESPOND in the upper right corner or reach out to Qiana Stovall at qstovall@guidance-center.org to schedule an in-person donation or pick-up.

Donations may also be shipped (via Amazon or other suppliers) to: The Guidance Center, ATTN: Qiana Stovall, 13101 Allen Road, Southgate, MI 48195

You bring the energy and organization, and we'll make sure your efforts have a direct impact!

Become a reading buddy at the Melvindale Public Library! We are looking for volunteers every Tuesday in July. Time is 1-4pm.  Volunteers will work with children (mainly grades 3-5) who sign up for half hour timeslots for reading books aloud. Kids will choose the books. Both struggling and enthusiastic readers benefit from practice and encouragement reading aloud. This is a good opportunity for volunteers  interested in education and literacy.  

Help provide support to individuals and families in need across Macomb & Wayne Counties.  Distribution Associates will assist with organizing or delivering items for community distributions.

Monthly every third Friday, Saturday, or when necessary

2026 Dates: April 17th, May 15th, June 18th, July 16th, August 20th, September 17th, October 15th, November 19th, and December 17th.

Shifts:

(2PM-5PM) Packers/Distribution Prep positions available as well

***12-2PM and/or 2-3PM Drivers/Movers

2 hours per shift or less

Please visit our website at elmsfamilyandcommunityservices.org to learn more about us.  Contact us at info@elmsfamilyandcommunityservices.org or 313-398-9445.

Join us as we gift new books to elementary and middle school students to help them grow into strong readers!

United Way for Southeastern Michigan is partnering with Scholastic, Inc. to host several My Home Library Book Fairs at local elementary schools throughout the year. At these book fairs, students will get to pick out free books to take home with them to create a home library.

Volunteers are needed at Emerson Elementary and Middle School in Detroit to:

To register to volunteer, click Respond at the top of the page. Lunch will not be provided so please plan to bring snacks and a lunch (if you sign up for multiple shifts). There will also be a break if you prefer to go out and get your lunch.

Volunteers are required to complete a background check per the district policy. After registering, volunteers will receive the background check form to complete.

Sign up today to be a part of this impactful event!

Elms Family and Community Services (EFCS) is recruiting for its Advisory Board seats: Development/Fundraising, Finance, Grants & Contract, Education, Health, Legal, Marketing, Retail, Social Services and Technology. These are volunteer (unpaid) roles that serve as advisors to the organization.

EFCS is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, located in Macomb County, Michigan. We service youth, families and individuals in the City of Detroit, Macomb County and surrounding areas. We aim continuously to provide services, resources and support that will enable under-represented families, individuals and youth to overcome social, economic, educational and other barriers in which they face by gaining and sustaining successful outcomes in life. We do this through our support services, programs and community projects.

Summary of Board Advisor Role:

Assist in steering the organization to success. Represents the organization in public matters and provides helpful perspectives and solid ideas. Support the organization’s goals and objectives. Provides guidance, expertise and serves as a mentor to the organization’s Board of Directors.

Duties & Responsibilities

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities Required

Education/Experience

Time Commitment

Successful candidates must be available to attend monthly or quarterly Board of Directors meetings and 1:1 meetings with the chief executive officer as needed. 

Total monthly commitment of approximately 2-5 hours.

Term: This is a 1-2 year term position.

All volunteer and Board members must complete a background check. Click RESPOND in the upper right corner of the screen and you will be prompted to complete the background check questionnaire. This may open a second window. 

Please visit our website at elmsfamilyandcommunityservices.org to learn more about us.

Elms Family and Community Services (EFCS) is searching for a Programs intern who is a Junior or Senior standing in college.  Associate's or Bachelor's degree in human services, social work, or psychology is preferred. 

The commitment for this position is 15-20 hours weekly.

Overview of Role

The EFCS Programs Intern has program management responsibilities and will help with important functions such as developing program outlines, plans, tracking program outcomes and metrics.

Experience: 

2 years or more experience managing/supervising professional staff.

 Experience working in a nonprofit, human services, or educational environment. 

Project and program management experience in a nonprofit setting or similar industries is preferred. 

Experience working with under-served youth and families is preferred.

Knowledge/Skills/Abilities: 

Knowledge of federal and state regulations for nonprofits. Effective communication, organizational and time management skills.

 Strong organizational and leadership skills. Excellent interpersonal skills. Ability to effectively lead and motivate others. 

Ability to work well independently and in groups. 

Excellent critical thinking and analytical skills. 

Demonstrated experience working in high demanding environments. 

Proficient in using Microsoft Office: Word, PowerPoint, Excel and Outlook; Virtual platforms (e.g. Zoom, Skype, Webex Meet, etc.)

Elms Family and Community Services (EFCS) is seeking guest speakers and facilitators to support its events and program workshop (e.g. career, STEM, financial literacy, health/wellness, etc.) areas in the community.  This is a volunteer (unpaid) role. 

EFCS is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, located in Macomb County, Michigan.  We service youth, families and individuals in Wayne/Macomb County and the surrounding community. We aim continuously to provide services, resources and support that will enable under-represented families, individuals and youth to overcome social, economic, educational and other barriers in which they face by gaining and sustaining successful outcomes in life. We do this through our support services, programs and community projects.

Summary of Role: The Events & Workshops facilitator/guest speaker assists in facilitating program topics for health/wellness, financial literacy, educational and/or career activities at schools, libraries, and community centers in the  Wayne/Macomb County, and surrounding communities.

Skills Needed:

Commitment:

Successful candidates must be available to support 1-2 community events or workshops yearly for 2 hours.  Must arrive 30 minutes - 1 hour, prior to the start of the event or workshop.

All volunteers and Board members must complete a background check. Click RESPOND in the upper right corner of the screen and you will be prompted to complete the background check questionnaire. This may open a second window. There is no cost to you for this service.

Please visit our website at elmsfamilyandcommunityservices.org to learn more about us.

Position Summary

Elms Family and Community Services (EFCS) is seeking a detail-oriented and mission-driven volunteer to support inventory management and fundraising development efforts. This role plays a critical part in ensuring program and service resources are organized, tracked, and aligned with community needs, while also assisting in strengthening EFCS’s fundraising and sponsorship initiatives.

Impact of the Role

Volunteers in this role directly contribute to the efficiency and sustainability of EFCS programs by ensuring resources are readily available and by supporting efforts to secure funding. Your contributions will help expand services for youth, families, and underserved communities.

Benefits

· Gain hands-on experience in nonprofit operations and fundraising

· Build skills in inventory management, development strategy, and community engagement

· Networking opportunities with nonprofit leaders and community partners

· Letter of recommendation upon successful completion of volunteer service

Successful volunteers must have a successful background check, at no cost to you.

Learn more about us today!

Website: elmsfamilyandcommunityservices.org

Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/elmsfamily&communityservices/

Conversations to Remember, is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, dedicated towards combating loneliness and isolation felt by senior citizens, including those living with dementia. Our virtual visit program matches teams 2-3 young adult college students with older adults for weekly virtual video visits. Many of these older adults have been suffering from isolation, and you could really brighten their days just by speaking with them. 

Students on our virtual visits initially volunteer one hour per week, and each call lasts up to one hour, based on the senior's attention span and mood on each day. Students select the times that work for their schedule, and are matched with older adults for calls based on the times when they're available. They then have regular, weekly appointments for their visits. We expect students to volunteer for at least 16 weeks, so that they can develop friendships with the senior they're matched with. 

We provide training (mandatory) to all the students in our program about the best ways to interact with the older adults on our video calls, as well as additional regular support throughout their service. Since the visits are virtual, your students can do it without any travel. This is both convenient, and a better use of their time, rather than commuting to their volunteering location. This program is free for seniors and students across the country. Volunteering does not need to coincide with the start of a semester, as we have new virtual visits starting all the time. 

