Community Engagement Opportunities
The information on this page is being provided strictly as a courtesy to our students seeking community engagement opportunities. The following list of opportunities is not coordinated by the Office of Student Life: Civic Engagement. If any of these opportunities interest you please contact the community partner directly through the contact person listed.
The views and opinions represented by these organizations are not affiliated with Grand Valley State University. If you find that a position posted through this site is not as advertised, please notify the Office of Student Life: Civic Engagement at [email protected].
On-Campus Community Engagement Opportunities
Organization |
Description of Event |
Location |
Date & Time |
Link & More Information |
---|---|---|---|---|
Children's Enrichment Center |
Grand Valley State University student volunteers assist in daily activities while shadowing Lead and Assistant Teachers as they lead literacy-rich programs. Student volunteers will learn about Creative Curriculum and redirection methods (i.e., proactive and reactive redirection of preschool behavior). |
Allendale Campus |
Dates vary based on availability |
You can find more information here. Email Daphnea Sutherland for more information! |
Off-Campus Community Engagement Opportunities
Opportunities with Specific Dates & Times
Organization |
Description of Event |
Location |
Date & Time |
Link & More Information |
---|---|---|---|---|
Blandford Nature Center |
Eco-Stewardship Work Days focus on habitat restoration, trail maintenance, stream clean-up, and removal of invasive species. Education is a key aspect with instruction not only on removal, but also on identification of several native Michigan plant species and general ecology. |
Blandford Nature Center Walker, MI |
You can participate on the following Saturdays from 10:00a.m. to 12:00p.m: March 18, April 22, and May 6. |
Sign up here on the Signup Genius! Long pants and closed toe shoes are mandatory. Layers and hats are always encouraged. Bring a water bottle & work gloves. This opportunity is for adults 18+ only. |
Blandford Nature Center |
Farm Work Days give volunteers an opportunity to get involved at the Blandford Farm. These work days range from weeding and planting in the Children’s Garden to helping out in our CSA production field. |
Blandford Nature Center Walker, MI |
You can participate on the following Fridays from 8:00 to 10:00a.m: June 30, July 28, and August 25. |
Sign up here on the Signup Genius! Wear clothes and shoes that can get wet and dirty. Layers and hats are always encouraged. Bring a water bottle & work gloves. This opportunity is for adults 18+ only. |
Mel Trotter |
We are currently accepting donations of artwork and/or local experiences for our Art & Experience Auction! We would love to showcase your artwork or experience to our vast community of supporters. Your donation to the Silent Auction helps MTM sustain its Art Therapy program, which is crucial in helping guests overcoming trauma. In addition, we welcome you to attend the event on Thursday, March 23, 2023. |
Goei Center 818 Butterworth St. SW, Grand Rapids, MI 49504 |
Thursday, March 23, 2023 6:00 p.m. |
For further information, or to submit your artwork or experience, please contact Heather Osterink at 616-588-8753 or [email protected]. |
Ongoing Community Engagement Opportunities
Organization |
Description of Organization/Event |
Location |
Sign-up Links & More Information |
---|---|---|---|
20 Liters |
Volunteers are an integral part of the work of 20 Liters. When you give your time and talent, you're joining hundreds of volunteers in the United States and Rwanda to facilitate access to clean and safe water for those who lack it. |
Ottawa County |
Check out their volunteer opportunities here. |
Boys and Girls Club of the Muskegon Lakeshore |
Boys and Girls Club of Muskegon Lakeshore would not be successful without volunteers like you. BGCML partners with children, youth, and families in Muskegon County to offer programs to enable and inspire all youth, especially the ones who need us the most. |
Muskegon |
All volunteers must be 16 years of age or older, complete a volunteer application and a background check (if 18+ and working with children & youth), and complete the BGCML's volunteer orientation and training. Contact Monica Turnbull at 231-375-5576 or [email protected] |
Community Rebuilders |
Beautifully Home Volunteers: Help Community Rebuilders transform a house into a home. Volunteers with help with furniture and household goods pickup, delivery, and organization. |
Grand Rapids, MI |
Volunteers must be 18 years of age or older. Sign up by emailing [email protected] |
Community Rebuilders |
Volunteer for Green Thumbs & DIYers! Green Thumbs volunteers will mow lawns, landscape, rake leaves, and more! DIYers volunteers will paint, clean, help with small building projects, and more! |
Grand Rapids, MI |
For this family-friendly event, volunteers must be 14 years of age or older. Sign up by emailing [email protected] |
Disability Advocates of Kent County |
Volunteer with Disability Advocates of Kent County! |
Grand Rapids, MI |
If you are interested in a Volunteer or Internship opportunity, please fill out the form on their website located here. |
Grow Your Classroom |
Grow Your Classroom is a local nonprofit corporation looking for regular volunteers. Up to 4 hours a week available. Mainly plant maintenance (watering, potting, pruning; possibly pulling and prepping orders). Ideal for biology, education, sustainability, and business majors, or anyone who loves plants. |
Jenison, MI |
Contact [email protected] for more information. |
Hand2Hand |
In hopes of ending childhood hunger, help pack backpacks with food, so hungry children can also excel in school and in life. There are more opportunities to help as well! |
Ottawa County |
Check out their volunteer opportunities here. |
Heart of West MI United Way |
Volunteer in the community through a variety of different volunteer opportunities! |
Grand Rapids, MI |
Check out https://connect.hwmuw.org/ for opportunities. |
Hospice of Michigan |
