Opportunities From: Connect2Community

****We are still looking for volunteers****

***** You are not required to be an expert or having a teachers degree****

The Maurice A.C. Kirkwood Jr. Youth Foundation's commitment to providing tutors for reading and math in classrooms for elementary and middle school children is an impactful initiative. This program aims to enhance students' academic performance by offering personalized support and guidance in foundational subjects. Tutors can:

Boost Literacy Skills: Help students improve their reading comprehension, vocabulary, and overall literacy, which are critical for academic success.

Strengthen Math Foundations: Provide targeted assistance in math concepts, ensuring students grasp fundamental skills and build confidence.

Encourage Positive Role Models: Serve as mentors/tutors who inspire and motivate students, offering encouragement and demonstrating the value of education.

Enhance Classroom Learning: Work alongside teachers to create a more dynamic and supportive learning environment, addressing the diverse needs of students.

Promote Equity in Education: Offer additional resources to students who may benefit from individualized attention, fostering an equitable approach to learning.

As a volunteer, you will sign a waiver, listen to a 10 minute orientation and spend time sorting books and moving boxes (no more than 25lbs). Thank you!
Join us at our headquarters located in Farmington Hills to help us SORT, COUNT, and PACK books! Sign up Here

Elms Family and Community Services (EFCS) is searching for a Volunteer Bookkeeper with excellent accounting skills, who is committed to giving back to the community. The Volunteer Bookkeeper will oversee the EFCS bookkeeping functions and will be responsible for managing financial activities, including financial statement preparation, trend analyses, reporting, as well as, preparation and presentation of financial information to the organization's Board of Directors. 

The commitment for this position is 5-10 hours monthly.

All volunteers and sponsored applicants 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. 

The background check will come at no cost. Once the background check is complete (average 1-2 business days), you will receive an email notifying you that you may complete your registration.

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

We are excited to announce the development of the Dream Filled Center, tentatively located inside 180 Church in Detroit, Michigan. As a proud partner of United Way and home to our Community Fulfillment Center, 180 Church is already making a significant impact by allowing United Way to use their space to distribute essential resources to those in need every week. 

Now, we invite community partners, labor groups, and individuals to join us in bringing the Dream Filled Center to life. This project aims to enhance the space with a fresh coat of paint, a vibrant pallet wall and more, creating a welcoming environment for everyone. 

Your support is crucial! Whether you can lend a hand with painting, provide materials, or contribute your time, every effort counts. Together, we can create a resource hub that fosters community engagement and empowerment. 

If you're interested in partnering with us or want to learn more about how you can help, please reach out. Let’s come together to make the Dream Filled Center a reality for the community!

About the United Way Community Fulfillment Center (CFC)

The United Way Community Fulfillment Center connects those in need with basic everyday essentials, including clothing, food, electronics and more.

The United Way Community Fulfillment Center connects those in need with basic everyday essentials, including clothing, food, electronics and more. United Way corporate partners like you help make it all possible. Thanks to your support, we provide needed items to organizations that support low-income families in Southeastern Michigan. To date, you have helped us distribute items with a combined value of more than $14 million to those in need throughout our region.

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!

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!

Food drives are a great way to engage your group and support food-insecure neighbors. At Hope Clinic, our choice-based pantry lets clients select the items for themselves—promoting dignity and empowering them to make decisions based on their needs and tastes.

We accept unexpired, shelf-stable items, including:

We encourage donations of the same quality you'd buy for your own family—brand-name or organic items show our clients we believe they should get the very best.

For ideas and more information, visit our website https://thehopeclinic.org/projects/2020/11/12/how-to-host-a-food-drive

Gift Giveaway is Haven's holiday event that allows clients to shop for items for themselves and their children. This event consists of 3 set-up/donation intake days, Dec. 11-13, and three shopping days, Dec. 14-16, with different volunteer opportunities on each day. Dec. 17th will be a tear down and clean-up day. Please see below for volunteer tasks.

December 11th, 12th, and 13th-Set Up/Donation Intake Days - volunteers will accept donations, set up the room, organize and sort the donations, and take inventory.

December 14th,15th and 16th-Shopping Days - volunteers will help clients with their shopping, restocking tables, and keep things organized.

December 17th- Tear Down/Inventory and Clean Up

Light snacks will be provided all days. 

Help keep our babies healthy and dry!  Join our monthly diaper distribution and ensure that babies are cared for!

Put Your Professional Credentials to Work on a Red Cross Disaster Health Services or Disaster Mental Health Team

During large disasters, you can use your professional skills as a licensed healthcare provider to deliver hands-on care and education to disaster-affected clients. The work setting is generally in emergency shelters or on outreach teams in the community. (Keep in mind, you could be assigned to another work location once you arrive on scene depending on the needs of the operation.)

Learn more here - https://www.redcross.org/volunteer/volunteer-opportunities/disaster-health-mental-health-volunteer.html

Requirements

Disaster Health: Current, active, and unencumbered licensure or certification for the healthcare professions, including RN, LPN, LVN, EMT, Paramedic, MD, DO, PA, NP, APRN.

View eligibility requirements for healthcare professionals

Disaster Mental Health: Currently licensed or recently retired mental health professionals, current school psychologists and school counselors, and current psychiatric nurses.

View complete eligibility requirements for mental health professionals     

Shift commitment    

If you are local to the disaster: multiple shifts (4-12 hours each) or

If you will need to travel: 10-14 consecutive days of 8-12 hour shifts (Travel, lodging and meals are provided for deployed workers.)

Comfortable interacting with people from diverse background whose lives have been disrupted 

Ability to work in a continuously changing environment in which work priorities may change frequently

Ability to follow safety protocols and directions consistently and thoroughly

Most of the 65,000 emergencies that the Red Cross responds to each year are local, personal disasters like home fires. They may not make the news, but we know they are just as devastating to the families affected. Trained and available, Disaster Action Team volunteers are ready to respond to these emergencies, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. From offering a shoulder to cry on, to meeting any immediate needs for shelter or supplies, to connecting people with long term recovery services, our volunteers ensure that families don’t have to face tough times alone. 

Many disaster action team volunteers share these life experiences and skills:

Be a part of the local disaster response team by ensuring timely activation and monitoring of local and regional Disaster Action Team responses. 

Ensures that DAT responders are dispatched to the scene of local disasters and escalates larger incidents to regional leadership.

•       Interested in working independently as a part of a team

•       Tech savvy

•       Excellent communicator

•       Organized and detail oriented

•       Able to multi-task

Great opportunity for people who want to touch the mission but prefer to do so from their home. DDOs should be comfortable taking calls during their assigned shift times (day or night) across a wide geography (typically the region) and know that call volume may vary during their shift.