Join MiGen for a food delivery to clients living in Macomb County! For the past few months, we've been reaching out to new clients in the Metro Detroit area and sharing information about MiGen's programs and services to folks who don't currently receive them, or know that they're out there. This is the last of 4 county-by-county food deliveries focused on outreach to new clients. We need volunteers to make the final push by handing food directly to new community members!

We need 10-12 volunteers who are able to deliver a box of fresh produce to up to 30 new or existing clients living in Macomb County. All volunteers will be meeting at the Macomb Mall to get delivery instructions, routes, and the corresponding number of food boxes. Delivery routes and instructions are made to be as short and simple as possible. Volunteers must have their own transportation. 

We are looking for willing volunteers to help us get the garden ready for the new season. We have a list of projects to get done, and we can't do it without you! So whether it is just you, or you're bringing a group with you, we welcome all to our garden. 

**As a reminder, our agency has a policy in place that clients must be out of services for a minimum of 12 months before becoming eligible to volunteer. This policy exists to ensure that individuals have the necessary time and space to focus fully on their healing and recovery journey.

We understand the desire many clients feel to give back, and we deeply value their strength and resilience. However, this waiting period is a vital part of our trauma-informed approach, and it helps protect the well-being of both former clients and those currently receiving support.

Thank you for your understanding and for helping us maintain a safe, supportive environment for everyone involved.**

PLEASE MEET GARDENER IN GARDEN BEHIND THE GARAGE!!!

13-17 year old volunteers must have an adult supervisor with them.

https://washtenawcd.org/native-plant-expo/native-plant-expo-volunteering

Help us get our garden cleaned up and ready for the winter!

Clean Up beds, disassemble the fencing around the beds, and get everything stored away for winter.

The Guidance Center is looking for individuals and groups of volunteers to help sort, hang, and fold clothing donations, organize home goods, and pitch in with some light cleaning to keep the space welcoming for everyone.

It's hands-on work that directly helps local families in need.  Your time and support will help create a pleasant "shopping" experience for individuals that visit to pick out what they need most - at no cost and in a dignified way.

Shifts are 2 - 4 hours, so it's easy to fit into a day without a big time commitment.  You can come on your own or bring a group.  No special skills needed- just willingness to pitch in.  It's simple work, but it makes a real and tremendous difference!

We are looking for volunteers to help bring a book to life for young children!  Volunteers are needed to read stories to children, lead simple activities or crafts, distributing snacks, or helping families wrap up the event by completing quick surveys.

For those that enjoy being a bit playful, you can even wear a character costume (or help be a guide) to add to the fun.  This is a lively, fun, hands-on event focused on encouraging a love of reading in a welcoming, family-friendly environment.

The Herrington Community Fair is an annual event designed to bring students, families, staff, and community partners together in a welcoming and engaging environment. Held on June 6, 2026, the fair provides an opportunity for families to access valuable resources, connect with local organizations, and participate in fun, family-friendly activities. Community partners are invited to host tables, share services, and engage directly with families to strengthen support systems for students. The event reflects Herrington’s commitment to building strong school-community relationships and creating opportunities that support student success both inside and outside the classroom.

Setup Hours and Welcome -10:00- 1:00pm

Where staff and volunteers will prepare tables, welcome vendors, and greet guests as they arrive.

Craft and Game Stations - 12:00- 3:00 pm

Engaging activities such as a craft table and a game table

Clean Up 3:00-5:00 PM

https://docs.google.com/document/d/130YF_ivkFmQElZ5qGkpotXPp76C6OQe4SDRIK8Fn3Eg/edit?usp=sharing

Interim Healthcare and Hospice is a full-service hospice that supports a person’s quality of life when time is limited. We provide physical, emotional, and spiritual support to our patients, and their caregivers.  Though our office is based in Novi, MI, our service territory extends to Wayne, Oakland, and parts of Livingston counties.  As member of our Hospice team, volunteers have a tremendous impact on the lives of the patients and families we serve. Consider joining our team as a Patient Musical Companion Volunteer.  These volunteers provide social visits for the patients and the families that we serve, while incorporating the gift of music while visiting. These visits support our patients by enhancing socialization, while utilizing the gift of music as a way of connection. We work with our volunteers to make sure these visits are meaningful and centered around the needs of our patients. These visits may include, but are not limited to, providing bedside companionship, sharing musical talent as a means of connection or entertainment, playing their favorite game, reading their favorite book, reminiscing with the individual, and more. These Volunteers must be 18+ years of age, be willing to complete our required onboarding and training process, as well as have a background in music. For more information, or to apply, please contact our Volunteer Coordinator, Lisa Gardner, at (248) 986-1272 (cell), or via email at ligardner@interimhealthcare.com.  

Volunteer Opportunity: First Friday Food Court at Ypsilanti Farmers MarketPlace

16 S Washington St, Ypsilanti, MI

Join us for an exciting community event at the Ypsilanti Farmers MarketPlace. The  First Friday Food Court will highlight food entrepreneurs from our incubator kitchen and local food scene. These local makers will be selling delicious dishes and sharing their culinary creations with the public.

We’re looking for volunteers to help make this event a success.

Volunteers will assist with:

 -Event set up and clean up

 -Greeting guests and counting attendance

 -Supporting kitchen makers as needed

 -Helping with games and activities

First Friday on June 5, July 3, August 7, September 4, and October 2 Event is 5-7:30 pm. Volunteer shifts are 4-6 and 6-8;30.  This is a great opportunity to support small businesses, meet new people, and enjoy the energy of a vibrant community event!

Volunteer with Wayne Metropolitan Community Action Agency Head Start to read to classrooms in your Community. Bring the love of reading to a classroom and engage in our student's learning.

If you are interested in volunteering, please fill out our registration form, and someone will be in contact with you. If you have any questions please feel free to email us at volunteers@waynemetro.org

HealthEd 4 Everyone is a nonprofit focused on health communication and health literacy. We create free multimedia resources that help people understand and manage their health and advocate for themselves within the healthcare system.

We're at the startup stage, building the foundation for long-term impact. We're looking for a treasurer to join our board and provide financial oversight as we grow.

You have experience with budgeting and communicating financial informational, whether through your own projects, courses, or professional work. We are open to someone who wants to learn or is early in their career, but the position will likely be more time intensive initially as you develop necessary skills. You should be comfortable reading financial statements, asking questions about how funds are managed, and helping a board make sound financial decisions.

Other qualities we're looking for:

We're committed to making this role accessible. Meetings are virtual, scheduled by poll, and materials are provided in advance. We offer flexibility in how and when people contribute. If you need accommodations to participate fully, we'll work with you.

The treasurer provides financial oversight and financial expertise to the board. This will take approximately 8-12 hours a month.

You will provide financial oversight by:

We'll discuss your availability during onboarding and find a rhythm that works for both you and the organization.

Reach out to Dr. Aaron Vrolijk: AVrolijk@HealthEd4Everyone.org

No martial arts experience necessary. Team GUTS is looking for volunteers for our martial arts class to assist participants and encourage them. No martial arts experience is necessary, just a big heart. You will assist with not only being positive, but partnering up at times while holding pads and doing drills together. Our class is challenging, fun and so badly needed for those that don't have the same opportunities as others. No commitment as we will take you when you are available.

Our classes run on Saturdays.

todd@teamgutsmichigan.com

We are a nonprofit that provides free meals to any hungry members of our community. Almost all of our service sites fall within ALICE communities, and serve individuals with low-income or experiencing homelessness.

To take part in this impactful work, help us prep food for the free meals we take out to your community! Prep shifts in our commercial kitchen can include chopping produce, preparing sauces or soups, building wraps and sandwiches, washing dishes, cleaning the counters, mixing salads, and more! Our food programming changes seasonally, with our peak food truck season being in the warmer months, and more meal drop-offs during the winter months. In the winter, we are typically inside our kitchen, or a partner service site. During food truck season, our opportunities are sometimes in our kitchen, on our food truck, or our shower/laundry trailers across multiple sites. We would love to have you be part of the team, no long-term commitment necessary. Please visit our signup genius that has the most up to date shift details and sites to sign-up for here!

