28 | JUNE 13 • 2024 
J
N

S

ummertime in Michigan 
is the most magical time 
of the year. Spending 
time on the lake, BBQs with 
family and friends, school’s out 
and camp is in session — what 
could be better? 
I bet you can 
guess what I may 
recommend … 
volunteering! 
 This month, 
you can sign up 
to run or help at 
a charity walk or 
spend some time 
beautifying our community. 
No matter what you choose, I 
promise it will only make your 
summer more magical.
Signups are live for the fifth 
annual Run United Virtual 
Marathon supporting United 
Way for Southeastern Michigan. 
Starting Aug. 12-Sept. 13, Run 
United Virtual Marathon par-
ticipants will log 26.2 miles 
(or more!) however they wish 
— walking, running or roll-
ing. This event is open to all 
ages and abilities. Throughout 
the month, participants will 
complete different challenges 
and activities, and fundraise 
together to support students 
in Southeastern Michigan as 
they return to school this fall. 
Complete your miles however 
you’
d like — all in one day or 
one mile at a time; running 
or walking; in your neighbor-
hood or on a treadmill; solo or 
with your dog, kids or spouse. 
Whatever fits your schedule 
and preference. Earn points by 
fundraising, posting photos, 
logging miles, volunteering and 
inviting your friends and family 
to join. Every point gets you 
closer to some great prizes. To 
sign up, visit p2p.onecause.com/
rununited24. 
Looking to volunteer at 

Temple Israel’s Garden of 
Mitzvot? Join drop-in garden 
hours every Sunday from 9 
a.m.-noon. This opportunity is 
led by Stevie DuFrense of Flora 
& Fido LLC. Sign up at www.
temple-israel.org/event/ 
gardensundays.
JDRF is the leading global 
organization harnessing the 
power of research, advocacy 
and community engagement to 
advance life-changing break-
throughs for type 1 diabetes 
(T1D). Volunteer at a JDRF One 
Walk and join the movement 
to transform life with T1D. 
Opportunities include helping 
with check-in/registration to 
cheering walkers along the 
route. If you’
d like to sign up 

to help for any of its upcoming 
walks, do so here: www.jdrf.org/
community/volunteer.
Join Dan Badgley, retired 
nature center manager, at 
the Johnson Nature Center 
in Bloomfield Hills to do a 
variety of outdoor projects. 
Opportunities include inva-
sive species removal, native 
planting, garden bed and trail 
maintenance, and sugar bush 
restoration. Volunteers can lead 
nature walks and hikes to edu-
cate the public as well. Regular 
volunteer hours are Monday 
mornings from 8-11 a.m. If 
you’
d like to volunteer, contact 
Ali Posner at alposner@ 
bloomfield.org.
Forgotten Harvest is looking 

for volunteers at its Oak Park 
Warehouse. Volunteers will help 
pack emergency food boxes, 
repack or sort fresh nutritious 
food that will be distributed 
through Wayne, Oakland 
and Macomb counties. This 
opportunity is from 9 a.m.-
noon or 1-4 p.m. To partici-
pate, Forgotten Harvests asks 
volunteers to wear long pants, 
close-toed shoes and leave their 
jewelry at home. Volunteers 
must be at least 10 years of age. 
Volunteers under the age of 18 
must be accompanied by a par-
ent or guardian. To find this and 
other opportunities at Forgotten 
Harvest, visit forgottenharvest.
galaxydigital.com/need/.
The Children’s Heart 
Foundation is the leading orga-
nization dedicated to funding 
congenital heart defect (CHD) 
research. The Congenital Heart 
Walk series is the nation’s larg-
est event series dedicated to 
funding congenital heart defect 
research. Volunteer oppor-
tunities are available for the 
2024 Detroit Congenital Heart 
Walk on Aug. 17 at Rochester 
Municipal Park. Responsibilities 
include event setup, registration, 
T-shirt distribution, kid zone/
activities, refreshment attendant, 
cleanup/breakdown. Learn 
more and sign up here: secure.
qgiv.com/event/detroitwalk/
page/1484041. 

 

If your organization is looking for 

volunteers, email Samantha Foon at 

samanthafoon14@gmail.com for possible 

inclusion in an upcoming column.

Take the time to volunteer in the community.
Make Summer Magical

Samantha 
Foon
Contributing 
Writer

OUR COMMUNITY

Johnson 
Nature 
Center

