Opportunities From: United Way for Southeastern Michigan

We're excited to share a variety of exciting new events happening this winter! Below, you'll find a comprehensive list of opportunities where we could use your support. We’d love to have you join us in celebrating the holiday season while making a meaningful impact in our community. 

Please respond to this opportunity listing by specifying which event(s) you're interested in supporting. Thank you.

Upcoming events:

Brilliant Pontiac Holiday Extravaganza

Thursday, December 4, 2025, 3:30-8 p.m.

Join us for a festive holiday celebration at our Pontiac hub filled with creativity, community, and joy for the whole family! This special event will bring neighbors together to enjoy a delicious meal, holiday-themed 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.*

-

Brilliant Central Festive Family Celebration

Friday, December 12, 2025, 3-8 p.m.

The Festive Family Celebration will bring neighbors together to enjoy holiday crafts, games, story time, and seasonal fun in a warm, welcoming atmosphere! Families will have the chance to relax, connect, and share in the joy of the season as we create lasting memories together!*

-

Brilliant O'Hair Park 'Winter Wonderland: Abundance and Light' Event

Tuesday, December 16, 2025, 3-7:30 p.m.

Before our newest O’Hair Park hub wraps up for winter break, join us for a Winter Wonderland-themed holiday event filled with festive games and activities, delicious seasonal food and a heartwarming gift exchange! This is a great way to connect with the community, celebrate the season, and bring smiles to our families.*

-

Brilliant Cody Rouge 'Winter Gingerbread Story Night' Event

Thursday, December 18, 2025, 3-8 p.m. 

Join us for our Brilliant Cody Rouge ‘Winter Gingerbread Story Night:’ a magical evening filled with holiday crafts, a sweet gingerbread-themed storytime session, and a warm, seasonal meal! We’re looking for volunteers to help make this community engagement night special by bringing creativity, literacy, and festive fun to life for our Brilliant participants!*

-

Brilliant Littlefield 2025 Christmas Bash

Friday, December 19, 2025, 2:30-6:30 p.m.

Our Littlefield community is ringing in the holiday season with: a visit from Santa Claus, festive activities and games, a cozy storytime session, a delicious Christmas meal (plus a hot cocoa and cookie bar!), and maybe even a surprise visit from a magician or a clown!*

-

Brilliant Brightmoor Holiday Celebration

Friday, December 19, 2025, 3:30-8 p.m.

Our Brightmoor Holiday Celebration will bring families together to enjoy storytelling, cookie decorating, Christmas bingo, DIY ornament crafts, and a festive photo booth complete with holiday props! These activities will create lasting memories, strengthen family bonds, and spark the holiday spirit in a warm and inclusive atmosphere!*

-

Brilliant Fitzgerald Winter Pajama Party

Saturday, December 20, 2025, 1-5 p.m.

This joyful event will bring neighbors together to celebrate the winter season with board games, ornament and mug crafting, dancing, delicious food, and plenty of laughter. Families will also enjoy warm cocoa, donuts, and special gifts! This event is the perfect way to strengthen community ties and spread holiday joy in a welcoming space.*

*Volunteers are needed to help with event set-up, activity management (kids games and crafts, giveaway stations), food distribution and clean-up.

Join us for our Brilliant Cody Rouge ‘Winter Gingerbread Story Night:’ a magical evening filled with holiday crafts, a sweet gingerbread-themed storytime session, and a warm, seasonal meal! We’re looking for volunteers to help make this community engagement night special by bringing creativity, literacy, and festive fun to life for our Brilliant participants! 

Volunteers will assist with event set-up, registration, activity management, food distribution, and post-event clean-up. (Volunteer shifts are available, please inquire.)

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. 

****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.

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

Volunteers are needed to help pack emergency food boxes, re-pack or sort fresh nutritious food that will be distributed through Wayne, Oakland, and Macomb County. This opportunity is located at the Oak Park warehouse - 15000 Eight Mile, Oak Park, MI 48237. 

