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.