Support the day-to-day activities withing a shelter which can include working in reception, registration, feeding, dormitory, information or other areas. 

Provides direct, front-line customer service to clients and cares for basic needs in a group setting.

•       Enjoys working as a part of a team

•       Excellent communication and interpersonal skills

•       Loves supporting clients’ needs

•       Able to work in a dynamic situation

Shelter shifts on larger DROs are typically 12-hour shifts and may include day or night shifts. Nationally deployable shelter workers should be comfortable working either days or nights depending on need.

Work with shelter residents to understand their resources and transition roadblocks to help households create an action plan so that they can transition from the shelter to long term housing solutions.    

Rewarding front-line position that helps clients move from a shelter situation to a more sustainable housing option post-disaster.

•       Excellent communication and interpersonal skills

•       Tech-savvy

•       Loves supporting clients’ needs

•       Creative problem solver

•       Able to work in a dynamic situation

Great for social workers and non-licensed volunteers with case management experience or clinical skills due to complexity in client cases (but this background is not required). Knowledge of or prior experience working with housing programs would also be a great fit (but not required).

Work with external organizations to build capacity, coordinate activities, integrate expertise and provide channels to reach all disaster-affected communities, particularly traditionally underserved populations. 

Makes connections with community organizations who can benefit our clients during response and recovery

•       Respects and understands different cultures and perspectives

•       Able to articulate goals, needs, benefits of partnership

•       Values input and fosters a cooperation

•       Consistently follows through with commitment and responsibilities

Needs to be able to represent ARC to external organizations with professionalism and work within the established DRO chain of command to make commitments. Position is likely field-based visiting with other organizations and not at the DRO headquarters full time so some degree of working independently is needed.

Government Operations volunteers are responsible for ensuring Red Cross actions are aligned with, supportive of, and complementary to government. The role involves managing expectations, establishing and monitoring situational awareness, and seek, collect, evaluate and communicate critical information. This role is often situated in an Emergency Operations Center.

Supports clients behind the scenes without direct client contact to coordinate our services with government partners.

•       Excellent communication skills

•       Able to articulate goals, needs, benefits of partnership

•       Values input and fosters a cooperation

•       Consistently follows through with commitment and responsibilities

•       Able to work independently through complex communications procedures

•       Able to work in a fast paced and ever-changing environment

Needs to be able to represent ARC to partners with professionalism and work within the established DRO chain of command to make commitments. Position may be based at an EOC or at a DRO headquarters providing virtual/phone support to EOCs and partners. Some degree of working independently is needed.

Be a part of a team on a disaster relief operation to address hunger in an impacted community all while ensuring food safety and proper food service standards are met.

Works directly with clients to serve meals and snacks.

•       Enjoys working as a part of a team

•       Excellent communication, interpersonal, and customer service skills

•       Loves taking care of people through serving food

Some physical agility is needed (climbing in and out of ERVs, moderate lifting of food storage Cambros).

Serves on a disaster relief operation assisting with the collection, evaluation, analysis and dissemination of information related to the incident. May create maps, dashboards, incident action plans, and other reports. 

Behind-the-scenes support to the disaster operation with no direct client contact but is still a key support to our field workers.

•       Organized and detail oriented

•       Committed to meeting deadlines

•       Interested in volunteering “behind the scenes”

•       Tech-savvy and able to navigate a variety of applications and data sources

Role is largely computer-based working from a DRO headquarters and is not a client-facing role. Tech-savvy is an absolute must.

We are the Metro Detroit Book Bank.  We are looking for someone to volunteer their time 2-3x a month to deliver books using our 5x8 enclosed trailer to schools that we are giving books away at in the Metro Detroit area. The books would be packed up already and we would have students at the school help unload the boxes of books at the school. There will be one delivery a month to the recycling center in Royal Oak. Again, the trailer will be packed up and your role will be unloading boxes of books into a large box (called a gaylord). A total of 4 times a month maximum will be needed! 

Supports congregate shelters during a disaster relief operation by resourcing and delivering materials via daily site visits. 

Directly contributes to the success of our client-facing shelter operation by delivering critical supplies to shelters. Supports our E3 vision of “Every Shelter, Every Need, Every Day”.

•       Enjoys independent volunteering

•       Comfortable driving required routes (freeway, long distance, high congestion areas, box truck-sized vehicle)

May have limited client interaction during a supply delivery but primary interaction will be with other Red Cross workers. Some physical agility is needed because lifting/unloading of supplies is required.

Track, inventory, maintain and service vehicles used on a disaster relief operation.

Ensures that other Red Cross workers have the vehicles they need in order to carry out client-facing service delivery and get to/from their worksites. 

•       Organized and detail oriented

•       Tech-savvy

•       Enjoys working independently

•       Comfortable driving required routes (freeway, long distance, high congestion areas)

Will usually be a computer-based position at DRO headquarters tracking vehicle assignments. May also require pickup or delivery of rental vehicles to/from worksites or headquarters. Sometimes Transportation workers are assigned to drive a designated shuttle route to transport other Red Cross workers or provide courier service between worksites.

Food Pantry Assistant manages the daily operations of a food pantry, including coordinating food acquisition, managing inventory, distributing food to clients, and ensuring compliance with food safety and program guidelines. This role involves direct client interaction, administrative tasks like data entry and reporting, and collaborating with donors and other organizations to support community members facing food insecurity.

Oakland HOPE’s Client Choice Food Pantry is able to provide FREE groceries to thousands of families each month. Families, seniors and veterans who have lost their paycheck and income now receive free groceries because of your support!   We have been able to share the love and hope of Jesus because of volunteers, donors, and supporters and Thrift Store shoppers like YOU!

Oakland HOPE's Food Pantry is dependent on the sales from our Thrift Store, and is the funding mechanism for our entire ministry.

Volunteers are needed Tuesdays through Saturdays from 10:00am to 4:00pm. First-time volunteers should arrive before 10:00 for orientation. Lunch is provided. 

Volunteers will split their time between the food pantry and the thrift store. BECAUSE OAKLAND HOPE'S FOOD PANTRY IS ALWAYS OUR #1 PRIORITY - VOLUNTEERS MAYBE MOVED TO EITHER THE THRIFT STORE OR TO FOOD PANTRY DEPENDING UPON OUR GREATEST NEED.  FLEXIBILITY IS KEY!

Food Pantry volunteers: enjoy being a shopper!  Help select items for families who visit the food pantry and other volunteers load the food boxes into their vehicles.  Work with other dedicated volunteers to sort through food items for quality assurance and help to pre-bag fresh produce! Volunteers do not make direct contact with clients in the food pantry.

