GVSU 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!

GVSU 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 and Thursdays from 9 a.m.-12 p.m.

Fridays from 12-3 p.m.

You can find more information here. 

Replenish 

Replenish relies on our community to keep us going. You can help us continue supporting the Grand Valley students by giving your time through volunteering, making a monetary donation, or donating perishable and non perishable.

Allendale Campus 

Click link for specific room locations. 

December 13, from 9 a.m.- 2 p.m. Look at link for specific times.

December 14, from 12 p.m. - 2 p.m.

You can find more information here. 

The Green Apple Pantry

Help the Green Apple Pantry improve lives of our community by providing nourishment to our neighbors in need, supplying them with healthy food and personal items; as well as tools of empowerment. During this event you will be entering information into a client database, process forms for support pantries, and enter new clients as necessary. 

4301 Kalamazoo Ave SE, Kentwood, MI 49508

Shifts are on Tuesdays from 9:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. on the following dates:

December 5

December 12

Go here for shift availability and volunteer registration.

Land Conservancy of West Michigan

Join Land Conservancy of West Michigan at their Second Saturday Workday at Saul Lake Bog and Dumaw Woodland Nature Preserve. Help collect seeds to expand native grassland habitat at the different nature preserves.

10471 6 Mile Road NE, Rockford, MI 49341 - Outdoors

Saturday, December 9, 9:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.

You can register here.

 Samaritas and HAP 

HAP is partnering with Samaritas to provide stuffed backpacks to 500 children in foster care. But they need help with volunteering for a morning of “stuffing” to get the backpacks ready to go and be a blessing to children in care! Large group volunteer event (no heavy lifting). 

The Store House: 4411 Plainfield Ave NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49525

Wednesday, December 20 at the following times: 

8:00 a.m. -10:00 a.m. 

10:00 a.m. -12:00 p.m.

Please reach out to Kayla Park at [email protected] or 517-449-3270 to RSVP by December 5 or with any questions.

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.

AARP

Help AARP to provide nourishing meals to those facing health crisis while empowering the next generation. The Revive and Thrive Project is a registered non-profit organization nourishing greater Grand Rapids, Michigan one meal at a time.

Grand Rapids, MI

Check out their website to get involved.

Allendale Public Schools

Allendale Public Schools can always use motivated individuals to help with reading, math, activities, and even the copy center. 

Allendale Charter Township, MI

Check out their website to get involved.

Alpha Womens Center

Volunteer at Alpha Grand Rapids (AGR) to help support expectant parents and young families. Roles included working directly with people or more "behind-the-scenes".

1725 Division Ave S, Grand Rapids, MI 49507

Check out their website to get involved. 

American Red Cross Michigan Region

The Volunteer Recruitment Member supports the Regional Volunteer Services Department and assists the implementation of the regional volunteer recruitment plan. This is done by performing recruitment activities to attract a skilled and diverse volunteer workforce.

Kentwood, MI

Check out more information here.

Baxter Community Center

Baxter is looking for extra hands to help maintain their greenhouse and raised bed gardens by assisting with general cleaning, soil prep, transplanting, labeling, weeding, harvesting and more!

Grand Rapids, MI

Sign-up to volunteer 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

Contact Monica Turnbull here.

Boys and Girls Club of Grand Rapids

The Boys and Girls Club of Grand Rapids is currently looking for volunteers to help staff run programs and activities, serve meals, and create a fun for their members each day! This opportunity is available during the school year Monday-Friday, 3:00-7:00 p.m.

Grand Rapids, MI

Sign-up to volunteer: Volunteer Registration

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 here.

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 here.

Disability Advocates of Kent County

Volunteer with Disability Advocates of Kent County!

Grand Rapids, MI

If you are interested, fill out the form on their website located here.

Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park

If you have a passion for learning and can commit to a 4-hour shift per week, unlock the opportunity to engage and educate guests by joining their dedicated team of docents! As a docent, you will: lead educational tours, welcome visitors, assist guests, wear the "ASK ME!" button proudly, facilitate discussions, share insights, and contribute to their mission!

Grand Rapids, MI

Contact Tony England. You can also reach him via phone: 616-974-5238.

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.

Holland Free Health Clinic 

All opportunities occur on a  weekly basis, no one-time opportunities offered. Roles that are offered include: Client Advocates, Program Support, 

Holland Free Health Clinic; 99 West 26th St. Holland, MI 49423 

Visit the link to fill out the volunteer application.

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.

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. 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.

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.

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 to sign up!

Migrant Legal Aid

They are looking for individual or group workers who want to help advance the rights of migrant farmworkers. 

1104 Fuller Ave NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49503

Check out their website to get involved. 

MomsBloom

MomsBloom is a volunteer-based organization that provides hands on and emotional support to families that are welcoming a new baby. Our volunteers provide support for 2-4 hours per week for a 12 week match (perfect for a semester!). Their support may includes caring for the baby, playing with siblings, light housework, and companionship to the parent.

Kent County, Ottawa County

Learn more and apply.

New City Neighbors

New City Neighbors have various volunteer opportunities such as farm workdays and helping with produce pickup. 

1115 Leonard St. NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49503

Check out their website to get involved. 

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.

Our Kitchen Table (OKT)

Join OKT to help set up their Southeast Area Farmers Market that helps support local Black growers and entrepreneurs. 

Every other Saturday until November 4, 2023

11:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.

900 Fuller SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49506

You can register here.

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.

Treetops Collective 

They have many one-time opportunities for childcare. One of their most consistent needs is transportation to and from home and school. Treetops regularly sells social enterprise goods at pop-up markets and has information tables at various events. They also offer group volunteer opportunities.

906 Division S

Grand Rapids, MI 49507

Check out their website to get involved.

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.

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.