Volunteer with the YPSI Food Festival!
Date: Friday, August 15, 2026
Event Time: 12:00 PM – 7:00 PM
Location: University Bank Commerce Center, 301 W Michigan Ave

Help us make Ypsi Food Festival a success! This fun family event will feature 30+ Food Tucks and artisan food vendors, music, and family-friendly activities. 

Volunteer Shifts:

9:00 AM – 11:00 PM (Set-Up Crew)

11:00 AM – 1:00 PM

12:45 PM – 2:00 PM

1:45 PM – 4:00 PM

3:45 PM – 6:00 PM

5:45 PM – 8:00 PM

7:15 PM – 9:30 PM (Tear-Down)

Available Roles (you may be asked to help with any of the following):

Games & Activities Team
Encourage festival-goers to join in fun yard games, reset and tidy play areas, and maintain a family-friendly vibe.

Event Clean-Up Team
Walk the grounds, check trash bins, and help keep the space clean, welcoming, and safe for all guests.

Kids Zone Team

Serve and Children activities area leading area crafts and creating a safe and fun enviorments for children and their families to enjoy.

Set-Up & Tear-Down Team
Assist with tables, chairs, signage, vendor help, and general logistics before and after the event.

Vendor & DJ Care Team
Check on vendors and the DJ, offer water/snacks, relay needs to staff, and keep morale high.

Restroom Attendant Team
Monitor and restock porta potties and restrooms, wipe surfaces, and ensure a clean, comfortable experience.

Break Area Attendant Team
Maintain a tidy volunteer/vendor break space with water, snacks, and basic supplies.

Raffle Ticket Seller Team
Sell tickets, promote raffle prizes, handle cash, and help raise funds for local programming.

Info Booth & Guest Support Team
Greet guests, give directions, share maps/flyers, and help with lost & found or general questions.

You’re a Great Fit If You:

Enjoy being outdoors and working with people

Want to help make a fun community event run smoothly

Can walk, stand, or stay alert for your shift

Are dependable, upbeat, and flexible

Support Provided:

Orientation at the start of each shift

All supplies and equipment provided

On-site staff available for support

Water and light snacks offered

Sign Up Now to Help Make the Magic Happen!
Whether you're welcoming guests, selling raffle tickets, or making sure bathrooms stay stocked, your support keeps the YPSI Food Festival joyful, clean, and fun for everyone.

*The first 40 Volunteers that sign up to work 2 shifts will receive a free food ticket to support our food vendors!*

HealthEd 4 Everyone is a nonprofit focused on health communication and health literacy. We create free multimedia resources that help people understand and manage their health and advocate for themselves within the healthcare system.

As a young nonprofit, sustainable funding is key to fulfilling our mission. We use money we raise to create new resources, evaluate and improve them, provide free and low-cost print resources, keep our website free, and cover the operational costs that make all of this possible. We're looking for a board member who can help us raise funds to support our work while protecting user privacy and keeping our resources unbiased.

You believe in our mission and want to be a key player in building our fundraising approach.

Other qualities that we're looking for include:

We're committed to making this role accessible. Meetings are virtual, scheduled by poll, and materials are provided in advance. We offer flexibility in how and when people contribute. If you need accommodations to participate fully, we'll work with you.

You will help implement and oversee our fundraising strategy. We'd also love your help in shaping how we raise funds for our initiatives. We don't sell user data or accept funding that might bias our resources, so we're looking for innovative fundraising ideas that align with those values. This role is adaptable based on your approach and expertise.

Reach out to Dr. Aaron Vrolijk: AVrolijk@HealthEd4Everyone.org 

Wayne Metropolitan Community Action Agency partners with Gleaners Community Food Bank of Southeastern Michigan to help provide nutritious food and resources to families in the community. Through this partnership, food distributions are organized to support families experiencing food insecurity. Volunteers help by assisting with setup, organizing food, and supporting the distribution process to ensure families are served in a welcoming and efficient way.

If you are interested in volunteering, please fill out our registration form, and someone will be in contact with you. If you have any questions please feel free to email us at volunteers@waynemetro.org 

The Michigan DNR has an exciting volunteer opportunity this spring. We’re inviting you to join us in hands-on land stewardship by removing invasive garlic mustard plants from some of Southeast Michigan’s most high-quality natural areas. 

This season (spring 2026), we’ll be working in: 

Bald Mountain Recreation Area 

Brighton Recreation Area 

Highland Recreation Area 

Pinckney Recreation Area 

Waterloo Recreation Area 

Volunteering with the Stewardship Unit is a fantastic way to strengthen community connections, enjoy the outdoors and get active, and make a lasting impact on Michigan’s natural resources. Visit our site to learn more: https://www.michigan.gov/dnr/about/get-involved/volunteer-stewardship

Help keep our senior neighbors nourished! Our monthly food distribution needs volunteers to pack and place food boxes in cars. This opportunity takes place outside.

If you are interested in volunteering, please fill out our registration form, and someone will be in contact with you. If you have any questions please feel free to email us at volunteers@waynemetro.org

The Parent Volunteer Nutrition Aide Program allows parents and guardians to assist with food service and nutrition activities while receiving flexible scheduling and hands-on experience. Volunteers support meal service operations while learning about nutrition, safety, and CACFP compliance.

Parent volunteers may:

If you are interested in volunteering, please fill out our registration form, and someone will be in contact with you. If you have any questions please feel free to email us at volunteers@waynemetro.org

¡La Casa Amiga está buscando voluntarios apasionados y comprometidos para apoyar nuestro Programa de Educación para Adultos!

Help provide support to individuals and families in need across Macomb & Wayne Counties.  Distribution Associates will assist with organizing or delivering items for community distributions.

Monthly every second Saturday

Distribution Shifts: 

9-11 AM: Distribution Sorting

11 AM - 1 PM: Distribution

Preparation Shifts:

Inspectors

1st Monday & Wednesday monthly: 11 AM - 1PM 

1st Friday monthly: 10 AM - 12 PM 

Time Commitment

2 hours per shift

Please visit our website at elmsfamilyandcommunityservices.org to learn more about us.  Contact us at info@elmsfamilyandcommunityservices.org or 313-398-9445.

PURPOSE OF JOB: Plan party theme and purchase party supplies for children living at an emergency shelter. Able to raise or provide their own funds to purchase party supplies.

If you are interested in creating a Party Planner, please fill out our Volunteer Interest form, and someone will be in contact with you. If you have any questions, please feel free to email us at volunteers@waynemetro.org

TIME COMMITMENT REQUIRED: 2 HOURS, including:

+ watch short informational video about Wayne Metro, which can be accessed at: https://youtu.be/Yhqy_kTenKI

+ 1.5 hours estimated for doing volunteer job duties below

DUTIES

PURPOSE OF JOB: Plan and purchase home health and hygiene supplies for families moving into a new home after experiencing homelessness. Able to raise or provide own funds to purchase supplies.

If you are interested in creating a basket, please fill out our Volunteer Interest form, and someone will be in contact with you. If you have any questions please feel free to email us at volunteers@waynemetro.org

TIME COMMITMENT REQUIRED:  2.5 HOURS including:

+ 15 minute virtual Wayne Metro Volunteer Orientation, which can be scheduled any weekday

+ 2 hours estimated to complete job duties

DUTIES

QUALIFICATIONS

LOCATION: REMOTE -You may do this volunteer job anywhere!

BENEFITS

Help keep our babies healthy and dry! Join our monthly diaper distribution and ensure that babies are cared for! Join us on the fourth Wednesday of every month and help distribute diapers and wipes to our Wayne Metro families in need! This is an outdoor distribution, so please dress for the weather.