Thrift Store volunteers: work in the thrift store by sorting and pricing items! Help keep shelves updated with new merchandise and beautify our store and improve our shopping experience. Volunteers help hang-clothes, display merchandise in the store and help with donations. They may also be need identify handyman/fix-it folks needed for small jobs and to test small appliances to verify that they work. Our Thrift Store is filled with previously loved, gently used items, clothing, jewelry, shoes, purses, electronics, household items, fabulous mid-century modern, antiques and shabby chic furniture finds.

Group Volunteers:  With advance notice we welcome groups of all ages and sizes (max 15-20) Corporate, Church, School, Groups of Friends and Families welcome!  Volunteering at Oakland HOPE is the perfect TEAM-Building activity or modeling social responsibility for youth and all ages.  Groups please email norma@oaklandhope.org

For those individually signing up please also do so here after signing up with us: Oakland HOPE Thrift Store & Food Pantry: Thrift Store & Food Pantry - 20 E Walton Blvd. Pontiac MI 48340

Join us as we show thanks by giving back! The Islamic Center of Detroit (ICD) is hosting its annual Food & Turkey Distribution Day, sponsored by Islamic Relief USA. We will be distributing turkeys and food items to community members through a drive-thru event. 

Volunteers are needed to:

This is an outdoor volunteer opportunity, so please dress warmly and comfortably for the weather. Hot drinks, refreshments, and food will be available for volunteers throughout the day. 

Your time and effort will help hundreds of families celebrate the season with gratitude and nourishment. 

This volunteer opportunity is to support in either or Activity Room or our Kitchen during evening programming from 5:30-8ish. We are specifically looking for volunteers for the Activity Room on Tuesday/Wednesday and for the Kitchen on Thursday.

Ele's Place is a warm and welcoming environment that serves as a community resource for children and their families to receive grief support. Children and families learn coping skills, process their grief, and receive peer support by being around others who really understand how they feel.

The children who participate in these groups range in age from 3 - 18. They come from a variety of backgrounds and circumstances, but all are grieving the death of a parent, sibling, or other loved one. Through the Ele's Place peer support group program, these children have the opportunity to grieve in a healthy manner and learn how to cope with the many challenges and changes in their lives following their loss.

Ele’s Place relies on volunteers to offer these services at no cost to families. We are seeking interested, kind and compassionate adults who want to make a difference in our community. We offer an in-depth and interactive training for all volunteers, so no prior experience is necessary. We welcome people from all backgrounds, and have a particular need for bilingual individuals and male volunteers.

To review more about our volunteer opportunities, please visit: https://www.elesplace.org/branch-locations/ann-arbor/volunteer

If you have questions, please contact Aysia Rodriguez, LLMSW 734-929-6640 x2207 or arodriguez@elesplace.org. 

You can also complete a volunteer application on our website: https://www.elesplace.org/about/get-involved/sign

The 5K Committee plays a vital role in bringing our end-of-season 5K celebration to life! As a committee member, you’ll help plan and manage key aspects of the 5K and lead groups of volunteers. If you're passionate about empowering girls, enjoy event planning, and want to be part of something meaningful, we’d love to have you join the committee!

Girls on the Run coaches are trained volunteers who lead a team of participants through a season of powerful and fun lessons. You do not need to be a runner; you simply need to have a desire to support and encourage the next generation. Coaches receive all the tools and support they need and find that they get as much out of coaching as they give.

Often we require volunteers to help pack our team supplies, inventory items, clean our our storage, and other tasks to prepare for our season. Held on weeknights, weekdays or weekends, it varies and typically runs from a couple of hours to 4 hours but volunteers may jump in and out whenever works best for their schedule. Contact us for exact dates that vary.

Held in May and November, this culminating event for all of our participants and coaches from all 6 of the counties we serve is held in Ypsilanti and takes hundreds of volunteers to create the celebration. We'll need help the day of and days prior- definitely a fulfilling weekend!

We need advice for a tech project concerning an app or webpage or online form. Our Day Center volunteers need a way to sign up online for their shifts, then sign in and when they sign out they need to add a message. We then need to collect the data and make monthly and annual reports. We are using Microsoft 365, so the app/webpage can be hosted on our secure OneDrive. We are looking for someone who can give us advice on how to make a free system that meets all our requirements. We need them knowledgeable enough to know what skills are needed to create the desired app/webpage. After this project is done, there are a few other tech questions regarding Microsoft products.

Urban Alliance Detroit is seeking passionate volunteers to help prepare high school students for their future careers through in-person mock interviews as part of our High School Internship Program.

As a volunteer interviewer, you’ll play a key role in helping young people strengthen their communication skills, gain real-world interview experience, and build confidence as they prepare to enter the workforce. No prior experience is required, just a willingness to listen, encourage, and share insights from your professional journey. Your time and expertise can make a lasting impact on a young person’s life and help shape Detroit’s next generation of leaders.

Our students have been diligently preparing for this experience, which provides them with the opportunity to demonstrate their readiness for the workforce while receiving valuable, real-time feedback from professionals like you.

Volunteer Responsibilities Volunteers will conduct one to three mock interviews (depending on total participation) and provide constructive feedback to help students strengthen their interview skills and confidence.

Please sign-up by Friday, October 31, 2025, to confirm your participation:

If you have any questions or need additional information, please contact me directly at tcooper@urbanalliance.org.

Thank you for your continued support of Detroit’s youth. Your time, expertise, and encouragement make a lasting impact.

What Is Ele's Place?

Ele's Place is a healing center for grieving children, teens, young adults, and their families. Each week, peer-to-peer bereavement support groups help hundreds learn to cope and begin to heal after the death of a parent, sibling, or someone close to them. 

What Do Support Groups Look Like?

Groups vary from week to week depending on the needs and interests of group members. Volunteers choose from a database of activities, which include scripts and supplies provided by Ele's Place. Activities may include:

We're Currently Looking for Support with the Following Groups:

Volunteers Will:

2025 Winter Training Dates

Tuesday, January 13th 5:30pm-9pm (virtual)

Wednesday. January 14th 5:30pm-9pm (virtual)

Saturday, January 17th 9am-3pm (in-person)

Note: Participation in all training dates is mandatory

Submit a Volunteer Application

For questions, please reach out to Aysia Rodriguez, LLMSW at 734-929-6640 ext. 2207 or arodriguez@elesplace.org. 

Can't Make It to Our Winter Training? 

Sign-Up for Our Summer Training Waitlist

Check Out Other Volunteer Opportunities with Ele's Place!

Hospital gift shops provide an important service to patients, their families, and healthcare workers. All proceeds support Friends, which funds Michigan Medicine patient education programs, such as Gifts of Art, and other patient and family programs. In this fun, fast paced role, volunteers assist in the gift shop - cashier, stock supplies, help with displays and inventory, provide customer service to shoppers, and make deliveries to patients. Volunteer opportunities are available at the gift shops in University Hospital, Mott Children's Hospital, and to a lesser extent in the Frankel Cardiovascular Center. 

