OUR COMMUNITY
I
recently had the opportunity to volunteer
with 826 Michigan in a kindergarten class-
room at University Preparatory Academy
— Mark Murray Campus in Detroit. A
friend spoke highly of this organization, and
when I reached out to learn more for this
column, I was invited to join them to help
facilitate their “Word Collectors” curriculum.
Our group leader, Denise, read The Word
Collector by Peter H. Reynolds to a classroom
full of eager learners, and together we and
the students “collected” words they enjoyed
in a list on the dry erase board. We then
broke out into small groups and helped the
students write and illustrate their own books
of favorite words. I share my experience in
hopes that you, too, will try volunteering
somewhere new this month. There are many
exciting options below.
826 Michigan offers many volunteer
opportunities helping students in southeast
Michigan write better futures, one story at a
time. Over the course of the year, volunteers
can help students become published authors
with after school tutoring and writing club,
facilitate learning in group projects in class-
rooms and support students as they write
college admission essays. To learn more,
visit www.826michigan.org/volunteer/#op-
portunities.
JARC’s annual Flower-A-Thon is returning,
and volunteers are needed to plant flowers to
beautify JARC homes. Create a team (mini-
mum of four people) with your friends, fami-
ly or co-workers to participate in the planting
on Sunday, May 21, from 10 a.m.-noon. Can’t
help on May 21? Your team can schedule
your planting for another day. To sign up or
for more information, contact Jessica Tierney
at jessicatierney@jarc.org or (248) 940-2607.
The Village of Franklin Community
Association is an all-volunteer-run organi-
zation looking for support to enhance the
quality of life for Franklin residents and local
businesses. Franklin residents can join com-
mittees that include marketing/communica-
tion, events, membership and groundskeep-
ing. Both residents and non-residents can
help put on the Labor Day Round Up, which
includes a fabulous art fair, silent auction and
day-of-event help. With interest or questions,
email FCA.Michigan@gmail.com.
Friendship Circle is looking for volunteers
to support its Lessons for Life Program.
Lessons for Life gives elementary, middle
and high school students with special needs
the opportunity to practice life skills at
Friendship Circle. The program is held at
Friendship Circle in the Weinberg Village in
a realistic village setting that includes a bank,
cafe, library, theater, pet shop and much
more. Volunteers bring the program to life by
working as shop owners, librarians, baristas,
doctors, dentists, bank tellers, police officers
and street vendors. As a volunteer, you will
help students practice and learn essential
life skills, including money management,
time management, communication, safety
and problem-solving. The typical volun-
teer schedule is 9:30 a.m.-noon, Monday
through Friday. Volunteers can sign up for a
weekly slot or when available. To learn more,
contact Shayna at (248) 788-7878, ext. 207.
Operation Gratitude provides opportuni-
ties for the American people to express their
gratitude and show our military and first
responders that what they do matters. With
the help of a nationwide network of volun-
teers, they have sent a total of 3.5 million care
packages containing carefully chosen items
meant to boost the morale and resilience of
our service members and give them warm
reminders of home. An easy and meaningful
way to say “thank you” to those who serve is
by writing a handwritten letter that will be
included in a care package sent to military
and first responders. Additionally, every care
package includes a Beanie Baby or other
small plush toy. You can donate new or gently
used Beanie Babies, Webkinz, Burt’s Bears
or similar stuffed animals to help make a
service member’s day. For further instruction,
visit www.operationgratitude.com/volunteer/
anywhere.
The Friends of Pasteur School Detroit is a
nonprofit organization established in 1997 to
support the children of Pasteur Elementary
School with programs, books, field trips,
tutoring, food and scholarships for post-high
school education. They are looking for vol-
unteers to tutor students K-6 in their newly
refurbished library on a weekly or annual
basis. To learn more, visit www.friendsofpas-
teur.org.
If your organization is looking for volunteers, email
Samantha Foon at samanthafoon14@gmail.com for
possible inclusion in an upcoming column.
Do a mitzvah in May.
Calling All
Volunteers
SAMANTHA FOON CONTRIBUTING WRITER
34 | MAY 4 • 2023
Friendship Circle’s Weinberg Village
Volunteers from JARC’s Teen Action Council at last year’s Flower A
Thon: Sophia Bernzweig, Allie Applebaum and Cameron Spagna.