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.