Because we invest heavily in our volunteers, we ask that you commit to serving at least one 2-4 hour shift per week for a minimum of one academic semester or 6 months. 

To apply, visit our New Volunteers webpage. After completing the onboarding requirements, you will be invited to attend a placement interview. At the interview, identify that you would like to volunteer in the gift shop.

Volunteers needed at the U-M Health Brighton Center for Specialty Care. We have two openings.

1. Medical Procedures Unit: Volunteers assist with turning over prep/recovery bays, cleaning stretchers, making beds, providing snacks and drinks to patients as directed and wheeling patients to car after discharged.

2. Neurology BCSC Sleep Lab: Review patient arrival process, scan patient documents and enter into an access database. Greet patient and family, escort to treatment area, restock areas i.e. patient supply cart and rooms, blanket warmer,  etc.

To apply, visit our New Volunteers webpage. After completing the onboarding requirements, you will be invited to attend a placement interview. At the interview, identify that you would like to volunteer in Brighton. 

Raise a puppy that can change two lives, yours and someone who is blind!

Puppy raisers take a puppy into their home and raise it for a specific period of time. While in the home, with the guidance of Leader Dog staff and specially trained volunteers, you will be training the puppy in basic house manners, commands and exposing it to new environments in a safe manner. Once the raising period is over, the puppy returns to Leader Dog to start its formal guide dog training. 

Puppy Raising Options

Since no two households are alike, we’ve created multiple puppy-raising opportunities to fit different lifestyles. Which option is right for you?

One Household

It’s the traditional way to puppy-raise and perfect for families, college students, active
singles, retired couples and empty nesters. Usually, the puppy is picked up at 8 weeks and is raised in the home for 12-14 months.

Co-Raising (Primary and Secondary Raiser)

This option is for someone who wants to share duties with a person from another household.

Pass-Along

One raiser has the puppy for the first six months, and a second raiser has the puppy for the next six months.

Corporate

Employees can raise puppies individually or in teams of up to three.

Campus Puppies

For college students raising on campuses approved by Leader Dog.

To learn more, we recommend you attend an in-person information session or, watch a pre-recorded session. Visit www.leaderdog.org.

*a full application, screening and criminal background check are required of all applicants

Do you love dogs? Looking for a way to give back while caring for a beautiful female and puppies? This might be the opportunity for you!

We breed Labrador retrievers, Golden retrievers, and Lab/Golden crosses to be guide dogs for people who are blind or low vision. We are looking for homes to host both female and male breeders for the duration of their breeding careers. Applicants must be at least 18 years old and will bear the legal responsibility for the host dog. However, families can have children participate in the care of the dog to share in this rewarding experience!

There are several new volunteer models including hosting a female when she is not whelping puppies, or you can host a female only when she is whelping. Or you can temporarily foster a breeding dog while they are waiting for their placement.

Hosting requires a significant time commitment, physical strength, and the ability to travel to our campus in Rochester Hills, MI several times a year. Dogs are 12-15 months of age when placed in a home. Females retired from our program by the time they are 4-5 years of age, but males can continue in the program until they are approximately 9 years old. Both are then adoptable by the host home when their breeding careers are over! Volunteers must live within 6 hours of our campus in Rochester Hills, MI, and have no more than 2 vaccinated, spay/neutered pet dogs in your home.

To learn more, visit our website and/or sign up to attend a virtual informational session.

Client Drivers provide more than just a ride. They are the first person and last person from Leader Dog that the client interacts with in person. They provide a reassuring presence and help make clients feel welcome and cared for. Volunteers fill a vital role in making the client’s experience comfortable and enjoyable.

Client Drivers use Leader Dog vehicles to provide safe transportation for Leader Dog clients to and from the Leader Dog campus in Rochester Hills, MI. In addition to providing transportation, volunteers also escort clients through airport security and to their gate, problem-solve if a flight is delayed or cancelled, and make clients feel at ease under stressful travel situations. Drives are scheduled on Saturdays and Sundays, so weekend availability is required for this position.

Skills and Attributes:

Ideal candidates for this role will have the following attributes.

•Have an impeccable driving record

•Have the ability to drive a large passenger van

•Have a flexible schedule with weekend availability

•Be friendly, helpful, dependable, professional, compassionate, and a good problem-solver

•Be able to comprehend, follow, and retain both written and verbal directions

•Use discretion, sound judgment, and maintain confidentiality

•Ability to work closely with Transportation Security Administration (TSA) through airport security checkpoints

•Comfortable working with people who are blind and low vision, using Human Guide techniques (training provided)

•Comfortable around large dogs (Labrador retrievers, Golden retrievers)

•Be commitment to our mission: “Our mission is empowering people who are blind or visually impaired with lifelong skills for safe and independent daily travel.

Requirements:

•Must be at least 18 years of age and have a valid driver's license

•Complete an online application, pre-screening phone call and in-person interview

• Pass a criminal background check

• Pass a Department of Motor Vehicles check (this is in addition to the regular background check performed on all on-campus volunteers)

• Complete onboarding documents and participate in all trainings

• Regularly record service hours in our online database

• Have a cell phone to use in case of emergencies

• Ability to bend at the waist, stoop at the knee, and walk with excellent balance

• Be able to assist clients with luggage and packages (up to 50 lbs)

*Be able to commit to at least 2 weekend drives per month

Hope Clinic offers free, whole person healthcare 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 somewhat regular basis to help answer phones, schedule appointments, etc. Volunteers at the front desk help clients with a myriad of inquiries and referrals for all of Hope Clinic’s free services such as medical care, dental care, food programs, baby essentials, laundry services, and a variety of on-site behavioral health services.

The ideal people in this role are those who are:

We hope you’ll consider volunteering to help this dedicated team make lives better in our community!

Please either respond to this opportunity, or fill out our Basic Volunteer Interest Form.

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 seeking 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 designed to boost traffic and engagement to local volunteer websites—like this one! With just a bit of online research and your enthusiasm, you can help neighbors easily find volunteer opportunity platforms, service clubs, mutual aid groups, and more—making it simpler than ever for everyone to make an impact locally.

Volunteer contributors have already helped us identify 711 volunteer resources across 324 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: Promote 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.

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) (filled for this semester) 

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

Wednesday afternoon (1:30-4:30pm) - through September 24  (filled for this semester)

Wednesday (9:30-12:00, 11:00-1:00, 12:00-2:30) - starting October 1  (filled for this semester)

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

We welcome any quantity of non-religious cards or placemats with messages of encouragement/thinking of you, with examples below. 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.  

