Needs From: United Way of Northwest Michigan

Old Town Playhouse has over 50 performances on our MainStage each season (September to May), and we need concessions volunteers for every one. Concessions volunteers arrive 75 minutes prior to the performance, set up displays, and sell snacks, candy, soda, water, and coffee for cash or credit one hour before the performance and during intermission. You can watch most of the performance for which you volunteer, and we'll give you a voucher for a free rush ticket to another performance as well. You'll need to be able to stand at our concessions window, do some light lifting (water bottles and soda cans), make change, and run a credit card terminal. We'll ask you to arrive 20 minutes early for your first shift for a short training session. Please contact the Box Office at tickets@oldtownplayhouse.com or 231-947-2210 option 2 for more information.

The Area Agency on Aging of Northwest Michigan is seeking volunteers to serve as Long Term Care Ombudsmen, advocating for residents in nursing homes and adult care facilities across ten counties. No experience is required—training and support are provided. Call (231) 947-2504 or visit www.aaanm.org/long-term-care-ombudsman to learn more.

PoWeR! Book Bags distributes literacy materials as well as small smart toys to encourage children to express themselves with language and storytelling. Included in our bags for children ages three and up: finger puppets, crayons, bookmark, composition notebook, and create-your-own-story booklets.

Our adorable finger puppets come in several different unique characters and animals. They come to us with the heads stuffed. To ensure the cotton stuffing does not come out, we tie little "bowties" around the necks before packing and distributing them. We supply yarn for this project as well as instructions how to properly tie them off. 

This is the perfect project to complete at home or at a work bee with friends. 

Please email claire@powerbookbags.org to arrange to pick materials at our site in Traverse City. 

We could use your help as we label all of our books with a "This book belongs to_____________" sticker, inviting children to join the ranks of readers by taking ownership of their chosen books! This is a project that you can complete at our Suttons Bay site or take home to do on your own schedule and return in good time. This is also a great activity to do as a group. 

If you would like to come in to our site individually, or as a group, please email claire@powerbookbags.org to schedule a time. Generally volunteers spend up to two hours at our site stickering books. A handful of volunteers can get quite a few boxes done in that time.  

Our volunteers enjoy coming in with friends and meeting other interested community members. 

Thanks!

PoWeR! Book Bags distributes literacy materials to children and families throughout Northwest Michigan in hand-sewn bags. One of the items included in our bag for children ages 3 and up are the create-your-own-story booklets. 

These booklets are hand-assembled by taking four pieces of copy paper with a sheet of color paper as the cover, folding the stack in half and stapling it down the middle. 

This is a project that can easily be done from home or can make for a great work bee activity. 

If you are interested in helping us make these, please email claire@powerbookbags.org.

Thank you!

Our Tuesday Toolmen are a small group of volunteers that work to help keep seniors safe in their homes. The Tuesday Toolmen focus on home safety repairs for our low-income neighbors. These repairs may include installing smoke detectors, building ramps, working on minor plumbing, installing grab bars and handrails, and more.

We are looking for volunteers who can give time on Tuesdays within any of our 9 counties including Antrim, Benzie, Charlevoix, Emmet, Grand Traverse, Kalkaska, Leelanau, Missaukee, or Wexford. You will not be out there alone! You will be teamed with our existing Toolmen to get these jobs done for our local seniors. We are flexible with timing!

We do require a background check. 

We are seeking additional volunteers to help out in our clothing/donation department at The Father Fred Foundation on Wednesday evenings! This opportunity accommodates individuals whose daytime schedules limit their ability to volunteer on a regular basis. The tasks are straightforward, the dress code is casual, and the Wednesday night team is super fun! The position entails a variety of service activities including: receiving incoming donations, sorting donations, tagging clothing, hanging clothing, and assisting guests in our clothing center. It allows volunteers to handle and organize the valuable items donated to Father Fred with intention and care, while still getting to directly support our guests and their individual needs. The two available shifts are 2pm-7pm and/or 5pm-7pm. Thank you in advance to anyone who is able to support our Wednesday evening guest needs!

Blind client needs a ride from Williamsburg to Traverse City, to get to and from work. Address specifics will be given after signing up.

As we are opening a new children's/veteran's dental clinic, we are in need of tooth fairy pillows for the children that come into the clinic. Can you sew? Whatever size is good, whatever pattern you have used previously is good too! Do you need a pattern? Check out: https://www.colorthemoon.com/post/tooth-fairy-pillows

or: https://blog.treasurie.com/tooth-fairy-pillow-pattern/

or: https://www.cuteasafox.com/2013/08/tooth-fairy-monster-pillows.html

When you are done, you can drop them at our current office, 4075 Copper Ridge Drive, Traverse City Michigan.