If you are interested in volunteering, please fill out our Registration Form, and someone will be in contact with you with details. If you have any questions please feel free to email us at volunteers@waynemetro.org

At Avalon, housing is a human right. Our mission is to build healthy, safe and inclusive supportive housing communities as a long-term solution to homelessness. Avalon Housing is a non-profit supportive housing provider. Supportive housing is a combination of affordable housing paired with services, such as case management. We don’t just help people find housing, we help people stay and thrive in their homes.

If you are passionate about creating more diverse, inclusive, and equitable communities where all people are welcome, Avalon may be a good fit for you.

Support Avalon Housing through a Property Beautification Day! Join our grounds team on a clean up day at one of our many supportive, affordable housing properties. You can participate with your friends, family, community group, or co-workers, helping beautify our properties with seasonal clean up, planting, and weeding.

Want to double your impact from a Property Beautification Day? Consider purchasing native plants or making a restricted gift to support beautifying our properties! To donate native plants, please contact John Slowey, Avalon’s Senior Groundskeeper, to learn about which native plants are needed at jslowey@avalonhousing.org.

Job Title: Service Day Volunteer

Reports To: Aleah Pisarz, Volunteer Program Coordinator

Location: On-site at one of our properties located around Washtenaw County

Compensation: This is an unpaid and voluntary role. However, any direct and approved expenses related to the role will be reimbursed.

Avalon Housing is an equal opportunity employer. We welcome all applicants including applicants from diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds, as well as historically marginalized groups. This includes but is not limited to underrepresented gender identities, sexual/romantic orientations and/or relationship structures, people living with disabilities or mental health conditions, and with lived experience with homelessness or recovery from a substance use disorder, and people with underrepresented religious and/or socio-economic backgrounds. Avalon also encourages those with criminal histories to apply. Avalon doesn't request information about criminal histories until an offer of employment is extended. Avalon will not exclude someone based on criminal history unless it is determined the criminal history is related to or directly conflicts with the responsibilities of the position. We are committed to transparency about our decision making process, and will seek clarifying information from an applicant to help us make a determination in this regard.

The Children’s Healing Center is the first year-round recreation facility providing social and emotional healing for kids with weakened immune systems and their families in a safe, clean environment.

Perfect for individuals or small groups ready to roll up their sleeves—helping with cleaning, office support, data entry, lawn care, and maintenance/handyman tasks to keep our Center safe and welcoming for kids and families.

Please submit an application here: Children's Healing Center Special Projects Volunteer Application

The Children’s Healing Center is the first year-round recreation facility providing social and emotional healing for kids with weakened immune systems and their families in a safe, clean environment.

We utilize volunteers for all of our programs, but need extra help for our weekend programs from September through June. There are two Saturday programs (morning from 10-12 or afternoon 2-4) and two Friday night programs (6-8pm) each month. 

Volunteers will assist kids with art projects, playing games, serving snacks, and supervising free play.

All volunteers are subject to an interview, background checks and reference checks.

Please submit an application here: Children's Healing Center Volunteer Application

The Children’s Healing Center is the first year-round recreation facility providing social and emotional healing for kids with weakened immune systems and their families in a safe, clean environment. We utilize volunteers for all of our programs and would love for you to join us for a weekly shift at the Center.

Monday morning (9:30am-12:30pm) 

Tuesday evening (5:30-8:30pm)

Wednesday morning (9:30-12:00)

Wednesday afternoon (12:00-2:30)

Wednesday evening (5:30-8:30pm)

All volunteers are subject to an interview, background checks, and reference check. We also require a flu shot if you want to volunteer between December 1 and May 1.

Please submit an application here: Children's Healing Center Volunteer Application

The Team GUTS Fun & Fitness Camp is a fun day camp from 9am-12pm.

It's a fun camp and you would be helping our counselors with fitness activities, games, crafts and food!  Life happens, so we tell our volunteers that you do not have to give a hard commitment to every day, but just the days you are available. 

Our camp runs for four weeks, Monday through Friday in Clawson.  

June 15 - 19

June 22 - 26

July 6 - 10

July 13 - 17

We would love to have you! Please contact us for more information.

Hello Community Partners,

My name is Janice Banks and I'm the Founder/President of "Looking at the whole picture foundation" that Connects Veterans and their Families to Community Resources.

Andrea Mitcham is still  in need of Wheel Chair Accessible Van. If you have resources/ programs that would help her  ( Veteran) assist in purchasing a Van for a well needed for her daughter. The Van will also elevate the stress of getting her back and forth to school, doctor's appointment, competions and afterschool programs.

I'm trying to assist a Veteran ( Andrea Mitcham) whose daughter (April) is in need of a Wheel Chair Accessible Van. ( their Van was lost in a flood) This is where you and the community can help.

She has a big concerns because she is unable to transport her daughter to things outside of her doctors appointment ( afterschool programs, competitions-which she is very active, etc.

She would like to see if there is someone that can assist in a "Free" / "Donated"  or a low cost or someone that can work with her to direct her to programs that assist Veterans directly or a child with a disability.

If there are anyone with any resources that can donate the above item to the mother to make her life easier in caring for her daughter.

You can reach out to me directly/ or  ( she  gives permission to contact her as well -See information below). I also add her telephone number and email  to this request.( see below)

Janice Banks

313 320-4237 janb1128@gmail.com

***Please see the additional detail information below that will help you to  better understand her needs and a little more background information about mom( Andrea) and her daughter (April).****

Bio for Andrea Mitcham & April Shaw Andrea Mitcham is an Honorably Discharged United States Army Veteran and a widowed, low-income single mother devoted to raising her two daughters. After completing her military service, Andrea continued her commitment to public service by working 11 years with the 3rd Circuit Court. During her pregnancy with her youngest daughter, April, Andrea unexpectedly lost her job—an event that would both challenge and ultimately reshape her life. Andrea became a full-time caregiver when April was diagnosed with Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) Type 2, a rare neuromuscular disease that causes profound muscle weakness and limits nearly every physical function. Doctors warned Andrea not to plan for milestones like college, but instead to prepare for the worst. Despite this devastating prognosis, Andrea remained steadfast in her love, advocacy, and determination to provide April with the fullest, happiest life possible. --- April Shaw, lovingly known as Princess April, is an exceptionally social, outgoing, and joyful 15-year-old 10th grader whose positivity shines despite the challenges of SMA Type 2. April has never been able to crawl, stand, or perform basic daily tasks independently—such as dressing, bathing, or using the restroom—and relies entirely on her wheelchair and her mother’s care. SMA also affects her breathing and swallowing, making even common illnesses dangerous and often requiring week-long hospital stays. Yet April refuses to let her condition limit her spirit or her dreams. A natural leader and compassionate role model, April has been a beacon of hope and inspiration from a very young age. She was crowned Little Miss Wheelchair Michigan in both 2017 and 2018, served as a 2018 Child Ambassador for Easter Seals, and played baseball with the Miracle League of Michigan, even throwing the opening pitch at a Detroit Tigers game in July 2019. She has been featured on WDIV Channel 7’s Ann Marie’s All-Stars and has proudly served as a Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) Child Ambassador since 2019, marking six years of continued service. Her message is simple but powerful: she believes deeply in friendship, love, and harmony. --- For many years, a wheelchair-accessible minivan allowed April to attend school events, participate in activities, enjoy time with friends, and experience the world with independence. Sadly, when Michigan experienced devastating floods, the family’s only vehicle was destroyed. Without accessible transportation, April has lost far more than mobility—she has lost her independence and the opportunities other teenagers take for granted, such as going to the movies, visiting friends, attending study groups, or even learning to drive alongside her peers. A dependable, used wheelchair-accessible van can cost $25,000 to $75,000, often requiring a car payment that Andrea simply cannot afford. The family is seeking help—resources, leads, or donations—to secure a reliable accessible vehicle so April can regain the independence she deserves. --- Andrea Mitcham and April Shaw Thank you for taking the time to learn about our family. Your support, prayers, and kindness mean more than words can express. God bless you.   See here contact information below:

Andrea Mitcham

248-763-9992

neweditiondrea@yahoo.com

Our amazing care team at Hope Clinic is looking for volunteer Clinicians available to help at our Westland and Ypsilanti free clinic locations. (Alternatively, we are also looking for clinicians who are willing to offer pro-bono services to Hope Clinic patients at their own offices.)