Personal Care/Pantry Item Needs 

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 

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 are in high demand!

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 typically be completed within 2-3 weeks depending on how quickly applicants are able to address each of the required tasks.

AAMOW welcomes any quantity of non-religious cards or placemats with messages of encouragement/thinking of you. 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. 

Personal Care/Pantry Item Needs 

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 

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 typically be completed within 2-3 weeks depending on how quickly applicants are able to address each of the required tasks.

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

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!

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!

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 4hr 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.

Food drives are a great way to engage your group and support food-insecure neighbors. At Hope Clinic, our choice-based pantry lets clients select the items for themselves—promoting dignity and empowering them to make decisions based on their needs and tastes.

We accept unexpired, shelf-stable items, including:

We encourage donations of the same quality you'd buy for your own family—brand-name or organic items show our clients we believe they should get the very best.

For ideas and more information, visit our website https://thehopeclinic.org/projects/2020/11/12/how-to-host-a-food-drive

Hope Clinic offers free, whole person healthcare 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 somewhat regular basis to help answer phones, schedule appointments, etc. Volunteers at the front desk help clients with a myriad of inquiries and referrals for all of Hope Clinic’s free services such as medical care, dental care, food programs, baby essentials, laundry services, and a variety of on-site behavioral health services.

We hope you’ll consider volunteering to help this dedicated team make lives better in our community!

Please either respond to this opportunity, or fill out our Basic Volunteer Interest Form.

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: Hope Clinic will provide some supplies, but groups will need to bring their own gloves, trash bags, and disposable dish rags. One group member should also 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/voluntee

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, whole-person healthcare to those without insurance, and we need folks to be there for them when they walk in the door!

Lobby Runners help with a variety of tasks at our Ypsilanti location, including: Helping provide lobby access/check-in for volunteers; Helping receive/organize drop-off donations and deliveries that flow in to us throughout the day from generous donors; Helping the Front Desk team with varied tasks/projects as needed.

Lobby Runner volunteers should have ability to lift up to 50 pounds and to work on your feet for extended periods. However, there will also be down times when you might be able to read or do homework. Lobby Runner volunteer shifts are available Monday - Saturday. You will be provided access to an online scheduler system so you can simply sign up when it works for you - no recurring schedule commitment is necessary.

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

It is getting to be a busy time for our lobby operations, and we'd love to see the Lobby Runner shifts filled to better provide much-needed help in all we do each day!

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: Hope Clinic will provide some supplies, but groups will need to bring their own gloves, trash bags, and disposable dish rags. One group member should also 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

Do you love being outside? If so, HAVEN could use your help!

WE are looking for some help on a weekly/biweekly basis! Come help us with weeding around our front beds, sideways and parking lot! Come help us out with sweeping up, picking up trash in our two parking lots! While we have a lawn service, we could use some help with the other things to help spruce up our surroundings!  

HAVEN has a beautiful outdoor meditation garden where staff and clients alike can go for respite, reflection, and community. Now that the summer months have arrived, we are eager to get this garden cleaned up and looking beautiful for folks to use! We are looking for volunteers who are comfortable with any of the following tasks:

Help us make this space beautiful for clients and service providers to enjoy!

Are you handy? If so, come and help us with our list of things that we need done here at HAVEN! 

We are looking for volunteers to help with numerous tasks that we have. If you would like to come in weekly to help us chip away at the list please contact me directly!

kliepshutz@haven-oakland.org

Administrative Support volunteers will provide behind-the-scenes assistance at HAVEN while rarely interacting with clients. Volunteers will perform a range of duties, depending on their personal strengths and interests. Generally, duties will be administrative and/or clerical in nature.

DUTIES

The Administrative Support volunteer will perform the following duties:

·       Maintain program files and organization

·       Data entry

·       Document creation and editing

·       Preparation of training and other event materials

·       Provide planning and preparation support for large annual events

TIME COMMITMENT

·        Mandatory 24-hour Core Skills & Values training

·        Fulfill 8-16 volunteer hours monthly, as scheduled

SUMMARY

The Reception Volunteer will work side-by-side with the Office Manager to ensure things at HAVEN run smoothly for clients, community partners, and staff. Each day will look a little different, but volunteers will sit at the front desk, acting as the first point of contact for visitors to the building and business-related callers. Reception Volunteers will take responsibility for ensuring visitors to HAVEN are appropriately screened before entering. They will assist the Office Manager with a range of clerical and administrative tasks.

·        Be at least 18 years old

·        Have availability during regular business hours (10:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Monday – Friday)

·        Have excellent verbal and written communication and interpersonal skills

·        Have a moderate proficiency with Microsoft Office programs and have general internet skills

·        Mandatory 24-hour Core Skills & Values training

·        Mandatory Front Desk training

·        Fulfill 8+ volunteer hours monthly, as scheduled

Do you love organizing? Come help us with our donations and donation closets!

We are looking for volunteers to come in a couple days a week to help us organize numerous areas of our donations. We have availability Monday-Friday 10am-4pm. 

We can use volunteers almost every day to help with tagging and hanging out clothes, sorting and putting out household items, folding linens, check in and check out.  Our main volunteer hours are Monday through Friday between 10 AM and 2 PM.  We ask that groups are no larger than 8 people.

Position Summary

As a Crisis & Support Line Specialist, you will serve as a compassionate first point of contact for survivors reaching out to HAVEN’s 24-hour Crisis & Support Line. Volunteers provide emotional support, crisis intervention, safety planning, and resource referrals to individuals impacted by intimate partner violence. This role is critical in ensuring that every caller feels heard, validated, and supported in a non-judgmental and empowering environment.

Key Responsibilities

Position Summary

As a Client Supportive Services Volunteer, you will support the day-to-day operations of HAVEN’s Client Supportive Services team. This role is ideal for someone who is organized, people-centered, and passionate about creating spaces where survivors feel supported and seen. Volunteers in this role will provide both behind-the-scenes administrative support and have the opportunity to facilitate client-centered wellness workshops.

Key Responsibilities

Administrative & Client Support

Outreach & Engagement

Workshop Facilitation

Position Summary

As a Residential Program Volunteer, you will play a vital role in maintaining a supportive, safe, and welcoming environment for survivors and their children residing in HAVEN’s emergency shelter. Volunteers assist with a variety of essential tasks, from front desk duties and providing supplies, to offering emotional support, engaging with children, and keeping the shelter environment clean and organized.

Volunteers can select one or more of the following focus areas based on interest, availability, and agency need:

1. Front Desk & Shelter Support

2. Shelter Operations & Organization

3. Childcare & Playroom Support

4. Kitchen & Pantry Support

The Development Support Volunteer provides assistance to the Development Department through administrative tasks, project support, and donor engagement activities.

