Opportunities From: United Way for Southeastern Michigan

Hosting a Holiday Gift or Toy Drive is a meaningful way to bring your group together while directly supporting survivors and families rebuilding their lives. At First Step, we promote dignity and choice, allowing families to select the items that best meet their needs and preferences.

With the holidays approaching, many survivors and children face this season without the joy and comfort it should bring. Your donations can help ensure that every child and family receives gifts that brighten their holiday and bring hope during a challenging time.

Items needed include (new, unwrapped):

Toys for all ages

Gifts for teens

Gift cards and more

Please ensure all items are new and unwrapped and appropriate for children and families of various ages.

For more information, visit our website: https://www.firststep-mi.org/donate/
or contact Barb Davis at bdavis@firststep-mi.org. A more detailed Holiday Donation Guide can be provided.

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!

Hosting a food or personal care drive is a meaningful way to bring your group together while directly supporting survivors and families rebuilding their lives. At First Step, we promote dignity and choice—allowing families to select the items that best meet their needs and preferences.

With recent and future funding cuts, we have an urgent need for support as families face the holidays. Your donations can help ensure survivors and their children have nourishing meals, personal care items and other critical supplies during this time.

Unexpired, shelf-stable items needed, such as:
Canned goods: fruits, vegetables, soups, proteins, coffee
Dry goods: cereals, pasta, rice, baking items, snacks
Condiments & spreads: sauces, spices, nut butters
Personal care & household essentials: hygiene products, paper products, diapers, cleaning supplies

Please check expiration dates on all items before dropping them off.

For more information, visit our website https://www.firststep-mi.org/donate/mostneeded/ or contact Barb Davis at bdavis@firststep-mi.org. A more detailed Donation Guide can be provided.

ACC is a proud food distribution partner of Forgotten Harvest. Our location serves an estimated 200+ individuals weekly. Distribution takes place every Thursday morning from 8:30am - 12:30pm or until supplies last. 

Volunteers are needed to assist with unloading and organizing the food items into boxes inside our warehouse and distributing to clients in attendance. Currently we are operating as a drive-thru and walkup system, where the food is loaded directly into clients' cars or carts. 

Volunteers will work primarily outdoors unless sorting food in our warehouse; please dress according to the weather and wear comfortable clothes and shoes. Close-toed shoes recommended. Lifting boxes of 25+ lbs is often involved, but there are frequently smaller/lighter items to be sorted as well. If accommodations are needed, please let us know.

Hope Clinic offers free, whole-person healthcare to those without insurance, and we need folks to help in our Food & Basic Needs program!

Hope Clinic's Walk-up Groceries allow clients to get produce, flowers, and a few shelf-stable foods each week without a scheduled appointment. The first 30ish minutes of each shift is the busiest, but things quiet down significantly after that.

Our Monday shift is a great way to test the waters if you are a first-time volunteer at the Farm Stand, but our greatest needs are for volunteers on Thursdays and Saturdays.

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 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

Berea Cares is a faith-based organization that has partnered with Food Gatherers to distribute food to Washtenaw County residents facing food insecurities on the 3rd Saturday of every month.  We have recently had an increase in the amount of food distributed and are looking for volunteers to help out 2 to 3 hours on that day. Volunteers simply place the food in the vehicles in the distribution line.  No actual up-close contact with residents. 

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

Mercy Education Project (MEP) is a learning community that believes every girl has a right to reach her full potential. MEP focuses on math and reading improvement with evidenced based, one-to-one tutoring for girls grades 2-12. We help girls who are one or more years behind their grade level in reading or math to gain the academic confidence they need to succeed in school. Volunteer tutors are needed in-person for a once-a-week commitment from 5:30-6:30 pm during the school year (September - May). Our one-to-one afterschool tutoring program fosters meaningful relationships that support the whole student. Substitute tutors are also needed.

Training is provided as part of the volunteer tutor onboarding process. Our learning program includes individualized student curriculum using online software. All prospective tutors complete an application form, a background check, online training modules, and in-person training.

ReStore Activities/Tasks and Help we need daily!

If any of these positions appeal to your skill set, or your looking to come join a wonderful community please click respond on this posting and then proceed to our website to complete registration:

https://www.habitatoakland.org/volunteer/restore-opportunities/

For more information please feel free to contact Leah Diederichs at leahd@habitatoakland.org

ReStore Activities/Tasks and Help we need daily!