This is a wonderful opportunity to give of your time and talents to help your neighbors in need. If you are a licensed clinician, we hope you’ll consider volunteering and helping in our effort to make lives better!

If interested, please either respond to this posting or email volunteer@thehopeclinic.org. We will get back to you with more information!

Or, fill out a volunteer application on our website: https://thehopeclinic.org/volunteer *If you know of other clinicians who might be interested, please help us get the word out!

We are in need of help on Tuesday, Friday and Saturday mornings at our Westland location and additional days/times at our Ypsilanti location. This is a wonderful opportunity to give of your time and talents to help your neighbors in need!

If you are a licensed registered nurse, we hope you’ll consider volunteering and helping in our effort to make lives better!

*If you know of other Registered Nurses who might be interested, please help us get the word out!

Our biggest need is for Tuesday afternoons, but we are also looking for additional folks on Tuesday, Friday, and Saturday mornings. This is a wonderful opportunity to give of your time and talents to help your neighbors in need!

If you are a licensed registered nurse, we hope you’ll consider volunteering and helping in our effort to make lives better!

*If you know of other Registered Nurses who might be interested, please help us get the word out!

We are seeking dedicated Registered Dental Assistants to join our volunteer team and support our dental program at Hope Clinic.

Schedule

Responsibilities

Preferred Qualifications

How to Apply
If you are interested, please fill out an application at https://thehopeclinic.org/volunteer or email our Volunteer Coordinator at volunteer@thehopeclinic.org.

Hope Clinic offers free medical care to those without insurance, and we need folks to help in the Pharmacy!

We are looking for Pharmacists/Pharmacy Techs or RNs who can come on a regular basis to help in the Pharmacy/Dispensary This is more of a physician’s supply closet and an RN can legally dispense meds under clinicians’ orders. We do not fill prescriptions that come from outside Hope Clinic.

Requirements:

Able to commit to a regular shift for at least a few months

Compassionate

Friendly and personable

If interested, please either respond to this posting or email volunteer@thehopeclinic.org. We will get back to you with more information!

Or, fill out a volunteer application on our website: https://thehopeclinic.org/volunteer

Hope Clinic is an amazing non-profit where the efforts of volunteers are effectively multiplied to help make lives better for those in need. Our dedicated volunteer care-providers truly provide a haven of help + healing.

Hope Clinic serves hot meals 6 nights per week out of our commercial kitchen. To keep everything in working order, the grease traps (2 of them) need to be cleaned on a monthly basis. It is a smelly job, but extremely important!

Note: One group member should be capable of lifting 50lbs high enough to put waste in a dumpster.

If interested, please either respond to this posting or email volunteer@thehopeclinic.org. We will get back to you with more information!

Or, fill out a group volunteer application on our website: https://thehopeclinic.org/volunteer

Hope Clinic is working to reduce barriers to care for uninsured patients—and language access is a key part of that. We're building a list of interpreters we can call on when needed.

If you're fluent in any of these languages and willing to help, please:

Thank you for helping us make care accessible to all!

We hope to get an idea of each interpreter's availability, as well as if they can also read/write the language (not required), and if they require advance notice only. Please either include this info in the notes of your response, or email volunteer@thehopeclinic.org

Our biggest need is for Tuesday afternoons, but we are also looking for additional folks on Tuesday, Friday, and Saturday mornings. This is a wonderful opportunity to give of your time and talents to help your neighbors in need!

If you are a licensed registered nurse, we hope you’ll consider volunteering and helping in our effort to make lives better!

*If you know of other Registered Nurses who might be interested, please help us get the word out!

We are in need of help on Tuesday, Friday and Saturday mornings at our Westland location and additional days/times at our Ypsilanti location. This is a wonderful opportunity to give of your time and talents to help your neighbors in need!

If you are a licensed registered nurse, we hope you’ll consider volunteering and helping in our effort to make lives better!

*If you know of other Registered Nurses who might be interested, please help us get the word out!

We are seeking dedicated Registered Dental Assistants to join our volunteer team and support our dental program at Hope Clinic.

Schedule

Responsibilities

Preferred Qualifications

How to Apply
If you are interested, please fill out an application at https://thehopeclinic.org/volunteer or email our Volunteer Coordinator at volunteer@thehopeclinic.org.

Hope Clinic offers free medical care to those without insurance, and we need folks to be there for them when they walk in the door!

We are looking for volunteers who can come on a weekly basis to help answer phones, schedule appointments, check people in/out, etc. Hope Clinic has two locations - one in Ypsilanti and one in Westland/Wayne. People are needed at both!

The ideal people in this role are those with previous medical or front desk experience, but not required. What is required, though, is for someone who is:

- Able to commit to the same weekly shift for an entire year (due to the amount of training)

- Comfortable answering phones

- Able to operate in our three software systems (Practice Fusion, Quickbase, and CHAMPS - training provided)

- Detail-oriented

- Friendly and personable

If interested, please either respond to this posting or email volunteer@thehopeclinic.org. We will get back to you with more information!

Or, fill out a volunteer application on our website: https://thehopeclinic.org/volunteer

Hope Clinic offers free medical care to those without insurance, and we need folks to help in the Pharmacy!

We are looking for Pharmacists/Pharmacy Techs or RNs who can come on a regular basis to help in the Pharmacy/Dispensary This is more of a physician’s supply closet and an RN can legally dispense meds under clinicians’ orders. We do not fill prescriptions that come from outside Hope Clinic.

Requirements:

Able to commit to a regular shift for at least a few months

Compassionate

Friendly and personable

If interested, please either respond to this posting or email volunteer@thehopeclinic.org. We will get back to you with more information!

Or, fill out a volunteer application on our website: https://thehopeclinic.org/volunteer

Hope Clinic is an amazing non-profit where the efforts of volunteers are effectively multiplied to help make lives better for those in need. Our dedicated volunteer care-providers truly provide a haven of help + healing.

Hope Clinic serves hot meals 6 nights per week out of our commercial kitchen. To keep everything in working order, the grease traps (2 of them) need to be cleaned on a monthly basis. It is a smelly job, but extremely important!

Note: One group member should be capable of lifting 50lbs high enough to put waste in a dumpster.

If interested, please either respond to this posting or email volunteer@thehopeclinic.org. We will get back to you with more information!

Or, fill out a group volunteer application on our website: https://thehopeclinic.org/volunteer

Hope Clinic is working to reduce barriers to care for uninsured patients—and language access is a key part of that. We're building a list of interpreters we can call on when needed.

If you have native-fluency or are certified as an interpreter in any of these languages, please:

Thank you for helping us make care accessible to all!

We hope to get an idea of each interpreter's availability, as well as if they can also read/write the language (not required), and if they require advance notice only. Please either include this info in the notes of your response, or email volunteer@thehopeclinic.org

Meal delivery volunteers serve a critical role in our program and in the lives of our neighbors who are homebound due to their health status. Volunteers choose the day (Monday-Saturday) and frequency (weekly, bi-weekly, monthly, substitute) for volunteering. Meals are picked up at the Ann Arbor Meals on Wheels office at 11:30am, and routes typically take 1-2 hours to complete. 

Meal delivery volunteer requirements:

All volunteers must complete AAMOW’s full volunteer onboarding process, which consists of the following:

The full onboarding process can be completed within 2-3 weeks depending on how quickly applicants are able to address each of the required tasks.

