AUGUST 3 • 2023 | 37

T

here are so many vol-
unteer opportunities in 
August. Below you’ll find 
a variety of ways to give back 
in the sunshine as we roll into 
the last weeks of 
summer. More of 
an indoor person? 
There are plenty 
of options for you, 
too.
On the eve-
ning of Aug. 10, 
join NEXTGen 
Detroit, The 
Well and Adamah Detroit for 
Canoeing and Clean Up on the 
Huron River. The evening will 
start with a park-friendly dinner 
and insights into the importance 
of environmental preservation 
from Adamah. A pro from 
Heavner Canoe and Kayak 
Rentals will take the group on 
an hour-long guided paddle to 
clean up any trash found along 
the way. Dress to canoe with the 
possibility that you might get a lit-
tle wet. To sign up, visit jlive.app/

events/4965.
JARC’s Carnival, hosted by 
the Ellen Labes Festival Series, 
takes place Sunday, Aug. 20, from 
noon-4 p.m. at Adat Shalom 
Synagogue. There will be games, 
rides, music and food for all. This 
fun-filled event was consciously 
created to ensure that individuals 
with developmental disabilities 
are comfortable at an event that 
would normally be overcrowded 
and overstimulating. Quiet, sen-
sory-friendly spaces will be avail-
able. Volunteers are needed to do 
a two-hour shift or the full four 
hours. Contact Jessica Tierney at 
jessicatierney@jarc.org to learn 
more.
GiGi’s Playhouse Detroit is 
always looking for volunteers 
to help individuals with Down 
syndrome of all ages gain access 
to more opportunities and quality 
of life through free therapeutic 
and educational programs and 
advocacy. Volunteers can assist 
with groups, 1:1 math and literacy 
tutoring, special events, admin-

istrative tasks and more. To sign 
up to help, contact site manager 
Bethany Wells at bwells@ 
gigisplayhouse.org.
Jewish Family Service, in part-
nership with Jewish Hospice and 
Chaplaincy Network, is seeking 
volunteers to provide comfort and 
companionship to chronically and 
terminally ill individuals and their 
families. No experience is neces-
sary as training will be provided 
prior to matching. The volunteer 
commitment is once a week for 
one hour. If you are interested in 
learning more about this oppor-
tunity, contact Jewish Family 
Service’s volunteer coordinator 
Alyah Al-Azem at alyah@ 
jfsdetroit.org or (313) 662-5687.
Join Gesher for Mat Making 
Mondays to have fun and social-
ize while repurposing plastic bags 
for a great cause. Volunteers will 
make plastic yarn (“plarn”) and 
crochet mats to give to unhoused 
people who need clean, warm, 
durable, portable, waterproof 
mats to sleep on. All materials 
will be provided. This activity 
takes place every other Monday 
from 1-2:30 p.m. at Gesher 
Human Services (formerly JVS) 
on Southfield Road. To join in, 
contact Joann at (248) 233-4247 
or JDrasnin@GesherMI.org.

Jewish Senior Life is looking 
for an experienced choir director 
(or someone with equivalent 
experience) for both Fleischman 
Residence and Meer Apartments. 
The choir director will select 
music for the choir, teach them 
the music, select songs for a con-
cert and direct it. If this weekly 
opportunity is perfect for you, 
call Beth at (248) 592-5062 or 
email brobinson@jslmi.org.
Friendship Circle is gear-
ing up for its 18th annual 
Walk4Friendship on Aug. 27. 
There is a need for 150 volunteers 
to assist on the day of the walk. 
Volunteers will be working reg-
istration, handing out T-shirts, 
handing out food, monitoring 
entertainment and activities, and 
more. For those who are plan-
ning on walking at the event and 
would still like volunteer, you can 
split the day and do both. There 
will be a volunteer meeting on 
Aug. 9 at 6 p.m. at the Farber 
Center. For more information, 
contact Mendel at (248) 489-6376 
or mendel@friendshipcircle.org.
Judson Center, a human ser-
vice agency serving the Detroit 
metro area since 1924, is seeking 
volunteers for its annual golf chal-
lenge at Shepherd’s Hollow Golf 
Club in Clarkston on Aug. 28. 
Volunteers will report from 7 a.m. 
until 3:30 p.m. Volunteer oppor-
tunities include raffle sales, watch-
ing hole in one, registering guests, 
putting contest, etc. You do not 
need to be a golfer to join in this 
fun event, which raises critical 
funds for foster care, behavioral 
health, autism services and adults 
with disabilities. Volunteers 
will be provided meals, as well. 
Contact community engagement 
manager Peggy Kerr to sign up at 
(248) 837-2019 or peggy_kerr@
Judsoncenter.org. 

If your organization is looking for 
volunteers, email Samantha Foon 
at samanthafoon14@gmail.com for 
possible inclusion in an upcoming 
column.

Lend a Hand 
in August

OUR COMMUNITY

Multiple organizations are looking 
for volunteers this month.

Samantha 
Foon
Contributing 
Writer

Helene Weissberg of Southfield 
crochets a mat at Gesher Human 
Services.

Join NEXTGen 
Detroit, The Well and 
Adamah Detroit for 
Canoeing and Clean 
Up on the Huron 
River Aug. 10.