This opportunity will occur from 9:00 AM -12:00 PM at the Oak Park Warehouse. Volunteers must be at least 10 years of age. Volunteers under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. 

MANDATORY DRESS CODE

Must wear closed toe shoes. Long pants are suggested.

GROUP REGISTRATION - please email the volunteer department (click here) with the following information:

HEALTH & SAFETY INFORMATION:  The safety and well-being of our community, staff and volunteers are important to Forgotten Harvest.

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.

Busch's Season of Sharing

Busch's Season of Sharing

Busch's Season of Sharing

Busch's Season of Sharing

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

Busch's Season of Sharing

Busch's Season of Sharing

Busch's Season of Sharing

Volunteers are needed to help pack emergency food boxes, re-pack or sort fresh nutritious food that will be distributed through Wayne, Oakland, and Macomb County. This opportunity is located at the Oak Park warehouse - 15000 Eight Mile, Oak Park, MI 48237. 

This opportunity will occur from 1:00 PM-4:00 PM at the Oak Park Warehouse. Volunteers must be at least 10 years of age. Volunteers under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. 

MANDATORY DRESS CODE

Must wear closed toe shoes. Long pants are suggested.

GROUP REGISTRATION - please email the volunteer department (click here) with the following information:

HEALTH & SAFETY INFORMATION:  The safety and well-being of our community, staff and volunteers are important to Forgotten Harvest.

Volunteers will perform one or more of the following general farm chores:

*Volunteers who are 14-17 years of age must be accompanied by an adult chaperone*

DRESS CODE

While we suggest long pants/sleeves due to skin irritation that comes from reaching into plants/grasses, our first priority is the safety and comfort of our volunteers. There are days where we are in high heat/humidity with not much shade. That being said, we have NEVER turned anyone away for wearing shorts. Below is a list of REQUIRED and SUGGESTED dress items to keep in mind:

REQUIRED ~ NO open toe shoes ~ NO slip on shoes ~ NO tank tops  

SUGGESTED ~ Hat, lightweight long sleeve shirt or jacket, rain gear, BOOTS or shoes you don't mind getting wet/muddy!

The weather is always changing and it can be 30 degrees when we start in the morning and 80 by the time we are done. Layers are always a great way to prepare.

*We supply ALL TOOLS NEEDED, GLOVES, ICE-WATER, BUG SPRAY, SUNSCREEN* If you'd like to bring water to donate that is always accepted!

If you are allergic to anything you may come into contact with at the farm (bees, for example) and require the use of an Epi-Pen, bring your Epi-Pen with you and inform farm staff

Before our newest O’Hair Park hub wraps up for winter break, join us for a Winter Wonderland-themed holiday event filled with festive games and activities, delicious seasonal food and a heartwarming gift exchange! This is a great way to connect with the community, celebrate the season, and bring smiles to our families.

Volunteers will play a vital role in creating a warm and energetic atmosphere by assisting with event set-up, registration, activity management, food distribution, and post-event clean-up.

Don’t miss our Littlefield hub's 2025 Christmas Bash! 

Our Littlefield community is ringing in the holiday season with:

-A visit from Santa Claus

-Festive activities and games

-A cozy, storytime session 

-A delicious Christmas meal (plus a hot cocoa and cookie bar!)

-And maybe even a surprise visit from a magician or a clown…

We would love to welcome a few enthusiastic volunteers to assist with event set-up, registration, activity management, food distribution, and post-event clean-up.

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

Volunteers are needed to help pack emergency food boxes, re-pack or sort fresh nutritious food that will be distributed through Wayne, Oakland, and Macomb County. This opportunity is located at the Oak Park warehouse - 15000 Eight Mile, Oak Park, MI 48237. 

This opportunity will occur from 9:00 AM -12:00 PM at the Oak Park Warehouse. Volunteers must be at least 10 years of age. Volunteers under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. 

MANDATORY DRESS CODE

Must wear closed toe shoes. Long pants are suggested.

GROUP REGISTRATION - please email the volunteer department (click here) with the following information:

HEALTH & SAFETY INFORMATION:  The safety and well-being of our community, staff and volunteers are important to Forgotten Harvest.

