30 | APRIL 11 • 2024 
J
N

I

n my research for this monthly 
column, I come across all sorts 
of interesting organizations and 
opportunities. This month, I’ve come 
across something I cannot wait to sign 
up for. 
The Polk Penguin 
Conservation Center 
at the Detroit Zoo is 
the largest and most 
extraordinary center for 
penguins in the world. 
The facility features a 
326,000-gallon, 25-foot-
deep aquatic area where 
visitors can watch as more than 75 
penguins of five species explore 
their habitat and deep-dive. Two 
acrylic underwater tunnels provide 
breathtaking views of the birds as they 
swim above and around — and even 
below. Volunteers called “Penguin 
People” assist Guest Relations staff 
while enjoying quality time with the 
inhabitants. After a two-hour online 
training module and one-hour online 
live Q&A session with the curator of 
birds, adult volunteers can sign up for 
flexible, year-round shifts ranging from 

2.5-3 hours each. How amazing!
Does your teen love animals? 
The Zoo Corps program provides 
teens opportunities for personal and 
professional development as they 
become leaders and environmental 
stewards in their communities. This 
program is offered both year-round 
and summer only. To find out more 
about volunteering at the Detroit Zoo, 
visit detroitzoo.org/support/volunteer.
Volunteers are an essential part of 
Cranbrook House & Gardens and do 
everything from gardening and leading 
tours to event planning and fundraising. 
An overview of volunteer opportunities 
can be viewed here: housegardens.
cranbrook.edu/support/volunteer. 
The Furniture Bank of Southeastern 
Michigan has a long legacy of 
committed volunteers. There are a 
variety of ways you can help and you 
don’t even have to move furniture! 
Office volunteers help the furniture 
bank schedule pickup appointments 
that allow the organization to provide 
children and families in need with 
essential, gently used furniture. Shifts 
are typically 9 a.m.-noon and 1-4 p.m. 

Monday-Thursday or 9 a.m.-noon on 
Friday. To apply, visit furniture-bank.
org/volunteer.
Jewish Federation’s Global Volunteer 
Hub has launched a new virtual 
volunteering initiative, in partnership 
with ENGin, that matches English-
speaking volunteers with Ukrainians 
seeking to sharpen their English skills 
for one-on-one weekly conversation 
practice and cultural exchange. If this 
is something you’d like to do, visit app.
enginprogram.org/%23/jfna.
 The 11th annual Big House 5K is 
coming up this month. This event is an 
exciting run/walk that courses through 
the University of Michigan campus 
before participants finish the race on 
the 50-yard line of Michigan Stadium. 
Over 200 volunteers are needed to assist 
with packet pickup, T-shirt distribution 
and handing out race bibs. If you’d 
like to volunteer between April 18-21, 
visit runsignup.com/Race/Volunteer/
MI/AnnArbor/BigHouse5K. 

If your organization is looking for volunteers, please 

email Samantha Foon at samanthafoon14@gmail.

com for possible inclusion in an upcoming column.

POLK PENGUIN CONSERVATION CENTER

Volunteer opportunities are available at the Detroit 
Zoo, among other worthy organizations.

Samantha 
Foon
Contributing 
Writer

OUR COMMUNITY

Are You a Penguin Person?