 We currently are in need of girl-themed or gender-neutral pillows the most. 

Through our Youth Advisory Councils (YACs), local high school students have the opportunity to be community leaders and decision-makers about issues impacting local youth.  Our YACs are made up of young people from each of the five counties we serve—Antrim, Benzie, Grand Traverse, Kalkaska, and Leelanau. 

Together, YAC students act as advisors to our Youth Endowment. They annually review grant applications and recommend grant awards, giving money to youth programs and services that make a difference across the region. To guide their grant decisions, YACs use our Youth Needs Assessment, which is updated every three years with data from local youth.

The program is open to high school students (home school, private and public school students) in Antrim, Benzie, Grand Traverse, Kalkaska and Leelanau Counties. Interested students can complete a New Member Interest Form on our website here: Youth Advisory Council Program : Grand Traverse Regional Community Foundation (gtrcf.org)

Do you want to make a difference in the lives of children and families in our region? We are looking for therapists who want to join our new program, called Therapy Corps, to provide free mental health services to pediatric populations in our area who could otherwise not afford this critical service. Therapy Corps, which is part of the Northwest CHIR’s Behavioral Health Initiative, is partnering with United Way of Northwest Michigan to connect trained therapists with underserved children, youth and families in need of pediatric behavioral health services.

Your Qualifications:

The Kingsley Folk School, a local nonprofit dedicated to teaching traditional crafts and skills, is looking for tech-savvy marketing volunteers to help us spread our message.  Are you knowledgeable about social media or marketing?  We could use your help to build our community and give back right here in Northern Michigan. No professional marketing experience required, just a knowledge of communicating on social media, and willingness to post on a regular basis in alignment with our goals. Photos and/or video can be provided.  We will meet occasionally to collaborate and brainstorm as a team. We look forward to hearing from you!  

Lead girls in a safe, supportive meeting atmosphere. Troop Leader/Co plan meetings based on girls interest and will support girls through the Girl Scout Leadership Experience to earn badges, the Product Sales Program and Council leader events and activities. Troop Leader/Co to hold and execute meetings, events, and activities, in addition to manage money and provide up to date opportunities to girls within the program. Criminal background checks must be completed for all volunteers prior to participation in any activities with Girl Scouts.

Are you a middle schooler/high schooler in Northern Michigan who wants to join others in the effort to protect Northern Michigan youth's mental health?

Join us in the fight!

Fill out this form to let us know you are interested: https://forms.gle/5wbtV2Jm2gb8UbCu5

We are seeking mentors statewide to help returning citizens acclimate back to society, move their lives in a positive direction, and become success stories. Every person who does not reoffend and return to prison is a benefit to everyone. If you have a big heart, a good head on your shoulders and a genuine desire to help some through a very difficult period of their life, we would love to talk with you. 

Keeping our Great Lakes beaches clean starts with you! Adopt-a-Beach cleanups are a fun, free, easy way to give back to your community and keep plastic pollution out of our Great Lakes. It’s easy to jump right into the Adopt-a-Beach community. Join a cleanup today!  

The Alliance for the Great Lakes is a nonpartisan nonprofit working across the Great Lakes region to protect our most precious resource: the fresh, clean, and natural waters of the Great Lakes. We are active in advocacy, volunteering, education, and research.  

Each year, through the Adopt-a-Beach program, thousands of volunteers work to keep the Great Lakes shorelines healthy by removing litter from our beaches and collecting important data. 

Join the Adopt-a-Beach movement today! You can take part in two ways: 

Find an Adopt-a-Beach cleanup near you and sign up. A Team Leader will meet you at the beach with all the supplies! 

You can also become a Team Leader and host your own cleanup with friends, family, or community members. This is a great opportunity to keep your community beautiful and engage those around you. We have lots of resources to help you organize a successful cleanup! 

We have 2 Virtual Team Leader Trainings coming up that you can register for below: 

June 26, 2024 12pm-1pm CDT 

July 17, 2024 6pm-7pm CDT 

We hope to see you on the beach this season! 

The Alliance for the Great Lakes is a nonpartisan nonprofit working across the Great Lakes region to protect our most precious resource: the fresh, clean, and natural waters of the Great Lakes. We are active in advocacy, volunteering, education, and research. One of the ways to advance our efforts is by becoming an Alliance Ambassador.  

Alliance Ambassadors 

We give Ambassadors training about the Great Lakes and how best to advocate to protect them. Virtual meetings are held throughout the year where Ambassadors can learn from experts about Great Lakes topics like plastic pollution, invasive species, and water infrastructure. We also help Ambassadors build skills like public speaking and tabling. 