Duties

Are you passionate about creating safe, healthy communities and supporting young people and survivors of violence? HAVEN’s Prevention Education (PE) team is looking for dedicated volunteers to join us in delivering meaningful programs and events. Volunteers may choose one or multiple roles based on their interests and availability, and these roles may adapt if needed.

1. Facilitate K–12 School-Based Programming

2. Co-Facilitate Professional Trainings

3. Prevention Education Administrative Support

4. Summer Camp Counselor

The First Response Court Advocate volunteer plays a vital role in ensuring that survivors of sexual assault (SA) and intimate partner violence (IPV) receive the support, resources, and advocacy they need. Volunteers provide education on legal options, guidance through the Personal Protection Order (PPO) process, and act as a supportive presence for survivors at HAVEN, Oakland County hospitals, police departments, and in court.

This volunteer role embodies HAVEN’s commitment to providing survivor-centered, empowerment-based advocacy that is culturally specific, trauma-informed, anti-racist, and inclusive

The First Response Court Advocate volunteer plays a vital role in ensuring that survivors of sexual assault (SA) and intimate partner violence (IPV) receive the support, resources, and advocacy they need. Volunteers provide education on legal options, guidance through the Personal Protection Order (PPO) process, and act as a supportive presence for survivors at HAVEN, Oakland County hospitals, police departments, and in court.

This volunteer role embodies HAVEN’s commitment to providing survivor-centered, empowerment-based advocacy that is culturally specific, trauma-informed, anti-racist, and inclusive.

The First Response Court Advocate volunteer plays a vital role in ensuring that survivors of sexual assault (SA) and intimate partner violence (IPV) receive the support, resources, and advocacy they need. Volunteers provide education on legal options, guidance through the Personal Protection Order (PPO) process, and act as a supportive presence for survivors at HAVEN, Oakland County hospitals, police departments, and in court.

This volunteer role embodies HAVEN’s commitment to providing survivor-centered, empowerment-based advocacy that is culturally specific, trauma-informed, anti-racist, and inclusive.

Court Advocacy

Monthly community dinners:

Next date: Thursday, October 16th, 3:30-7:15 p.m.

Following date: Thursday, November 20th, 3:30-7:15 p.m.

Brilliant Pontiac’s monthly community dinners offer a welcoming space for neighbors to connect over a shared meal, meaningful conversation, and a sense of belonging. These dinners are designed to strengthen community ties in a warm, inclusive environment. We are looking for volunteers to help set up the dinner area, welcome community members to our Brilliant Pontiac home, plate and serve food, manage fun and interactive child enrichment activities, and assist with cleanup by returning event materials to their original spaces.

-

Holiday Extravaganza:

Thursday, December 4th, 3:30-7:45 p.m.

Join us for a festive holiday celebration at our Brilliant Pontiac hub filled with creativity, community, and joy for the whole family!

This special event will bring neighbors together to enjoy holiday-themed cuisine, activities, and a unique gift-wrapping experience. Children will have the chance to select and wrap gifts for their caregivers, while parents and caregivers will do the same for their children! Creating a fun and meaningful exchange of love and appreciation! Families will also enjoy lively holiday activities designed to spark laughter, connection, and togetherness!

Volunteers will play a key role in spreading holiday cheer by event set-up, registration, activity management, food distribution, and post-event clean-up. Your support will ensure that families leave with full hearts and lasting holiday memories!

-

Clothing closet organization:

Flexible timing; please inquire

Brilliant Pontiac hosts a community clothing closet that provides free clothing to those in need, helping to boost self-esteem by allowing individuals to feel confident and included with appropriate attire. This is especially crucial for families facing clothing insecurity, as it can positively impact academic performance and social interactions. Volunteers are needed to help assess and organize clothing donations; some heavy lifting is required for this role. 

-

Homework help:

Fall 2025; Monday-Thursday, 3:30-4:30 p.m. 

Starting this fall, Brilliant Pontiac will offer after-school homework help sessions for students in Kindergarten through 3rd grade. These sessions aim to support young learners with their schoolwork, encourage curiosity, and promote positive study habits. We are looking for volunteers to mentor students, assist with homework questions, model patience and a love for learning, and help tidy and organize materials at the end of each session. This is a great opportunity for older students to step into a meaningful mentoring role!

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 one Friday night (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 and background checks. 

The Ypsilanti Thrift Shop is in urgent need of volunteers that can commit to a regular shift, for example, a morning or afternoon 3.5 hour recurring shift for a day during the week. (there may be a Saturday morning shift still available too). Come join us to support your community and have some fun!

The Ypsilanti Thrift Shop, a local all-volunteer 501(c)(3) non-profit, is in need of volunteers to help in our Marking room.  In this position you would be responsible for receiving, sorting, marking/pricing, and displaying donations for sale. You may also assist with bi-annual changeover and other duties as needed. You would also enjoy first dibs to purchase donated items! This is a very sociable and fun way to give back to the community as all of our net proceeds are donated to local charities and people in need. Schedule based on your availability within our hours of operation.

Children's Literacy Network's in-person BookPALS program is continuing during the 2025-2026 school year in Detroit! The program will share the joy of reading and encouragement of reading confidence with local 2nd grade students while practicing crucial literacy skills. The highly-loved program is in need of volunteers that are available during the school day for in-person volunteering at local elementary schools. Please continue reading for more information on the volunteering experience with in-person BookPALS.

To begin the volunteer process please take a moment to complete the two part Volunteer Information Form and a CLN staff member will contact you soon! 

Please contact Program Manager, Kara, at kara@childrensliteracynetwork.org, for information about the school's location and how to sign up!

NAMIWalks is NAMI's oldest signature fundraising program, and it enters 2025 as one of the nation's Top 30 Peer-to-Peer events for the fifth straight year, after raising an unprecedented $15.8 million and registering a program high 8,859 teams. Over 190 community Walks are presented by NAMI State Organizations and NAMI Affiliates from coast to coast. United by our unique experiences, journeys and stories, NAMIWalks is a beautiful celebration of each of us - individuals with mental illness, their family, their loved ones, their community. 

Children's Literacy Network's in-person BookPALS program is continuing during the 2025-2026 school year in Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti! The program will share the joy of reading and encouragement of reading confidence with local 2nd and 3rd grade students while practicing crucial literacy skills. The highly-loved program is in need of volunteers that are available during the school day for in-person volunteering at local elementary schools. Please continue reading for more information on the volunteering experience with in-person BookPALS.

To begin the volunteer process please take a moment to complete the two part Volunteer Information Form and a CLN staff member will contact you soon! 

