22 | MARCH 14 • 2024 
J
N

A 

pessimist, they say, 
sees a glass as being 
half empty; an optimist 
sees the same glass as half full. 
But a giving person sees a glass 
of water and starts looking for 
someone who might be thirsty.
” 
— G. Donald Gale
This month, I urge you to 
take that advice and find a way 
to help others in our commu-
nity. 
Care House of Oakland 
County is looking for vol-
unteers to provide meals to 
their evening programs such 
as Family Support Group 
on Tuesdays and Nurturing 
Parenting Program on 
Thursdays. Groups include 
25-30 participants of all ages. 
CARE House has a full-ser-
vice kitchen on site, which vol-
unteers are welcome to use. If 
cooking isn’t really your thing, 
you’re more than welcome to 
pick up food from the restau-
rant of your choosing. Either 
way, meals should be ready to 
serve by 5:15 p.m., with dinner 
typically running from 5:30-6 
p.m. To sign up, email Claire 
Bair at cbair@carehouse.org.
Arts & Scraps centers the 
Detroit community by provid-
ing reused materials and edu-
cational resources to promote 
sustainability and creativity in 
Detroit. The nonprofit orga-
nization prompts hands-on 

learning through arts and crafts 
projects using discarded and 
reusable materials then sells 
their unique products to fund 
and spread their mission. 
Both in-person and remote 
opportunities are available to 
pack kits, sort donations, help 
families complete projects 
and more. Signing up is easy 

at artsandscraps.org.
Bookstock is back at Laurel 
Park Place from April 7-14 and 
looking for volunteers to help 
sort and sell. As Michigan’s larg-
est used book sale, Bookstock 
offers more than 200,000 
donated, gently used books and 
media items for sale at bargain 
basement prices. The revenue 
from each year’s sale and dona-
tions go toward the Bookstock 

Fund, which is focused on 
enhancing literacy in Detroit 
and throughout Michigan. 
Volunteers can sign up for one 
or more shifts and earn credit 
for one of many aligned organi-
zations. To sign up, visit signup-
genius.com/go/bookstock2024.
Beaumont Health offers 
a wide variety of volun-

teer opportunities across 
Southeastern Michigan that 
can match your interests and 
skills. From working directly 
with patients to assisting with 
behind-the-scenes hospital 
operations, Beaumont has the 
perfect fit for you. Volunteers 
escort patients and families 
to various areas of the hospi-
tal, provide assistance to the 
Spiritual Care department, 

work in the gift shop and more. 
To find the right space for you, 
visit https://volunteer.beau-
mont.org/custom/1545/volun-
teer_home.
The Birmingham Village 
Players is a nonprofit com-
munity theater with upcom-
ing performances including 
The Cemetery Club and The 
Prom. The theater welcomes 
volunteers to be ushers, house 
management, bartenders 
(21+), 50/50 lead and work in 
the box office. All volunteers 
should arrive at least one hour 
prior to show time and check 
in with the house manager. 
For more details and position 
requirements, visit https://bir-
minghamvillageplayers.com/
volunteer.
Bring your family to pack 
Passover boxes at Yad Ezra on 
Sunday, April 7. Volunteers will 
organize items into categories 
such as matzah, canned goods, 
dried fruits, vegetables and 
other Passover essentials. Next, 
items will be boxed ensuring 
a balance of staple items for a 
complete Passover meal. Sign 
up at http://volunteer.yadezra.
org. 

 

If your organization is looking for 

volunteers, email Samantha Foon 

at samanthafoon14@gmail.com for 

possible inclusion in an upcoming 

column.

Opportunities abound for you to help others.
WANTED: Volunteers

SAMANTHA FOON CONTRIBUTING WRITER

OUR COMMUNITY

PHOTOS: FACEBOOK