Personal Care Pantry Donations

AAMOW has a personal care items pantry that clients can access free of charge, and items are delivered with their meals. Donations of the following items for the pantry are being sought on an ongoing basis: 

Boxes of tissues  

Individually wrapped rolls of paper towel  

Individually wrapped rolls of toilet paper  

Laundry detergent (minimally scented) 

Antibacterial hand soap (minimally scented)  

Antibacterial dish soap (minimally scented)  

Antibacterial bar soap (minimally scented)  

Individual containers of disinfecting wipes 

Large print activity books (crossword, word search, sudoku, coloring books, etc.) 

Colored pencils or markers 

Card Donations

We welcome any quantity of non-religious cards or placemats with simple, uplifting greetings; below are some example messages. We appreciate if cards come without envelopes and are unsigned (we add a note that they are from a caring community member). Once received, they will be sent out to clients with their meal deliveries.  

Due to the diversity of our clientele, Ann Arbor Meals on Wheels typically steers away from phrases such as "I love you, you are loved, hugs, kisses, etc." on cards/placemats. Sentiments of kindness, care, positive humor, and joy are welcomed and appreciated!  

Example sentiments: 

Have a nice day! 

May your day be filled with joy. 

Sending you warm and caring wishes. 

Hope you have a wonderful day! 

Your community cares about you!   

Hope this card brings a smile to your face. 

I hope you have a great day! 

Here is a card to help bring sunshine to your day. 

Thinking of you.  

Donations can be mailed or dropped off in the purple container in the foyer of our office between 8-11am and 12-4pm Monday through Saturday.      

Personal Care Pantry Donations

AAMOW has a personal care items pantry that clients can access free of charge, and items are delivered with their meals. Donations of the following items for the pantry are being sought on an ongoing basis: 

Boxes of tissues  

Individually wrapped rolls of paper towel  

Individually wrapped rolls of toilet paper  

Laundry detergent (minimally scented) 

Antibacterial hand soap (minimally scented)  

Antibacterial dish soap (minimally scented)  

Antibacterial bar soap (minimally scented)  

Individual containers of disinfecting wipes 

Large print activity books (crossword, word search, sudoku, coloring books, etc.) 

Colored pencils or markers

Card Donations

AAMOW welcomes any quantity of non-religious cards or placemats with simple, uplifting greetings. Below are some example messages. We appreciate if cards come without envelopes and are unsigned (we add a note that they are from a caring community member). Once received, they will be sent out to clients with their meal deliveries.  

Due to the diversity of our clientele, Ann Arbor Meals on Wheels typically steers away from phrases such as "I love you, you are loved, hugs, kisses, etc." on cards/placemats. However, sentiments of kindness, care, positive humor, and joy are welcomed and appreciated!  

Example sentiments: 

Have a nice day! 

May your day be filled with joy. 

Sending you warm and caring wishes. 

Hope you have a wonderful day! 

Your community cares about you!   

Hope this card brings a smile to your face. 

I hope you have a great day! 

Here is a card to help bring sunshine to your day. 

Thinking of you. 

Cards, placemats, and new/unused personal care/pantry donations can be mailed or dropped off in the purple container in the foyer of our office between 8-11am and 12-4pm Monday through Saturday.     

Meal delivery volunteers serve a critical role in our program and in the lives of our neighbors who are homebound due to their health status. Volunteers choose the day (Monday-Saturday) and frequency (weekly, bi-weekly, monthly, substitute) for volunteering. Meals are picked up at the Ann Arbor Meals on Wheels office at 11:30am, and routes typically take 1-2 hours to complete. 

Meal delivery volunteer requirements:

All volunteers must complete AAMOW’s full volunteer onboarding process, which consists of the following:

The full onboarding process can be completed within 2-3 weeks depending on how quickly applicants are able to address each of the required tasks.

As a Farmers Market Volunteer, you’ll assist with a variety of tasks, including working at the info booth, helping with customer counts, and supporting the smooth operation of the market. This is a great opportunity to engage with the community and contribute to the success of the market while gaining hands-on experience.

Overview/The Need:
In our region, nearly 40% of families struggle to afford their basic needs. The percentage of families without access to critical resources is rising, and that includes the ability to provide learning tools at home that boost childrens’ performance in school.

Building a DIY Learning at Home Kit is a great way to ensure families have important educational items to fuel learning from home. We encourage you to get your friends and neighbors involved in building these kits!

Supplies Needed:
• Sturdy container such as a cardboard box, plastic bin, or drawstring bag (one per kit).
• Please include a minimum of three flash card sets and two other items from the list below.

FLASH CARDS (age/grade indicated on box)
• Letters
• Sight words
• Phonics
• Addition
• Subtraction
• Time/money
• Any flash cards that are math/literacy focused

WORKBOOKS
• Coloring books focused on animals, shapes, colors, letters, etc.
• Workbooks with games, learning exercises, letter tracing

BOOKS
• Children’s books focused on activities, vocabulary, friendship and learning

LEARNING GAMES
• Go Fish, matching games
• Blocks, puzzles
• Stringing beads, glue sticks, play dough

OTHER LITERACY TOOLS/MISC.
• Mini dry erase board with marker
• Small plastic bin to store items in
• Sketch/drawing pad
• Crayons

Please note that one kit can range greatly in price depending on where the items are purchased and in what quantity. The average range in cost per kit is $10-$30. Please note that some items may be available at dollar or discount stores. 

Considerations for Buying Materials:
• When you shop for materials, please keep in mind that children who receive kits come from a variety of backgrounds and demographics. It’s important to pick materials that celebrate and showcase a variety of races, ethnicities, genders, abilities, statuses, and family makeups to ensure children can see themselves and their peers represented in the materials.
• Provide materials in multiple languages. You could create a kit completely in another language or mix two languages into one kit.
• Languages most needed: English, Spanish, Arabic. (If you create kits in languages other than English, please let United Way staff know so that they can match you with an appropriate agency.)

How to Build Your Kit:
• Select your box/bin/bag plus a minimum of three flash card sets and two additional items from the above list to put in the kit.
• Collect or purchase the items. They must be new or never opened.
• Build a minimum of five kits.

Host a Drive:
• Involve your friends, family and neighbors in your volunteer efforts! Instead of purchasing items alone, host a virtual or in-person item drive. Coordinate a time and place to have the items dropped off or one location to have online purchases shipped. Be sure to set a goal of how many kits you want to complete together!

Delivery Information:
• Once you sign up (select RESPOND), we will share delivery information with you within a few days. All kits will go to local
nonprofit agencies.

Share Your Progress:
Don’t forget to take pictures of your progress and final products before delivery! Share on social media with #UWVolunteer or #LiveUnited and tag us @UnitedWaySEM.

Download DIY Project Guide to share with friends and family!

Overview/The Need:

Most seniors who live in group residences spend long stretches of time alone – even those who are able to socialize regularly. And many seniors are still recovering from the additional isolation brought on by the pandemic.

Building a DIY Senior Care Kit is a great way to lift the spirits of seniors while providing resources to counter the effects of loneliness. We encourage you to get your friends and neighbors involved in building these kits!

Supplies Needed:
• Sturdy container such as a cardboard box, plastic bin, or drawstring bag (one per kit).
• Items (Please include a minimum of three items per kit plus a greeting card.):
• Letter/greeting card with generic salutations
• Playing cards and/or small game sets (checkers, dominoes, cribbage, etc.)
• Activity books (crossword, word search, sudoku)
• Jigsaw puzzles
• Basic craft kits
• Large-print books
• Artwork by children and families (drawings/colorings)

Please note that one kit can range greatly in price depending on where the items are purchased, which items are selected and in what quantity. The average range in cost per kit is $7 to $25. 

How to Build Your Kit:
• Select your box/bin/bag and a minimum of three items from the above list to put in the kit.
• Collect or purchase the items. They must be new or never opened/used.
• Build a minimum of five kits.

