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