Please contact Program Manager, Kara, at kara@childrensliteracynetwork.org, for information about the school's location and how to sign up!

Children's Literacy Network's provides a remote volunteering opportunity with our program, Virtual BookPALS. The program was designed to bring students together from different socio-economic backgrounds and build a love of reading through new friendships! We partner with schools from Ann Arbor, Ypsilanti, and Detroit.
We are in need of volunteers who are interested in serving as weekly remote reading mentors to 2nd and 3rd grade students. Please continue reading for more information on the volunteering experience of BookPALS.

To begin the volunteer process please take a few minutes to complete the two-part Volunteer Information Form and a CLN staff member will contact you soon! 

Please contact Kara at kara@childrensliteracynetwork.org for more information.

Children's Literacy Network's Family Literacy Interactive Program (FLIP) Night is an interactive, family-oriented literacy night held at our partner schools throughout Washtenaw county. FLIP Nights provide families with the opportunity to build literacy skills and enjoy a fun evening together by offering important components: interactive literacy-based activities for children and their families, breakout workshop for parents and caregivers to help them support their child's literacy development, STEM activities, power food packs and dinner, and books for children of all ages.

We are currently looking for individuals or groups that would be interested in volunteering for our 2025-2026 FLIP Nights (dates to be announced).

Volunteers for FLIP run interactive literacy activities for participating families, work the welcome table, help with dinner, and pass out books throughout the night. We hold FLIP nights at local Ypsilanti and Ann Arbor Elementary Schools. This volunteer experience can be a one-time commitment or ongoing, based on your preference. This opportunity is great for individuals, groups, teens and families! Events generally occur between 4:30-7:30PM.

Please email Program Manager Kara at kara@childrensliteracynetwork.org for more information regarding event locations and how to sign up as a volunteer!

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

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 hygiene or school supplies to fill kits or backpacks for individuals and families. Kits and backpacks will go to either youth, families, or adults served by our Housing Services or school-based whole family support services. Volunteer needs to be able to raise or provide own funds to purchase supplies.

TIME COMMITMENT REQUIRED:  2 HOURS including:

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

~ 2 hours estimated to complete job duties

DUTIES

QUALIFICATIONS

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

BENEFITS

APPLICATION PROCESS:  Contact email below to ask questions and schedule pick-up/drop-off:  wmdevelopment@waynemetro.org.

We are looking for volunteers to help on our Crisis Line. We are looking for volunteers to serve on our 24/7 crisis line to assist youth, parents, and other community services that are in crisis or need to be connected to Ozone House or other community resources. We ask that if you volunteer, you agree to serve for at least 8 months/2 semesters as a crisis line counselor covering at least one shift a week. Shifts are Monday-Friday from 9am-12pm, 12-3pm or 3-5pm

Please take some time to read about our programs on our website before filling out this application: https://ozonehouse.org/. We will have a training coming up in October. More details on that training coming soon. Please apply if interested

If you have any questions, please email ozone.ctc@gmail.com

Please fill out the volunteer application at the following link: https://forms.office.coDm/r/Kpn5pPNwQ

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. 

todd@teamgutsmichigan.com

Join the University of Michigan's Matthaei Botanical Gardens & Nichols Arboretum as a Conservatory Ambassador Volunteer this winter season. Ambassadors are a welcoming face in the conservatory and often answer, direct, and informally educate our visitors on the space and happenings. This role is indoors in our beautiful (and warm!) conservatory and requires standing, walking, and engaging with the public.

Learn more about the volunteer role and apply your interest here.

Matthaei Botanical Gardens and Nichols Arboretum (MBGNA) is a transformative force for social and ecological resilience through the waters and lands we steward. Learn more about how we turn this commitment into action. Your involvement as a volunteer supports sustainability initiatives, positioning you at the forefront of efforts to preserve biodiversity and cultural richness. By nurturing our gardens, fields, and natural habitats, you play a vital role in safeguarding the well-being of our local ecosystems and fostering a healthier environment for all. Immerse yourself in the beauty of our gardens and arboretum while actively participating in their care and conservation, engaging directly with nature. 

Join the University of Michigan's Matthaei Botanical Gardens & Nichols Arboretum as a Conservatory Care Volunteer this winter season. Enjoy the tropical, temperate, and arid environments of the Conservatory and assist with general maintenance. Activities include weeding (TOP priority), sweeping (second priority), pruning, seasonal plantings, signage care, and other work to help make the Conservatory look inviting and neat.

Learn more about the volunteer role and apply your interest here.

Matthaei Botanical Gardens and Nichols Arboretum (MBGNA) is a transformative force for social and ecological resilience through the waters and lands we steward. Learn more about how we turn this commitment into action. Your involvement as a volunteer supports sustainability initiatives, positioning you at the forefront of efforts to preserve biodiversity and cultural richness. By nurturing our gardens, fields, and natural habitats, you play a vital role in safeguarding the well-being of our local ecosystems and fostering a healthier environment for all. Immerse yourself in the beauty of our gardens and arboretum while actively participating in their care and conservation, engaging directly with nature. 

Brilliant Cities is a neighborhood-powered model ensuring children 0-8 are school-ready, healthy, and supported. We do this by transforming houses into community hubs where children and families have what they need to thrive. We currently operate 16 hubs across 24 neighborhoods in Detroit and 1 in Pontiac, where families with young children come for programs in education, health, and family support, and to build community with one another to receive love, safety, growth, and fellowship.

We’re currently looking for community members to help share the amazing work happening at Brilliant Detroit by hanging and passing out flyers in the neighborhood. Your support helps connect families to free programs, resources, and events that strengthen our community.

What Community Outreach Can Look Like:

We would love to have you join us in supporting and sharing the mission of Brilliant Detroit! Once you submit your interest in this volunteer role, you’ll receive a confirmation email outlining the next steps in our onboarding process, including confirming your availability to schedule an upcoming outreach project.

In an ever-changing, increasingly complex world, it’s more important than ever that our nation’s youth are prepared to bring knowledge and skills to solve problems, make sense of information, and know how to gather and evaluate evidence to make informed decisions.

Brilliant Detroit holds 2 STEM courses each quarter that aims to develop and grow their skills in science, technology, engineering, math, and they even get to explore art. 

STEM Facilitator commitment - Quarterly Course and 3-5 hours/week training and coaching sessions.

Stories and STEM - Brilliant children ages 3-5 and their families enjoy stories and fun engaging hands-on projects in a variety of literacy-based science activities together that bring the exciting world of science to life!

Adventures in Science - Brilliant children ages 6-8 participate in step-level learning through inquiry and the exploration of a variety of science topics to develop and process skills for science (observing, hypothesizing, asking questions, problem solving, and drawing conclusions through hands-on experiences with a focus of allowing children's ideas come to life!