If any of these positions appeal to your skill set, or your looking to come join a wonderful community please click respond on this posting and then proceed to our website to complete registration:

https://www.habitatoakland.org/volunteer/restore-opportunities/

The ReStore in Waterford is open Monday-Sunday from 10:30am-2:30pm or 2:30-5:30pm

For more information please feel free to contact Cristina Verduzco cristinav@habitatoakland.org

 Are you passionate about spreading joy and brightening someone's day? Do you enjoy writing friendly letters and want to join a virtual project? Are you looking for a team project or a meaningful event activity? Become a volunteer and make a meaningful difference for seniors in care homes and programs in Detroit, across Michigan and worldwide.

Seniors need your help this Spring and Summer!  Volunteers needed to help seniors with general yard cleanup.  Services performed include leaf-raking, cleaning flower beds (no planting), spray cleaning outdoor windows, and trimming branches.  A great opportunity for individuals, youth groups, and corporate groups because it is quick and easy to set up.  You pick the date and community to serve.  We provide the tools and assign yards to your group based on how many hours your group wants to volunteer.  That simple!  Services do not involve ladders or removing trash other than natural yard waste.  Contact us today to schedule your yard cleanup!  

Dear Washtenaw Neighbors, Friends, and Community!

We're excited to invite you to join us for volunteer workdays at Apple Ridge Community Gardens. We will be out at Apple Ridge Community Gardens, at E Clark and Ridge Rd, every Tuesday and Thursday evening from 6 - 8 PM with EMU's AKA Sorority!

At Apple Ridge Community Gardens we'll be building raised beds, weeding around our pollinator garden, adding mulch, planting perennials, installing an herb garden, building out our Underground Railroad Garden, and much more. See here for our full and exciting work list planned for Apple Ridge!

We'll provide all necessary materials and equipment. Please bring water for yourself and wear comfortable outdoor clothing to protect from the sun. 

Thank you for considering this opportunity to make a meaningful impact at the Apple Ridge Community Gardens. We look forward to working with you to create a thriving agricultural space for our community.

Sincerely,

Willow Run Acres Team

Dear Detroit and Southeast Michigan Neighbors, Friends, and Community!

We're excited to invite you to join us for volunteer workdays at Willow Run Acres Detroit. We will be out at our new Farm & Garden site in Detroit every Sundays from 9 am - 12 PM. Please call our Executive Director, TC, at (734) 717-4849 for further updates on start date and location!

At Willow Run Acres Detroit we'll be building raised beds, weeding around our pollinator garden, combining mulch and compost, planting perennials, installing fruit and vegetable trees, and more! See here for our full and exciting work list planned for Willow Run Acres Detroit!

We'll provide all necessary materials and equipment. Please bring water for yourself and wear comfortable outdoor clothing to protect from the sun. 

Thank you for considering this opportunity to make a meaningful impact at Willow Run Acres Detroit. We look forward to working with you to create a thriving agricultural space for our community.

Sincerely,

Willow Run Acres Team

Work directly with our participants in our day health centers!

Provide a joyful experience for our aging participants! Join us at our Clinton Township day health center to engage with aging adults in your community. 

Follow this LINK to complete an application. 

Volunteers will be provided with ongoing staff support throughout their service with us and will be included in appreciation events. 

We encourage our volunteers to donate three hours per week. A Background Check is required for volunteering at PACE Southeast Michigan. 

Availability: Weekdays 9:00am 2:00pm

Join us and help make a difference in the community.

St. Vincent and Sarah Fisher Center Children's After School Program is a free, personalized, one-on-one tutoring program for children in grades 1-6, designed to offer year round support, focusing on math and reading. The Children’s Education Program helps to bridge the educational gap for students who are motivated to learn and for parents who support their learning.

Skills and Interests:

Now is the moment to build a better tomorrow.

Volunteers act as one-on-one or small group tutors for children in grades 1-6. Tasks will include reading and language arts activities and helping children with basic math. All lessons, worksheets, learning games, and materials are prepared by staff and ready for the volunteer tutor and student to work on together.

The Children's Tutoring Program runs from 4 pm - 6 pm Monday through Thursday.

Volunteer when you can, daily, weekly, monthly.

Volunteer Requirements:

Access our Online Application here-
https://www.svsfcenter.org/how-to-help/volunteer/

Contact Deirdre Hope with questions: deirdre.hope@svsfcenter.org

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!