As an Ambassador, you will have many opportunities to take action for the lakes: 

Give presentations to community, youth, and business groups about the Great Lakes and the threats they face 

Table at community events to raise awareness about the Great Lakes and the Alliance 

Share information and spread awareness on social media 

And more! 

The Alliance is here to support you every step of the way. We provide all needed supplies and event preparation and reimburse for event costs, such as parking. If this program is of interest to you, let us know, and we can set up an introductory call, so that we can tell you a bit more about the program. 

We are in need of volunteers to help with our food pantry and thrift store. We have flexibility in when you can come and what you can do. 

We are in need of volunteer help on Wednesdays for our Wednesday Workdays. 

Generations Ahead works with Pregnant Teens and young families in the Region. We provide a multitude of services, one of those including a baby pantry with items free of charge for our families. Our baby pantry has a wide variety of items from diapers/wipes, to clothes/shoes, and maternity/postpartum goods. 

We are always in need of volunteers to help us sort through new donations to organize them appropriately in our space. If you have the time to sort and hang, we would love to have you volunteer.

Join us for a walk with one of our Kidney Companions who either needs a kidney transplant, or recently received a kidney transplant. We will have an existing, vetted adult volunteer with you as well. This will be great for a small group of 2-3 people!

The walk is intended to build a healthy habit and to socialize. 

Safe Harbor is open every day to offer a safe place for those in our community experiencing homelessness. 

We are looking for volunteers for 8 am -12 pm every day to report directly to a Goodwill Staffer, so no training is required. Masks are required and social distancing is practiced. Think about buddying up with a friend and donating your time once a week? There is the opportunity to sign up on a waitlist as well for days that are full.

Here is the link for more information: gtsafeharbor.org

Click https://www.goodwillnmi.org/volunteer

Father Fred is looking for volunteers- over 180 volunteers are used each week to help run their operations. Do you have time that you are willing to give? 

What will volunteers at Father Fred be doing? They keep the donations sorted and organized, assist shoppers in their pantry and with clothing and household goods, aid with financial assistance, and make sure that needs are met each and every day they’re open to the public.

"By giving your time and talents to The Foundation, you ensure a future that is bright for those who need a helping hand. Your gift of time changes lives.

We can find a special volunteer opportunity for you to serve our community."
Contact Volunteer Manager, Allison at adean@fatherfred.org, or 231.221.4003.

We’re all pulling together to achieve our common mission - protecting and stewarding the regions natural, scenic and iconic farmlands for all future generations and all of our projects require a tremendous amount of behind the scenes work right here in our offices on N Long Lake Rd. The integrity of the conservancy is paramount to our success in protecting land, and excellence in relationship management, data entry, database management and other office administration tasks is key.

RESPONSIBILITIES/DUTIES:

The duties of our office administration volunteers vary by the needs of the conservancy, and your strengths as a volunteer. Tasks include, but are not limited to:

LOCATION

All office administration tasks occur at our main office at 3860 N Long Lake Rd, Suite D. A small number of projects may be able to be completed remotely.

QUALIFICATIONS

As our office tasks vary widely, there are no required skills or qualifications, though the following will help with many of our tasks:

TIME COMMITMENT

We believe that any time you choose to contribute to our mission through office work is invaluable, and you may volunteer as much as your schedule allows. That said, regularly scheduled, weekly time slots work best for scheduling the office resources you’ll need to be successful including a desk, phone and computer. We will work with you on scheduling this time.

TRAINING

All office volunteers will receive an overview of the conservancy, and training specific to the projects they take on. You will be paired with an experienced staff member to provide oversight, training and assistance throughout your volunteering!

If you’re excited to learn about and help us in the office, sign up to be a volunteer today!

Help the cook with the food preparation for the Community Meal.

Open cans, chop veggies, stir pots, etc.

Mondays and Wednesdays only.

Serve the meal on Monday and/or Wednesday to guests who come into our building.

Have to wear an apron, ball cap or hairnet and gloves.  (Hairnets and gloves and aprons provided.)

Rinse, put dishes through the dishwasher and put them away after the Community Meal on Mondays and/or Wednesdays.

Description:

The responsibility of the Patient Escort Service is to transport via wheelchair In-Patient discharges from their rooms to the hospital entrance for the “staff” greeters to assist the patient into their vehicles.

Responsibilities:

Safely transport patients

Training:

On the job training with the Patient Escort trainer:

 *Annual Flu and Covid-19 vaccination required

BARC's Kaleva location is introducing our Resale Shop! 

