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!

Sustainable Agriculture Project

Get dirty and give back a the GVSU Sustainable Agriculture Project. Volunteers will be involved all aspects of the farm. Volunteers are advised to wear closed toe shoes, bring a hat, sunscreen and a water bottle.

GVSU Sustainable Agriculture Project
4539 Luce St.
Jenison, Michigan 49428

Wednesdays from 9:00-12:00 

Fridays from 12:00-3:00

You can find more information here. 

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: 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.

The Friends of Greenwood Cemetery

The Friends of Greenwood Cemetery are looking for up to 10 volunteers to help clear winter debris and straighten grave markers. Tools will be provided. Volunteers will receive a brief orientation and instruction session before the work.

Access is off Bristol Avenue north of Leonard Street on the west side of Grand Rapids.

Volunteers will meet at the Sexton building in the middle of the cemetery.

Grand Rapids, MI.

Saturday, May 6, from 9:30a.m. to 12:00p.m.

If it is raining, the event will be rescheduled. 

Baxter Community Center

Baxter Community Clean Up Event. Join the Baxter Community Center in clean up the Baxter neighborhood sidewalks, streets, and parks. Free lunch and a Clean Up Day themed shirt will be provided.

Baxter Community Center; 935 Baxter St. SE, Grand Rapids, MI

Saturday, May 13, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Sign up here.

This event will be held rain or shine.

For any questions, contact Lindsay Vacanti ([email protected])

Land Conservancy of West MI

Join the Land Conservancy of West Michigan to remove a persistent invasive species impacting the habitat at Castle Park Nature Reserve. We will meet at the entrance to Dune Pines Nature Preserve.

Castle Park Nature Preserve

Holland, MI

Saturday, May 13, from 9:00a.m. to 12:00p.m.

Sign up here.

It's Time

Volunteers will be helping attendees sign up to sponsor a child with Food for the Hungry. This will include walking up and down the aisles of the venue, possibly standing at a table, handing out packets, and answering questions. Volunteers will be able to enjoy most of the show! No need to purchase tickets.

Grand Rapids First

Wyoming, MI

Thursday, June 1, from 5:30 to 10:30p.m.

Must be able to walk up stairs. Age Requirement: 16+ (14 & 15 year-olds can serve with an adult).

Sign up here.

Land Conservancy of West MI

Help remove invasive garlic mustard at Brower Lake Nature Preserve in Rockford.

Brower Lake Nature Preserve

Rockford, MI

Saturday, June 10, from 9:00a.m. to 12:00p.m.

Sign up here.

Crohn's & Colitis Foundation

West Michigan Take Steps fundraiser walk

Walker, MI

Saturday, June 24, from 7:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Contact Lauren Wyngarden via email ([email protected])

More information can be found on the Take Steps website.

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.

Disability Network West MI

All proceeds from this event go to support Disability Network West Michigan programs. Please help them out by volunteering! You can volunteer for set up, first shift, second shift, tear down, or for the entire event! They need all of the help they can get and are so grateful for any time you can give.

Hackley Park in Muskegon, MI

Friday, July 28, from 4:30 to 9:30p.m.

If you are registering for multiple people in a group, please select the number of people and put the primary contact information for the group you are registering. Tasks will be assigned at the event. Please indicate if you or a member of your group need an accommodation to participate in volunteering.

Sign up here.

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 MI

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/

IKUS Life Enrichment Services

Become a Community Events Volunteer! Assist with community events including the Craft Show, Snow Ball Dance, Taps & Trails, Trick or Treat Street and Breakfast with Santa.

Allendale, MI

If you are interested in volunteering, please complete the volunteer application and/or call (616) 677-5251 and/or email [email protected].

IKUS Life Enrichment Services

Become a programming volunteer! Assist during the day or evening with games, activities, and/or setup of evening programming.

Allendale, MI

If you are interested in volunteering, please complete the volunteer application and/or call (616) 677-5251 and/or email [email protected].

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.

Land Conservancy of West MI

Join the Land Conservancy of West MI for their Second Saturday Events! From 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. on the second Saturday of every month, the Land Conservancy will host a volunteer event that focuses on ecological restoration activities including invasive species removal, seed collecting, and native plant installation. Volunteers may also be involved with trail maintenance, general clean-up, or other tasks that help visitors better enjoy our magnificent natural areas.

West Michigan

Find more information here.

Literacy Center of West MI

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 MI

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

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. 

Learn more about the opportunity here.

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.

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.

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.

Learn more about the opportunity here.

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. 

Apply to be a tutor using this link.