Do you enjoy sewing/knitting/crocheting and want to make a difference? Hospice of Michigan is looking for volunteers to help make various projects for our patients to help increase their quality of life. These items can help a patient rest more comfortably in their bed, provide them with comfort, and give them a safe outlet to keep busy. This is an excellent way to use up spare fabric that you may have, while brightening a patients day! |
Muskegon |
Fill out the volunteer application to become a volunteer: https://www.hom.org/get-involved/ |
Kids Food Basket |
Join the Kids Food Basket and help out children in your community! |
Kids Food Basket Kent County, Ottawa/Allegan County, or Muskegon |
Check out https://kidsfoodbasket.org/volunteer/ for opportunities. |
Literacy Center of West Michigan |
1 in 8 West Michigan adults struggle with low literacy. So, we have an ongoing need for volunteer tutors to work one-on-one with adult learners. You don't need any special skills, just the ability to read and write and the willingness to teach others. |
Grand Rapids, MI |
Fill out the interest form if you'd like to volunteer: https://literacycenterwm.org/volunteer |
Love INC. |
When caring volunteers walk alongside their neighbors, healthy relationships grow. That's why volunteers are the heart of our ministry. You can help us with education classes, childcare, and picking up and/or moving furniture. |
Ottawa County |
Check out their opportunities here. |
Make-a-Wish Foundation of Michigan |
Together we can make wishes come true. Volunteers have the opportunity to grant wishes, be a translator/interpreter, help out in the office and with events, and help children with reading and writing. |
Brighton, MI |
If interested, email [email protected] to sign up! |
Outdoor Discovery Center |
The Outdoor Discovery Center wouldn't thrive without volunteers like you. Whether you want to come alone or with a group, we have several different opportunities for you. You can help maintain trails and buildings, give animal care assistance, restore habitats, clean up rivers, and more! |
Holland |
Check out their website to get involved: https://outdoordiscovery.org/volunteer/ |
The Salvation Army- Holland |
Giving a little bit of your time can change someone's life. If you're looking to make a difference in your community, and in your world, volunteering is one of the most powerful ways to do it. Fill food orders at our pantry, organize school supplies and backpacks, give the supplies and backpacks to children in need, load up a family in need with Christmas gifts or ring a bell during the Holiday Season. These are just a few of the amazing opportunities we have here at The Salvation Army. |
Holland |
Check out their website to get involved: https://centralusa.salvationarmy.org/holland/volunteer/ |
United Way of the Lakeshore |
Join a multitude of enthusiastic supporters devoted to creating social change. Be a part of something bigger than yourself. When we Live United, we put opportunity in the hands of all neighbors along the Lakeshore. |
Muskegon |
Check out their website to get involved: https://www.unitedwaylakeshore.org/get-involved-0 |
Remote Community Engagement Opportunities
Organization |
Description of Organization/Event |
Location |
Sign-up Links & More Information |
---|---|---|---|
Audiobook Recorder - Learning Ally |
As a volunteer, you can use your voice talent to bring audiobooks to life. Or you can conduct quality assurance playing books back just like students will and checking for anything that would result in a less-than-enjoyable listening experience. |
Remote |
|
Language Exchange Program: Refugee Outreach Collective |
LEP is organized to facilitate relationships through learning. Participants are based in the Midwest and Dzaleka Refugee Camp in Malawi, and each take on both the role of teacher and student, as they share their language while learning the other. Over video call and messaging on WhatsApp, participants will provide lessons on how to speak English or Swahili, and they will then learn how to speak the language they do not know. To make this a reality, participants will create lesson plans and content to be shared with their language partner, and partners will share and learn from each other’s content once a week. Through their involvement in the program, participants will gain meaningful experiences teaching English or Swahili as a second language, while learning a new language and culture. |
Remote |
For more information contact Emily from Refugee Outreach Collective: [email protected] |
Smithsonian Digital Volunteers: The Transcription Center |
Transcribe and review digitized historical collections from around the Smithsonian. |
Remote |
Learn more about the Transcription Center and sign up to begin. |
Transcribers: By The People (Library of Congress) |
The Library of Congress needs volunteers to help transcribe digitize documents, add keyword tags to assist in future searches, and to review transcriptions by other volunteers for accuracy. |
Remote |
|
Virtual Tutor - Oakwood Education Foundation |
Oakwood Education Foundation addresses educational inequality by connecting underserved students with impassioned volunteer tutors. Anyone 15 or older can apply to be a tutor, and you can choose subjects that match your area of expertise. |
Remote |
United Way
Visit the Heart of West Michigan United Way site and browse through their Volunteer Opportunity Database to find opportunities that suit your interests!
Outdoor Service Opportunities
Job Feed
1/26/23
Notre Dame AmeriCorps Member - Western Region at AmeriCorps
for job 7456194
AmeriCorps - AmeriCorps State & National
Expires: 9/15/23
1/26/23
Notre Dame AmeriCorps Member - Central Region at AmeriCorps
for job 7456136
AmeriCorps - AmeriCorps State & National
Expires: 9/15/23
1/26/23
Notre Dame AmeriCorps Member - Eastern Region at AmeriCorps
for job 7455728
AmeriCorps - AmeriCorps State & National
Expires: 9/15/23
1/23/23
Community Engagement Coordinator
for job 7438100
Michigan Community Service Commission
Expires: 2/10/23
1/23/23
HandsOn VISTA - S.W. Human Development
for job 7435840
HandsOn Greater Phoenix
Expires: 2/9/23