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
• Reading readiness, sentence structure, reading comprehension
• Math skills, math focus

BOOKS WITH COMMUNITY AND FRIENDSHIP THEME
• Learn to read, beginner chapter books

LEARNING GAMES
• Uno, Mad Libs

OTHER LITERACY TOOLS/MISC.
• Mini dry erase board with marker
• Small plastic bin to store items in
• Sketch/drawing pad
• Pencils/pencil sharpener
• 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 Kit Project Guide

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:
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. 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!

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!

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!

We are looking for volunteers that are interested in doing some sweat work with getting our garden space and surrounding grounds ready for the new planting season. We will be moving planting boxes, digging new beds directly in the ground, painting, etc. If you have tools (shovels, hay forks, gloves, etc., please feel free to bring them with you). 

It's time to paint with a purpose!!! Destined For Greatness has a new space that will provide resources and wrap-around services for Detroit's most underserved population. We have 12 rooms that are in need of masking tape or prep painting tape to ensure a clean finish. We have paint, paintbrushes, and other painting gadgets on-site at 5555 Conner St., Detroit, MI 48213

Volunteers are needed to help us complete this project, so if you enjoy painting or have creative thoughts about interior design, we need you. This project is indoors only however we do have access to the outdoors.

Timing is flexible! The hours of operation are from 10 am- 10 pm Monday- Friday and weekends vary but we will accommodate volunteers' interest in what day and time are best. This event will be ongoing until the project is complete.

FREE food, snacks, and bottled water will be provided for all volunteers!

Contact Shadora Ford (313) 414-3680 email: dfgmentoring@yahoo.com

WE REALLY NEED YOUR COMPLETING THIS PROJECT!!!

A Girl Like Me Inc has a ongoing need for volunteers to help sort donations before they are distributed to those in need.

Volunteers can help out Monday through Friday between 10:00am and 4:00pm - timing is flexible!

Volunteering with Earthworks Urban Farm will resume March 30th, 2022.

Upcoming Volunteer Opportunities

Thank you for your interest in volunteering at Earthworks! We are seeking dependable individuals to assist us with various tasks to help us maintain our gardens. Volunteers help with weeding, harvesting, garden bed prepping, planting and general garden maintenance.

The type of volunteer work we have may depend on many variables such as the time of year, weather, size, and age of the group or otherwise. As such, it's difficult to share what exactly volunteers will be doing on a particular date.

In general, some of those things may include:

In other words, manual labor that includes lifting, kneeling, crouching, bending, twisting, turning, shoveling, raking, etc. Caution may be required when working or walking on ground that is loose, uneven or slippery.

Volunteering at Earthworks is a great way to help our cause of growing food sustainably for our community, as well as, restore our connection to the environment. It is also a way for you to learn new skills, meet new people and make a difference.

We are hosting volunteers Wednesday - Friday from 9 am - 11 am and 12:30 pm - 2:30 pm.

New volunteers that are interested in volunteering with Earthworks Urban Farm should register as a user via Volunteer Hub and when asked for affiliations should check "I am interested in Earthworks Urban Farm". An Earthworks staff person will reach out to the volunteer to discuss specific onboarding requirements. If you already have a Volunteer Hub account with the Capuchins, please reach out to Wendy Casey at wcasey@cskdetroit.org for details on how to sign up for Earthworks events.

First-time volunteers are not required to go through a background check. If you enjoy your experience after volunteering for the first-time and would like to continue volunteering, you will have to complete a background check. This process is mandatory for returning first-time volunteers. It is an easy process and free of charge to you. The results should take about 1-2 days. If you are approved to volunteer again, you would be able to schedule to volunteer.

Click HERE to see upcoming volunteer opportunities.

Special Instructions:

Minimum volunteer age is seven years, and must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian. The minor and the adult volunteer must each have their own Volunteer Hub account, and must both be registered for the same shift. Minor volunteers who registered on their own would be removed from the shift and must register with their parent/legal guardian for that shift.

Organized group leaders, please contact Wendy Casey at wcasey@cskdetroit.org before registering for shifts.  Please provide the following information:

An organized group is a group that officially represents an organization, corporation, company, or college/university. Any other type of group (including groups from churches and places of worship) is NOT considered an organized group, and all members must register individually.