Volunteers are needed to help pack emergency food boxes, re-pack or sort fresh nutritious food that will be distributed through Wayne, Oakland, and Macomb County. This opportunity is located at the Oak Park warehouse - 15000 Eight Mile, Oak Park, MI 48237. 

This opportunity will occur from 1:00 PM-4:00 PM at the Oak Park Warehouse. Volunteers must be at least 10 years of age. Volunteers under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. 

MANDATORY DRESS CODE

Must wear closed toe shoes. Long pants are suggested.

GROUP REGISTRATION - please email the volunteer department (click here) with the following information:

HEALTH & SAFETY INFORMATION:  The safety and well-being of our community, staff and volunteers are important to Forgotten Harvest.

Volunteers are needed to help pack emergency food boxes, re-pack or sort fresh nutritious food that will be distributed through Wayne, Oakland, and Macomb County. This opportunity is located at the Oak Park warehouse - 15000 Eight Mile, Oak Park, MI 48237. 

This opportunity will occur from 1:00 PM-4:00 PM at the Oak Park Warehouse. Volunteers must be at least 10 years of age. Volunteers under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. 

MANDATORY DRESS CODE

Must wear closed toe shoes. Long pants are suggested.

GROUP REGISTRATION - please email the volunteer department (click here) with the following information:

HEALTH & SAFETY INFORMATION:  The safety and well-being of our community, staff and volunteers are important to Forgotten Harvest.

Volunteers are needed to help pack emergency food boxes, re-pack or sort fresh nutritious food that will be distributed through Wayne, Oakland, and Macomb County. This opportunity is located at the Oak Park warehouse - 15000 Eight Mile, Oak Park, MI 48237. 

This opportunity will occur from 9:00 AM -12:00 PM at the Oak Park Warehouse. Volunteers must be at least 10 years of age. Volunteers under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. 

MANDATORY DRESS CODE

Must wear closed toe shoes. Long pants are suggested.

GROUP REGISTRATION - please email the volunteer department (click here) with the following information:

HEALTH & SAFETY INFORMATION:  The safety and well-being of our community, staff and volunteers are important to Forgotten Harvest.

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.

Volunteer Opportunity: Harvest Party Helpers Needed! We’re hosting our annual Harvest Party to celebrate the end of the outdoor market season  and we need your help to make it a success

Volunteers will help with things like pumpkin carving and painting, welcoming guests, and cleanup after the event. It’s a fun, festive day full of good food, laughter, and community connection and we’d love for you to be part of it!  

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. 

Volunteers will perform one or more of the following general farm chores:

*Volunteers who are 14-17 years of age must be accompanied by an adult chaperone*

DRESS CODE

While we suggest long pants/sleeves due to skin irritation that comes from reaching into plants/grasses, our first priority is the safety and comfort of our volunteers. There are days where we are in high heat/humidity with not much shade. That being said, we have NEVER turned anyone away for wearing shorts. Below is a list of REQUIRED and SUGGESTED dress items to keep in mind:

REQUIRED ~ NO open toe shoes ~ NO slip on shoes ~ NO tank tops  

SUGGESTED ~ Hat, lightweight long sleeve shirt or jacket, rain gear, BOOTS or shoes you don't mind getting wet/muddy!

The weather is always changing and it can be 30 degrees when we start in the morning and 80 by the time we are done. Layers are always a great way to prepare.

*We supply ALL TOOLS NEEDED, GLOVES, ICE-WATER, BUG SPRAY, SUNSCREEN* If you'd like to bring water to donate that is always accepted!

If you are allergic to anything you may come into contact with at the farm (bees, for example) and require the use of an Epi-Pen, bring your Epi-Pen with you and inform farm staff

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

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 Littlefield Painting Project

We're looking for an enthusiastic volunteer group to help revitalize the basement space at our Littlefield hub! Volunteer tasks include sorting, inventorying, organizing, and painting. This important work will make our resources more accessible to staff and neighbors, and will help us better serve our Brilliant families. Flexible scheduling available, please inquire.