Unique Brilliant volunteers are needed to help prepare, facilitate and grow the minds of our Detroit youth. If you have a love of STEM (A), connect with us today! (Trainings and check-ins with our program creator happen frequently).

Dates: Quarterly

Locations: Various Brilliant locations - Where We Are

How: In-person

Volunteer Roles: 

**Volunteers working directly with Brilliant children, families, and staff are asked to have a background check**

Brilliant Cities/Detroit takes great pride in honoring National Days of Service that closely aligns with our mission and core values to educate and unite individuals, families, service clubs, businesses, schools, and faith-based organizations in volunteerism throughout the year.

 (Please NOTE: This opportunity is an in-person volunteer role)

We are looking for volunteers who are excited about working with kids and supporting literacy in Detroit to lead reading cohorts at our hubs. Brilliant Detroit is excited to partner with Reading is Fundamental (RIF) and Raising a Reader (RaR) to offer literacy enrichment programming at our sites!

As a volunteer leader, you would come in-person to one of our sites to lead an hour-long program once a week from October to May. 

Volunteers will be partnered with a child and be tasked to read aloud books and lead activities based on those books with that child. This opportunity is best suited for those with early childhood education experience and/or interest, however, anyone can lead these programs. These programs work best when the facilitator is upbeat, energetic, compassionate, and engaging.

These programs are offered in person at hubs based on the volunteer's availability. Volunteers will be placed based on the needs of our hubs and the volunteer's proximity to one of our Brilliant pods.

A Brilliant Detroit orientation and background check are required to serve in these programs. Specialized training for this opportunity will also be given after the background check is completed. For more information, please contact volunteer@brilliantdetroit.org.

Be Brilliant - Share their knowledge in Health, Wellness, and/or Nutrition by supporting or leading a specialized health program.

Brilliant volunteers are needed as facilitators, presenters and general assistance for health, wellness, and nutrition nights.

Brilliant Detroit provides a range of programming for our parent caregivers throughout the year. Our work is simply not possible without those who volunteer their time to create and advance so many of our programs at our hubs. As we support our adult participants, volunteers are needed to lead child enrichment activities during parent resource group meetings.

Child Enrichment Volunteers provide weekly support by interacting with children of all ages for specific timeframes by facilitating group activities with children.

While this volunteer opportunities will require a longer time commitment, we guarantee that it will make a lasting impact not only on the life of a Brilliant Detroit child, but on your own!

Requirements of Positions:
1. At least 15 years old
2. All volunteers must have an informal interview with Brilliant Detroit Volunteer Engagement Manager and pass a background check.
3. Must adhere to the confidentiality of Brilliant parents and children.
commit to keeping the confidentiality of all AVFC locations and clients at all times.
4. Must support and follow all guidelines, policies and procedures associated with Brilliant Southwest Detroit.
5. Have reliable transportation to volunteer locations.
6. Will be evaluated for the duration of your volunteer role. 

Qualifications for Positions:
1. Willingness to work within guidelines, policies, standards and mission statement of Brilliant Detroit.
2. Patience and understanding when dealing with children of all ages.
3. Awareness of and sensitivity to cultural/ethnic differences and/or willingness to learn.
4. Ability to work in a team and accept guidance and direction from staff members.
5. Experience with diverse cultures, languages and situations desirable but not mandatory.
6. Experience working with children
7. Bilingual abilities highly desirable but not mandatory.

COMMITMENT:
Commit to a regular schedule detailed below

Brilliant Staff fully recognize that burnout is a real issue in today’s world and in this line of work. We encourage volunteers to practice self-care activities.

**Volunteers working directly with Brilliant children, families, and staff must complete a background check.

Annually during the months of April, May and June, our Brilliant Detroit team, participants and volunteers gather at each of our neighborhood hubs for spring cleaning and outdoor beautification. We know that spring symbolizes a time of rebirth and growth, so we take this time to come together as a community to clean-up our yards, prepare our beds and gardens, plant flowers, and make other improvements to our outdoor spaces. It is also a time for us to renew our commitment to kid success neighborhoods. 

Brilliant Springwells

Brilliant Southwest

Brilliant Russell Woods

Brilliant Osborn

Brilliant Morningside

Brilliant  McDougall Hunt

Brilliant Martin Park Old Location

Brilliant Martin Park New Location

Brilliant Littlefield

Brilliant Grixdale Farms

Brilliant Fitzgerald

Brilliant Dexter-Linwood

Brilliant Outer Drive/Hayes

Brilliant Cody Rouge

Brilliant Chandler Park

Brilliant Central

Brilliant Brightmoor

Note: These volunteer projects are outdoors. Please dress appropriately for the weather.

Volunteer tasks may include:

Please reach out to volunteer@brilliantdetroit.org with any questions.

Brilliant Cities/Detroit currently has 17 operating hubs and there are always different opportunities that are in need of volunteer assistance. Whether it is reading one-on-one or with a group, managing activity stations, painting a room, event material set-up/restore, categorizing the book library, or sorting in-kind donations; our hubs have specific needs that arise throughout the year.

Current volunteer opportunities:

Brilliant Cody Rouge Basement and Garage Organization

Help create a welcoming and efficient space for our Brilliant participants! We're looking for volunteers to assist with organizing the garage and basement rooms, assembling shelving units, and storing totes—some heavy lifting required. Your volunteer efforts will support smoother operations and ensure resources are accessible in a clutter-free environment. Flexible scheduling available, please inquire. 

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Brilliant Brightmoor Organization & Redesign 

Our Brightmoor location is currently looking for volunteers to help organize basement rooms, assemble shelving units, and properly store totes to declutter and sort items. Volunteers will assist in creating storage solutions and ensuring our programming areas remain clean and functional. Tasks may include lifting and moving boxes, sorting supplies, and organizing materials. Volunteers are needed weekdays between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. throughout June.

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Brilliant Littlefield Organization and Redesign

Brilliant Detroit's Littlefield hub is looking for volunteers to help with site redesign and organization. This will include storage-organizer assembly, supply and material relocation, and clothing closet organization. Volunteers are preferably needed on Fridays from 11:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. or Saturdays from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.

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Brilliant Fitzgerald Clothing Closet Organization 

Brilliant Detroit's Fitzgerald Hub hosts a community clothing closet that provides free clothing to those in need, helping to boost self-esteem by allowing individuals to feel confident and included with appropriate attire. This is especially crucial for families facing clothing insecurity, as it can positively impact academic performance and social interactions. The Fitzgerald location is seeking monthly volunteers to assess the quality, condition and seasonal appropriateness of their clothing donations and help categorize them by type and size. Volunteers are preferably needed during the week between 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. on a monthly basis.