The Resale Shop will be open from 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM Monday - Friday and 10 AM - 5:00 PM on Saturdays. 

Your help is so valuable to us! 

As a non profit 501(c)(3) organization, all of our profits are donated to local charities. 

Whether it's sorting, pricing or working our cash register, volunteers are vital to help our shop succeed! 

Volunteering at BARC's Resale Shop will include but are not limited to the following tasks:

Tasks Include: 

-Donating items to benefit the NMC Food Pantry

Drop off at the Dennos Museum for the public or the Student Life Office for faculty, staff and students.

Examples of items include;

“Every person, every time” is the mission that guides Hospice of Michigan in the service of our patients and their families. Volunteers play an integral role in helping us complete that mission. We are currently seeking companionship volunteers with weekday availability to visit hospice patients in the Northern Michigan service area. Visits occur where the patient lives, whether it be at home, or in a nursing or assisted living facility. As a companionship volunteer, there is no hands-on physical care; rather, you spend time visiting, reminiscing, reading, watching movies, playing music or games, or simply being a presence for someone in need.

To get started, please submit an online application. An interview and additional documentation (TB test, background check, and fingerprinting) will follow. Volunteers then complete an orientation and have opportunities for continued education and networking with other volunteers.

Please consider our “One Year” guidelines: Volunteers are asked to make a one year commitment to the program, and if you have recently lost a loved one, please take one year for yourself to heal before giving your time as a volunteer.

Munson Manor helps people coping with the crisis of a seriously ill or injured loved one in the hospital. Located next to Munson Medical Center at 1220 Medical Campus Dr., Munson Manor accommodates up to 30 guest families in a beautifully renovated turn-of-the-century cottage. As a non-profit organization, Munson Manor relies on community volunteers to meet the many needs of the families who stay here. One way you can volunteer at Munson Manor is through our Family Meal Program.

The Family Dinner Program relies on volunteers to help supply dinners for 20-25 people from Sunday-Thursday. Individuals and groups are asked to make a comforting meal for people who are currently away from home, family, and friends during a stressful time in their lives. 

Munson Manor has a well stocked kitchen available, so if you can cook, you are invited to share your culinary talents. You would need to bring all the food that you intend to cook, but can rely on the Manor to have the kitchen tools, plates, etc and spices to help make your meal a crowd-pleaser. Recommended menus include soups, salads, stews, pasta dishes like lasagna or spaghetti and meatballs, casseroles, etc. 

Click this link to sign up HERE. The link will take you to a page where you can click to sign up for a specific day.

Bay Area Recycling for Charities (BARC) needs some strong volunteers looking to make a difference! 

As part of our DE/RE Construction program, volunteers will work together to take apart homes otherwise set for demolition and salvages the materials to create affordable tiny homes. Our DE/RE program reduces landfill construction waste while combating our housing crisis, and we need your help! 

As a non profit 501(c)(3) organization, all of our profits are donated to local charities. 

Assisting BARC with DE/RE construction processes can include but is not limited to: 

Volunteers are recommended to bring PPE equipment for their own safety, however BARC will provide PPE if a volunteer does not have any. 

Volunteers should be able to continuously lift objects. 

BARC diverts construction material from the landfill though our DE/RE Construction program. We currently have an abundance of lumber that we need help prepping and organizing for use in new projects. 

We are looking for volunteers that can assist our teams in prepping, moving, and sorting, lumber and construction materials reclaimed from this summer's projects. We're meeting at 466 every Friday before the snow comes. 

Volunteers will earn $20 BARC Bucks for each 3 hour shift! BARC Bucks can be traded for building materials, Kaleva Thrift Store items, or at the drop off door for your hard-to-recycle items like old TVs and mattresses!

Pizza and refreshments provided!

Call Calli Crow at BARC for more info at 231-632-2272

Share your leadership and communication skills by serving on the Board of Directors for Conflict Resolution Services. No mediation experience required. Bring your ideas and interests to the table to strengthen our organization.

Getting your first place after experiencing homelessness, couch surfing, living in a shelter or your car is exciting...but expensive. That’s why we’re proud to launch “Welcome Home Baskets”. They’re the essential items needed to begin a new life in a new home. We have families and individuals moving into permanent, supportive housing across the region; some of them will have a safe place to lay their head for the first time! With your help, these families can focus on what’s most important: meals on the table, shoes on their feet, and transportation to get to work.

Shopping List Ideas: 

Do not feel limited by this list! 

Since we are working remote, please schedule pickup and/or drop off with Jessica (jessica@unitedwaynwmi.org) 

Learn more: https://www.unitedwaynwmi.org/welcome-home-baskets