-

Brilliant Dexter-Linwood Basement Organization Project

Help create a welcoming and efficient space for our Brilliant participants! We're looking for volunteers to assist with organizing the basement of our Dexter-Linwood hub which is home to our free community clothing closet. Volunteers will assist with assembling shelving units, sorting totes, and organizing clothing by size. Your efforts will help us maintain a welcoming, clutter-free environment, making it easier for community members to access the resources they need. We hope to complete this project on 10/25, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. , however, this project date can be flexible, please inquire.

-

Brilliant Cody Rouge Basement and Garage Organization

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. 

-

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.

-

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.

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.

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

Join us for our Harvest for the Holidays event as we gather fresh collard greens to include with our HOPE FOR THE HOLIDAYS food boxes. Come lend a hand and help spread hope—one bundle at a time! Each day, we’ll have a specific harvest goal to meet. Some days may run longer than others, but once we reach the target number of bundles, our work for the day will be complete!

Please dress for the weather! Layers are best—don’t forget a hat and warm boots. We recommend something cozy for your feet and warm gloves if you have them (our work gloves aren’t very warm). We’ll have hand warmers available, along with hot drinks like coffee, cocoa, tea, and water to help keep you comfortable. 

Join us for our Harvest for the Holidays event as we gather fresh collard greens to include with our HOPE FOR THE HOLIDAYS food boxes. Come lend a hand and help spread hope—one bundle at a time! Each day, we’ll have a specific harvest goal to meet. Some days may run longer than others, but once we reach the target number of bundles, our work for the day will be complete!

Please dress for the weather! Layers are best—don’t forget a hat and warm boots. We recommend something cozy for your feet and warm gloves if you have them (our work gloves aren’t very warm). We’ll have hand warmers available, along with hot drinks like coffee, cocoa, tea, and water to help keep you comfortable. 

THIS IS AN OUTDOOR OPPORTUNITY. CHECK IN WITH FRONT DESK. 

Forgotten Harvest is looking for volunteers to help get the Community Choice Mobile Market ready for clients. Forgotten Harvest’s Community Choice Market will allow those in need to select their own food instead of receiving a prepacked or standard bag of groceries. With this method, those in need do not have to take items they already have, do not like, or cannot eat for health or personal reasons.

Volunteers are needed to assist with the following:

This opportunity will occur from  3PM-6PM. Volunteers should be 18 years or older. Must be able to lift up to 25 pounds.

MANDATORY DRESS CODE

HEALTH & SAFETY INFORMATION: The safety and well-being of our community, staff and volunteers are important to Forgotten Harvest.

Stocking/Organizing  

Forgotten Harvest Delivery Set Up and Distribution  

Donation / Loading Dock Keeper  

Be apart of a spook-tacular evening at our Fitzgerald hub as we host our annual Halloween trunk-or-treat event!

This exciting event offers families a safe, festive alternative to traditional trick-or-treating. With elaborately decorated car trunks, fun games, and plenty of treats, the celebration will bring the Fitzgerald community together for car-loads of creativity and Halloween joy!

Volunteers with vehicles are especially encouraged to join and contribute to the trunk-or-treat fun! Volunteers will play a vital role in bringing the event to life by decorating their car trunks with fun themes, handing out candy, assisting with event activities, and helping maintain a safe and welcoming environment.

We're excited to share a variety of exciting new events happening this fall! Below, you'll find a comprehensive list of opportunities where we could use your support. We’d love to have you join us in celebrating the Harvest season while making a meaningful impact in our community. 

Please respond to this opportunity listing by specifying which event(s) you're interested in supporting. Thank you.

Upcoming events:

Brilliant Cody Rouge Martian Glow Fall Ball

Friday, October 24, 2025, from 4-8:30 p.m.

This non-scary, outer space-themed event features fun alien-inspired crafts and games that spark creativity, boost fine motor skills, and encourage imaginative play. Families will enjoy a shared meal, snacks, and treats in a welcoming space that builds community connection, promotes inclusivity, and celebrates the power of coming together.*

-

Brilliant McDougall-Hunt Halloween Extravaganza 

Saturday, October 25, 2025, from 10 a.m. -5 p.m.