Host a Drive:
• Involve your friends, family and neighbors in your volunteer efforts! Instead of purchasing items alone, host a virtual or in-person item drive. Coordinate a time and place to have the items dropped off or one location where online purchases should be shipped. Be sure to set a goal of how many kits you want to complete together.

Delivery Information:
Once you sign up by selecting RESPOND, we will share delivery information with you within a few days. All kits will go to local nonprofit agencies.

Sharing Your Progress:
• Don’t forget to take pictures of your progress and final products before delivery! Share on social media with #UWVolunteer and #LiveUnited and tag us with @UnitedWaySEM.

Download this flyer and share with your friends and families!

Overview/The Need:
In our region, nearly 40% of families struggle to afford their basic needs. Many parents in our neighborhoods cannot afford the increasing costs of essential infant care items.

Building a DIY Infant Care Kit is a great way to provide essential items that will help families keep their children healthy. We encourage you to get your friends and neighbors involved in building these kits!

Supplies Needed:
• Sturdy container such as a cardboard box, plastic bin, or drawstring bag (one per kit).

Items to Package Together in the Kit:
•Baby wipes
•Diaper rash ointment
•Baby wash
Items to Keep Outside Kit:
•Diapers
•Formula

Please note that one kit can range greatly in price depending on where the items are purchased and in what quantity. The average range in cost per kit is $15 to $30.

How to Build Your Kit:

• Select your box/bin/bag and a minimum of five items from the above list to put in the kit.
• Collect or purchase the items. They must be new or never opened/used.
• Build a minimum of five kits.

Host a Drive:
•Involve your friends, family and neighbors in your volunteer efforts! Instead of purchasing items alone, host a virtual or in-person item drive. Coordinate a time and place to have the items dropped off or one location where the online purchases should be shipped. Be sure to set a goal of how many kits you want to complete together.

Delivery Information:
Once you sign up by selecting RESPOND, we will share delivery information with you within a few days. All kits will go to local nonprofit agencies. We will also send you tips and tricks for where to purchase items and keeping costs down.

Sharing Your Progress:
•Don’t forget to take pictures of your progress and final products before delivery! Share on social media with #UWVolunteer and #LiveUnited and tag us with @UnitedWaySEM.

Download this flyer and share with your friends and families!

CASA Volunteers are everyday citizens who are trained to represent the best interest children who are wards of the court due to neglect or abuse issues.  

Appointed by the 6th Judicial Circuit Court, CASA's watch over and advocate for children within the court system to make sure they don't get lost in the overburdened legal and social service structures or languish in inappropriate home settings.  Through weekly contact with the child and communication with the adults involved in the child's life, CASA's asses the child's needs, look for resources to address those needs and make recommendations to the court through their findings.

The CASA advocate provides a consistent voice for the child during Court involvement and a constant, reliable presence to the child at this time in their life. 

For more information on CASA, please visit www.casaoaklandcounty.org or contact bbaker-mbacke@carehouse.org 

Overview/The Need:
In our region, nearly 40% of families struggle to afford their basic needs. Many families can’t stretch their budgets to afford the increasing costs of essential household and personal care items.

Building a DIY Supporting Our Neighbors Kit is a great way to provide essential items for families in need. We encourage you to get your friends and neighbors involved in building these kits!

Please note that one that one kit can range greatly in price depending on where the items are purchased, which items are selected and in what quantity. The average range in cost per kit is $10-$30.

How to Build Your Kit:
• Select your box/bin/bag and a minimum of five items from the supplies list to put in the kit.
• Collect or purchase the items. They must be new or unopened.
• Build a minimum of five kits.

Host a Drive:
Involve your friends, family and neighbors in your volunteer efforts! Instead of purchasing items alone, host a virtual or in-person item drive. Coordinate a time and place to have the items dropped off or one location where the online purchases should be shipped. Be sure to set a goal of how many kits you want to complete together.

Delivery Information:
Once you sign up by selecting RESPOND, we will share delivery information with you within a few days. All kits will go to local nonprofit agencies.

Share Your Progress:
Don’t forget to take pictures of your progress and final products before delivery! Share on social media with #UWVolunteer, #LiveUnited, and tag us with @UnitedWaySEM.

Download this flyer and share with your friends and family!

La Casa Amiga is looking for volunteers to help with the distribution of emergency food boxes throughout Wayne, Oakland, and Macomb County. This is an outside volunteer opportunity. We will need volunteers to help collect information, direct traffic, and place boxes and groceries into trunks.
It is important that you wear comfortable clothing and closed toe shoes. Be mindful of the weather conditions as you will be outside. Consider bringing work gloves.
This opportunity will occur from 8:45AM -11:00 Am at the Casa Amiga Office 76 Williams St, Pontiac 48341.
Minimum 14 years old, Volunteers under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. We are asking any person considering volunteering to please practice necessary safety precautions: It is important to stay informed as these types of situations can be dynamic. If a volunteer opportunity is not appropriate for you and if you are interested in other ways that you can help, the latest information will be on our page https://www.facebook.com/LaCasaAmigaCommunityPrograms

United Way works to ensure that families have the resources to help their children start school ready to learn and graduate prepared for success in life. We know that to ensure the future success of our region, we need to support our community’s children now.

Access to books is one of the strongest predictors of early literacy and future academic success. Children who grow up surrounded by books have stronger vocabularies, develop reading skills earlier, and perform better throughout their school years. Yet far too many families in our community lack access to age‑appropriate, engaging books at home.

To help increase access to reading materials in our community, United Way for Southeastern Michigan manages several Little Free Libraries across our region. These libraries are stocked with books that families and children can take and enjoy, helping foster an early love of reading. We also distribute books through community events and to our community partners throughout the region.

United Way is seeking corporate partners and groups to host a book drive for new books that will be distributed to the community. There is no strict timeline for the book drives - we will work with you to develop a timeline that works for your group and the needs of the community.

After registering, we will provide a list of recommended books (which includes diverse genres, topics, and reading levels). Spanish language and bilingual (Spanish/English) books are of particularly high need!

To host a book drive, click RESPOND or contact volunteer@UnitedWaySEM.org. 

We could not fulfill our mission without the help of our volunteers! Giving back to the community by volunteering allows you to be a Friend In Deed for our neighbors in need, and for the community. It’s also a great way to gain a new, broader, and more unique perspective, and meet like-minded people.

Team GUTS is looking for volunteers to come help our participants with encouragement and having fun. Volunteers will move along with our participants and "buddy up" to create a more fun environment while getting in some great exercise. No dance experience is needed and like that saying says:  "Dance like no one is watching".

Description of our class:

Team GUTS Cardio Dance Fusion is a combination of Jazz, Hip Hop, Latin, and Zumba styles of dance designed to provide easy movements, free range of motion and low impact footwork that can improve coordination, flexibility and cardio health. Experienced instructors use fun and energetic music to provide a creative and inclusive workout.

Our classes run on Saturdays.

todd@teamgutsmichigan.com

Victory Garden Volunteer | Staebler Farm County Park, Superior Township | Year-Round
Staebler Farm County Park has a Victory Garden that is looking to be re-energized by MULTIPLE VOLUNTEERS to help support the Teaching Kitchen at the Michigan Folk School.
Victory Gardens, also known as war gardens or food gardens for defense, were vegetable, fruit, and herb gardens planted at private residences and public parks during World War I and II.
Detailed Information Flyer found here:https://content.civicplus.com/api/assets/90ba08a8-9110-4c85-a1ea-3a96655be233

SPRING: 8-10 hours a week*
Clean-up garden beds, getting them ready for planting.

SUMMER: 3-4 hours a week*
Maintenance of the garden, including harvesting crops grown.

FALL: 1-2 hours a week*
Maintenance of the garden, including harvesting crops grown. Pest monitoring.

