22 | SEPTEMBER 7 • 2023
F
all is in the air! As you
set your intentions for
the new year, please
consider making a commitment
to focus on our community
more than you may have before.
So many people can benefit
from a helping hand, a kind
word or a fresh start. You can
be just that to countless local
individuals and groups.
The Asthma & Allergy
Foundation of America –
Michigan Chapter is seeking
dedicated volunteers to serve
on their board of directors.
The mission of AAFA-MI
is to improve the quality of
life for all those affected by
asthma and allergic diseases
through education, training and
advocacy. This is the state’s only
asthma and allergy nonprofit
dedicated to these issues. This is
a small but mighty organization
that relies on volunteers to help
support, fundraise, and manage
operational and programming
activities. AAFA-MI Board
members typically spend less
than 10 hours a month in
volunteer hours to support
the organization. There are
no monetary requirements;
however, members do make
periodic, optional donations. To
find out more, contact Kathleen
Slonager at (248) 406-4254 or
aafamich@sbcglobal.net.
The Miles Jeffrey Roberts
Foundation empowers the
youth athletic community
by promoting mental well-
being and suicide prevention.
As a charity partner for the
upcoming Ann Arbor Probility
Race on Oct. 1, the MJRF
will need volunteers to help
with the water stations, as
well as be positioned along
the race to offer support
and encouragement to
participants. To sign up, visit
https://runsignup.com/Race/
Volunteer/MI/AnnArbor/
TheAnnArborMarathon. To
learn more about the MJRF,
visit https://mjrfoundation.org.
Join The Cleanup Club,
Walking Lightly and Sitara
Bird for a community cleanup
and meditation in Ferndale
on Sept. 17 from 9:45-11:45
a.m. Volunteers will clean
up the surrounding Ferndale
neighborhood and then
head to the nearby park for a
meditation guided by Sitara
Bird. Coffee will kindly be
provided by Dessert Oasis
Coffee Roasters, so bring a
coffee cup along for a pour!
Visit www.thecleanupclub.
org/events/ferndale-
cleanup-9-17-23 to sign up.
Point of Pride helps trans
folks across the country feel
seen and supported through
access to life-saving health
and wellness services. Their
letter-writing program allows
volunteers to write handwritten
notes of affirmation for trans
youth and adults to be included
with the donations of chest
binders and femme shapewear
given to those who need it.
Point of Pride shares these
tips on what to write: share a
positive experience from your
own past, speak from the heart
and let the recipient know they
are valid and valued. To learn
more, visit www.pointofpride.
org/letter-writing.
The American Lung
Association in Michigan’s
LUNG FORCE Walk takes
place at the Detroit Zoo on
Oct. 1. The LUNG FORCE
Walk provides critical funds
for lifesaving research, early
detection initiatives and aware-
ness outreach to vulnerable
communities. It takes dozens
of hardworking and energetic
volunteers to make every step
count. Volunteers can register
as individuals, join an existing
team or register as a group
by forming a team. Student
and other youth volunteers
are also welcome to volunteer
with an adult. To sign up as a
LUNG FORCE Walk volunteer,
visit LungForceDetroit.org.
Detroit Rescue Mission
Ministries holds a prominent
position as one of the nation’s
largest providers in the battle
against homelessness and sub-
stance abuse. The organization
diligently fulfills its mission
by offering hope and support
to homeless men, women and
children within the community.
It is the service of the many
dedicated, caring volunteers
who donate their time assisting
and supporting the programs
of DRMM that allows them to
give hope and make a differ-
ence. The organization has a
need for skilled trade volun-
teers in the areas of painting,
landscaping and maintenance.
Contact Alecia Rolland, volun-
teer coordinator, at (313) 993-
4700 or arolland@drmm.org for
more information.
First Step is a nonprofit
agency providing compre-
hensive services for victims of
domestic and sexual violence in
Wayne County. Currently, First
Step is looking for volunteers
available during business hours
for donation sorting, child
nurturing and gardening. They
take group volunteers, as well,
with projects being determined
by the group’s interests and
organization’s needs. To sign
up, visit www.firststep-mi.org/
getinvolved.
If your organization is looking for
volunteers, email Samantha Foon at
samanthafoon14@gmail.com for
possible inclusion in an upcoming
column.
OUR COMMUNITY
Do a Good
Deed This
Month
September offers plenty of
opportunities to do a mitzvah.
SAMANTHA FOON CONTRIBUTING WRITER
Last year’s LUNG
FORCE Walk