This community event brings families together for an afternoon filled with games, hands-on activities, and Halloween-themed festivities. Children and parents alike can enjoy laughter, creativity, and quality time in a warm and welcoming space, complete with Brilliant Detroit-style community fun!*

-

Brilliant Outer Drive-Hayes Halloween Open House

Thursday, October 30, 2025, from 3:30-7 p.m.

Families with children ages 8 and under are invited to enjoy a fun-filled day of arts and crafts, indoor games, engaging activities, and a delicious community meal. This special event is more than just a Halloween celebration, it's also a chance for families to connect, create lasting memories, and experience the joy of community in a fun and welcoming space.*

-

Brilliant Morningside Harvest Fest

Thursday, October 30, 2025, from 3-7 p.m.

This family-friendly event brings neighbors together to enjoy pumpkin decorating, harvest-themed treats, and trunk-or-treating. It's a wonderful opportunity for the Morningside community to celebrate the season in a warm, welcoming space!*

-

Brilliant Fitzgerald Halloween Trunk-or-Treat

Friday, October 31, 2025, from 5-9 p.m.

Brilliant's trunk-or-treat event offers families a safe, festive alternative to traditional trick-or-treating. With elaborately decorated car trunks, fun games, and plenty of treats, the celebration will bring the Fitzgerald community together in a spirit of creativity and Halloween joy.*

*Volunteers are needed to help with event set-up, activity management (kids games and crafts, giveaway stations), food distribution and clean-up.

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.

This family-friendly event brings neighbors together to enjoy pumpkin decorating, harvest-themed treats, and trunk-or-treating. It's a wonderful opportunity for the Morningside community to celebrate the season over delicious food, festive activities and fun for the whole family!

Volunteers are a key part of making this event a fun and memorable experience. Volunteers will assist with set-up, registration, managing activities, distributing food, and clean-up. We're also looking for creative volunteers who are willing to decorate their car trunks and donate candy for our Trunk-or-Treat area. Feel free to have fun with your Halloween decorations and wear your best, kid-friendly costume!

Our volunteer shifts include: 3-4 p.m. set-up/food prep, 4-6 p.m. guest welcome & activities, 6-6:30 p.m. breakdown/clean-up.

*THIS IS AN OUTDOOR EVENT*

Forgotten Harvest is hosting our first Great Give and Gather! During this event, we would like to provide families with resources, information and services that they need and also include a little fun for the kids! We are looking for volunteers to help keep the event moving, safe and organized! Volunteers are needed to assist with:

HEALTH & SAFETY INFORMATION: The safety and well-being of our community, staff and volunteers are important to Forgotten Harvest.

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.

To help address food insecurities in our community with compassion and dignity, PFC has partnered with Catholic Charities of Southeast Michigan to open a Food Pantry onsite at the Bridge Housing Campus. As a Client Assistant, you will play a vital role in supporting individuals and families as they access nutritious food through a shopping experience in the Pantry.

Key Responsibilities Include:

Warmly welcome clients to the pantry

Guide clients in selecting pantry items based on the USDA Balanced Plate Model

Help clients schedule future appointments.

Assist with stocking shelves and maintaining a clean and orderly site.

Qualifications:

Helpful and cooperative with a calm demeanor.

Able to walk and stand for up to 3 hours (with breaks and lift approximately 20 pounds at a time.

Must be 18 years or older.

Benefits:

Make a meaningful difference in the lives of those in need.

Gain valuable experience in community service and nonprofit work.

Meet new people.

Receive training and support from experienced staff.

*Click here to learn more about PFC: The Pope Francis Center

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

Focus: HOPE provides food to over 40,000 limited-income seniors in and around Detroit. Each month, every one of those seniors receives a box of food which contains healthy groupings of nonperishable foods. While most of our seniors come to one of the three Focus: HOPE centers to pick up their food, over 10,000 are homebound. Homebound seniors are unable to pick up the food themselves, so volunteers and agency partners such as yourself deliver it directly to them. You may deliver to individual homes or to buildings where many senior participants live at the same address. Teams and individuals are welcome!! 