WINTER: Hours project-based
Garden Maintenance and planning.

If this opportunity sounds interesting to YOU, email parks-volunteering@washtenaw.org (VICTORY GARDEN in subject) or register online below.
NOTE: Registration constitutes an application of interest rather than official enrollment. After registering, you will be contacted by the Volunteer Coordinator with further information.
Volunteers ages 16+ welcome.
TRAINING WILL BE PROVIDED. A basic understanding of gardening principles is needed. Multiple volunteer positions available. Most volunteer work will be done independently, depending on YOUR schedule.
*Hours are estimates and will be shared by multiple volunteers

Physical Intensity Level: Moderate

Register at this link: https://miwashtenawweb.myvscloud.com/webtrac/web/search.html?Action=Start&SubAction=&keyword=volunteer&_csrf_token=jl6O016O0I6V213D3L3E2S5K5P665D4T08735X6F58156O3V5R6G1J6R5Y5C5771724M574Z075I484K5G1G5V4J5A5D066U5X5D6G6Z5M4B4W5J0H5O4Q55511K5V4I5F

Independence Lake County Park, Whitmore Lake | Tuesdays | 10:00am-12:00pm
Join our group with naturalist Faye Stoner to protect Independence Lake’s remarkable natural areas. As the season progresses, we’ll traverse prairie, woods, and a variety of wetlands, including sedge meadows, prairie fen, cattail marshes, and a buttonbush swamp. You’ll use loppers and saws to bust down shrubs and vines to protect these amazing natural spaces, while enjoying nature, fresh air, and exercise in a friendly community setting. Training, snacks, gloves, and water provided (bring your own water bottle).

Register online here:https://miwashtenawweb.myvscloud.com/webtrac/web/search.html?Action=Start&SubAction=&_csrf_token=5e528a9e9dcc8ad9720aef85be8af6b1c3be471d8f3c3fafc544c7445eb14fd4&keyword=volunteer&keywordoption=Matc
Youth volunteers welcome! Pre-registration required. Must be at least 11 years old for stewardship activities. For ages 11-15, parent/guardian must volunteer with child. For ages 16-17, parent/guardian signed permission slip required.

Physical Intensity Level: Moderate

County Farm Park, Ann Arbor | Select Fridays & Saturdays | Time Varies with Workday

Join our group to care for the land you live beside in a friendly community setting. This Winter, enjoy the warmth of community and warming exercise using loppers and saws to demolish invasive shrubs. Our work together makes a difference for birds, bees, and butterflies, while also beautifying Britton Woods and opening up views through the woods. Through this hands-on service-learning activity, you’ll get off-trail outdoor exercise and develop a sense of well-being in nature, all while building community with like-minded people. Group led by Jonathan Parker. Training, snacks, gloves, and water provided (bring your own water bottle).

Find Workdays and REGISTER ONLINE: https://miwashtenawweb.myvscloud.com/webtrac/web/search.html?Action=Start&SubAction=&_csrf_token=5e528a9e9dcc8ad9720aef85be8af6b1c3be471d8f3c3fafc544c7445eb14fd4&keyword=volunteer&keywordoption=Matc
For questions or cancellations, contact the volunteer team at parks-volunteering@washtenaw.org.

Youth volunteers welcome! Pre-registration required. Must be at least 11 years old for stewardship activities. For ages 11-15, parent/guardian must volunteer with child. For ages 16-17, parent/guardian signed permission slip required.

Physical Intensity Level: Moderate

Overview/The Need:
In our region, nearly 40% of families struggle to afford their basic needs. The percentage of families without access to critical resources is rising. That includes the ability to provide learning tools at home that boost childrens’ performance in school and bring families together for educational activities.

Building a DIY Children and Family Enrichment Kit is a great way to ensure all families have essential items to fuel educational experiences at home and spend quality time together. We encourage you to get your friends and neighbors involved in building these kits!

Supplies Needed:
• Sturdy container such as a cardboard box, plastic bin, or drawstring bag (one per kit).
Items (Please include a minimum of five items per kit at any age/grade level.):
• Crayons
• Coloring books
• Puzzles
• Family games/cards
• Educational workbooks
• Children’s books

Please note that one kit can range greatly in price depending on where the items are purchased and in what quantity. The average range in cost per kit is $10 to $30.

How to Build Your Kit:
• Select your box/bin/bag and a minimum of five items from the above list to put in the kit.
• Collect or purchase the items. They must be new or never opened/used.
• Build a minimum of five kits.

Host a Drive:
• Involve your friends, family and neighbors in your volunteer efforts! Instead of purchasing items alone, host a virtual or in-person item drive. Coordinate a time and place to have the items dropped off or one location where online purchases should be shipped. Be sure to set a goal of how many kits you want to complete together.

Delivery Information:
Once you sign up by selecting RESPOND, we will share delivery information with you within a few days. All kits will go to local nonprofit agencies. We will also send you tips and tricks for where to purchase items and keeping costs down.

Sharing Your Progress:
• Don’t forget to take pictures of your progress and final products before delivery! Share on social media with #UWVolunteer and #LiveUnited and tag us with @UnitedWaySEM.

Download this flyer and share with your friends and families!

Overview/The Need:
In our region, nearly 40% of families struggle to afford their basic needs. The percentage of families without access to critical resources is rising, and that includes the ability to provide learning tools at home that boost childrens’ performance in school.

Building a DIY Learning at Home Kit is a great way to ensure families have important educational items to fuel learning from home. We encourage you to get your friends and neighbors involved in building these kits!

Supplies Needed:
• Sturdy container such as a cardboard box, plastic bin, or drawstring bag (one per kit).
• Please include a minimum of three flash card sets and two other items from the list below.

FLASH CARDS (age/grade indicated on box)
• Sentence structure
• Punctuation
• Adjectives
• Nouns and verbs
• Multiplication
• Division
• Fractions
• Any flash cards that are math/literacy focused

WORKBOOKS
• Vocabulary, reading comprehension, grammar
• Multiplication/division, fractions, measurements

BOOKS
• Novels, poetry, short stories

LEARNING GAMES
• Riddles, trivia, Brain Quest

OTHER LITERACY TOOLS/MISC.
• Mini dry erase board with marker
• Pencils or colored pencils
• Sketch/drawing pad
• Pencil sharpener
• Supply/pencil bag/box to store items in

Please note that one kit can range greatly in price depending on where the items are purchased and in what quantity. The average range in cost per kit is $10-30. Please note that some items may be available at dollar or discount stores. 

Considerations for Buying Materials:
• When you shop for materials, please keep in mind that children who receive kits come from a variety of backgrounds and demographics. It’s important to pick materials that celebrate and showcase a variety of races, ethnicities, genders, abilities, statuses, and family makeups to ensure children can see themselves and their peers represented in the materials.
• Provide materials in multiple languages. You could create a kit completely in another language or mix two languages into one kit.
• Languages most needed: English, Spanish, Arabic. (If you create kits in languages other than English, please let United Way staff know so that they can match you with an appropriate agency.)

How to Build Your Kit:
• Select your box/bin/bag plus a minimum of three flash card sets and two additional items from the above list to put in the kit.
• Collect or purchase the items. They must be new or never opened.
• Build a minimum of five kits.

Host a Drive:
• Involve your friends, family and neighbors in your volunteer efforts! Instead of purchasing items alone, host a virtual or in-person item drive. Coordinate a time and place to have the items dropped off or one location to have online purchases shipped. Be sure to set a goal of how many kits you want to complete together!

Delivery Information:
• Once you sign up (Select RESPOND), we will share delivery information with you within a few days. All kits will go to local nonprofit agencies. 

Share Your Progress:
Don’t forget to take pictures of your progress and final products before delivery! Share on social media with #UWVolunteer and #LiveUnited and tag us @UnitedWaySEM.

Download DIY Kit project guide and share with your friends and families!