22 | JULY 11 • 2024
J
N
G
iving back is so good for the
soul. When you volunteer
in your community, you
are making a direct impact on
causes you care about, whether
it’s food insecurity,
animal welfare, saving
the environment or
something else entirely.
As a volunteer, you can
sign up for a one-time
event or find something
you enjoy on a regular
basis. The possibilities
are endless.
Since Youth Arts Alliance’s
founding in 2013, more than 10,000
young people, their families and
supportive community members
from across Michigan have engaged
in healing-centered, high-quality arts
programming. These opportunities
are made possible by master-level,
experienced teaching artists. YAA
intensively trains and supports teaching
artists to build curriculums in their
areas of artistic focus. YAA prioritizes
youth and families impacted by the
legal system, particularly those who
have limited access to arts experiences.
YAA has offered workshops in creative
writing, movement, theater, fiber
art, music, mosaic, photography,
illustration, comics, zines, printmaking,
horticulture, mural-making, expressive
arts and more.
Short-term volunteer opportunities
include setting up and/or tearing down
an event, putting together artist boxes,
etc. Long-term volunteer opportunities
include administrative help,
programming assistance, etc. Volunteers
must be at least 16 years old. Volunteers
under 18 must be accompanied by a
guardian. To learn more, visit www.
youthartsalliance.org/volunteer.
Relive your camp counselor days
at the Meer Center with Friendship
Circle’s Adult Day Camp. From July
29-Aug. 9, 20 adults with special needs
will be having a great time with trips,
fun games, activities and much more.
Volunteer roles for summer camp
include general support, running an
activity, supervising lunch or providing
companionship for an individual
participant. The camp runs from 10
a.m.-3 p.m. and there are options to
volunteer for a full or half-day. If you
would like to get involved, email Mendel
Shemtov at mendel@friendshipcircle.
org.
Harvest Heroes is a Forgotten
Harvest volunteer group created to
rescue food throughout Wayne, Oakland
and Macomb counties and deliver it to
designated food pantry partners. Each
volunteer uses his/her own vehicle and
gas mileage to complete the assigned
route of 4-5 food rescue locations
and 1-2 agency/food pantries within
a 10-mile radius. Typically, the route
is scheduled for once a week with an
approximate three-hour commitment.
Most routes start around 9 a.m. and
are usually completed by noon. Sign
up to be a Harvest Hero today by
emailing Dan Burbulla at dburbulla@
forgottenharvest.org.
Emagine Theater is hosting a
Hunger Free Summer Drive in
partnership with Kroger, iHeart Radio
and Gleaners Community Food Bank
to make sure children in our area
have a Hunger Free Summer. Emagine
Theater guests can make a financial
donation to Gleaners and get a
voucher for a small popcorn. Friendly
and outgoing volunteers are needed
to collect money (via QR code),
provide movie vouchers and thank
the donors. This position requires
that you can stand for several hours.
Volunteers must be at least 14 years
old and anyone under 18 must
volunteer with a responsible adult.
Saturday and Sunday shifts are from
noon-3 p.m. and 3-6 p.m. throughout
July and August at the Canton, Novi,
Rochester Hills and Royal Oak Emagine
Theaters. To sign up for a shift, email
Julie Ptasznik at jptasznik@gcfb.org.
As Oakland County’s only
comprehensive program for victims of
domestic violence and sexual assault,
HAVEN provides shelter, counseling,
advocacy and educational programming
to nearly 30,000 people each year.
HAVEN has a ¾-acre produce garden
onsite. It allows HAVEN to provide
survivors with healthy food and
programming around healthy eating and
living. On Saturdays from 8:30 a.m.-
noon, volunteers are needed to help get
the garden ready for the new season. To
sign up, email Kimberly at kliepshutz@
haven-oakland.org.
If your organization is looking for volunteers, email
Samantha Foon at samanthafoon14@gmail.com for
possible inclusion in an upcoming column.
Worthy organizations are looking for a helping hand.
Step Up This Summer
Samantha
Foon
Contributing
Writer
OUR COMMUNITY
Help HAVEN of
Oakland County get
their garden ready.