We have an extremely high need for delivery volunteers. Please share with your friends.

If you have not delivered food with us before, this is the opportunity for you! An orientation kicks off each shift on Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday at 10:00am & 2:00pm, and on Saturday at 10:00am. After you have successfully signed up for one of these shifts (you may register at the bottom of this page), you can deliver same day. The orientation itself only takes about ten minutes. 

To make food deliveries, volunteers use their own vehicles to transport pre-packed boxes of food to individual homes or apartment buildings. Based on the room in your car(s) and time available to you, you may choose the number of boxes to take and the areas to go to.  

Your first time delivering you will receive detailed instructions from a Volunteer Coordinator. Here is a shortened process overview: 

We recommend you bring a dolly, cart or wagon if you intend to make a large quantity of deliveries at once. 

Teams may work together to deliver to one location where many senior participants live at the same address. These buildings may have anywhere from 10-100 seniors who receive food from Focus: HOPE. Teams work together to transport the boxes in their vehicles and then distribute those boxes door-to-door within the building.

You will be awarded one volunteer hour per box delivered. Hours can be tracked in your account on this website. If you need a special sheet signed, bring it with you to volunteer or email volunteer@focushope.edu. For court mandated hours scroll down for more information. 

Comfortable attire and shoes are welcome. The warehouse temperature may fluctuate with the seasons, so layers are encouraged. Volunteers are prohibited from wearing open-toed shoes, sleeveless shirts, short shorts or exposing midriff. Please keep valuables at home, in your car or on your person. 

We recommend you bring work gloves. 

For everyone’s safety, if you are not feeling well or have been exposed to someone with COVID-19 in the last 14 days, please stay home. 

Focus: HOPE strongly encourages all volunteers, guests and colleagues to wear a mask while in the building, regardless of vaccination status. 

Handwashing and sanitizer stations are available throughout the building. 

If you have already completed a digital waiver this calendar year, scroll to the bottom of the page to register for an open time slot. Otherwise, click “Respond” at the top or bottom of the page, log in, complete the waiver qualification, and then return to this page to see the available volunteer shifts. 

Minors may not complete waivers digitally, so the system will not allow a minor to sign up to volunteer. Minors may not volunteer without a guardian present. Once on-site for the selected volunteer event, guardians may register their minors by signing a printed waiver on their behalf. For deliveries there is no age minimum to participate. 

To register a large team or organization, please contact volunteer@focushope.edu for options. 

If you have court mandated community service hours, you must attend a separate, court-specific orientation. This orientation only takes place on Fridays at 10:30 a.m. at 1400 Oakman Boulevard, 48238. After the brief orientation, you may choose to stay and begin volunteering, or return another day. 

Bring a photo ID and know the name of your court and/or officer. If you have an official document which states your hours, bring it with you. 

If you do not attend a Friday orientation prior to volunteering, your hours will not be recorded for the court. No exceptions will be made. 

You do not need to register to participate. More information at: https://focushope.galaxydigital.com/need/detail/?need_id=601721 

Focus: HOPE has permanently relocated all volunteer activities to 1400 Oakman Boulevard, Detroit MI 48238. Parking is directly across the street within the gated black fence. The lot entrance is on La Salle Boulevard by where it intersects with Oakman Boulevard. Please do not park in the Early Learning Center lot or between buildings. 

Volunteer & Community Outreach 

Focus: HOPE 

volunteer@focushope.edu 

313-494-4270 

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!

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!

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!

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

Come spread holiday cheer with us at the Brightmoor Hub as we celebrate the season with joy, creativity, and community connection! 

Join us for a cozy holiday celebration at the Central Hub, filled with festive activities and joyful memories for the whole family! 

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

Join us for a cozy and festive afternoon at our Fitzgerald Hub, filled with holiday cheer, creativity, and fun for the whole family!