Since we are an organization supported by volunteers, we like to instill in our Littles the importance of giving back to the community and being involved. Therefore, we LOVE it when our matches participate in community service activities! Not all community service needs to be through official programs or organizations; it can be as simple as helping a neighbor with yard work or picking up trash at a local park. However, if you are interested in doing something more structured, here are some suggestions to get you started!
For all ages:
Organization Name: Ann Arbor Center for Independent Living/Washtenaw Talent Exchange Contact Person: Ed Wollmann or Melissa Sartori Phone number or email: (734) 971-0277 ext 32 Location: 2568 Packard Rd., Ann Arbor Activity Possibilities: Become involved in the Washtenaw Talent Exchange. This means sharing the skills and talents that you and your Little possess, as well as searching for help or guidance on a new skill or talent that you and your Little wish to possess. This is a system of “sharing talent” and therefore, joining WTE means that one outing, (for example) you and your Little could help shovel snow for an elderly person involved in the WTE. The next outing, you could ask someone in the WTE to teach you and your Little how to knit or build a model airplane.
THE WTE HAS MEMBERS (many of them elderly, living with a disability, or isolated from the community in one way or another) LOOKING FOR HELP WITH: animal care; arts and crafts; companionship in terms of hospital or home visits; food skills such as baking, cooking, grocery shopping or washing dishes; house cleaning; and minor home repairs like hanging pictures or painting; minor yard work, for example, weeding, planting, shoveling snow or raking leaves.
If interested, call the Center for Independent Living and they will help “link” you to a person looking for help in one of these areas. You can request a particular activity to help with as well as a particular area (for example, somewhere close to where your Little lives!)
Training Needed: None. Days/Times: Scheduled individually. Participant ages: All ages welcome. Website: None.
Organization Name: Argo/Gallup Park CANOE RENTAL Activity Possibilities: Take a canoe trip, pick up trash along the way & help keep our parks clean! Contact Person: Sheryl Saam Phone number or email: (734) 662-9319; 9-5pm, M-F Location: Start at either Argo or Gallup Park (call for directions) Training Needed: None. Days/Times: April-October; 7 days a week Participant ages: All ages welcome. Website:www.a2gov.org/canoe Other: COST. Normally, canoe rentals are $19 for Ann Arbor residents, $24 for non-residents. HOWEVER, if you pick up trash along the way, there is a discount (close to 50% off). Call for more details.
Organization Name: Cobblestone Farms Contact Person: Matt Waldsmith Phone number or email: (734) 994-2928 Location: 2871 Packard St., Ann Arbor Activity Possibilities: Help out in the garden; help to restore the farm; mostly outdoor work; minor reconstruction projects. Call to see if help is currently needed. Training Needed: None Days/Times: Seasonal. Mostly in the spring, summer and fall. Call for specifics. Participant ages: All ages welcome. Website: http://www.ci.ann-arbor.mi.us/ (search under parks & recreation)
Organization Name: Habitat For Humanity of Huron Valley Contact Person: Lonni Phone number or email: (734) 677-7558 or comrel@h4h.org Location: Office is located at 3820 Packard, Ste 240, Ann Arbor; projects sites vary. Activity Possibilities: Diverse seasonal activities. Call to inquire.
Training Needed: None. Days/Times: Call to inquire. Participant ages: *All ages welcome. Website: http://www.h4h.org/ Other: *Please note that in order to build or do construction for H4H, you must be 15 years of age or older.
Organization Name: Heartland Hospice Services Contact Person: Candice Jones Phone number or email: 888-973-1145 Location: 3840 Packard, Suite 260, Ann Arbor, MI 48108 Activity Possibilities Donate your time and talent by creating lap blankets, slippers, or quilts for patients. (Materials and training are not provided.) Days/Times: Any (on your own) Participant Ages: All ages are welcome
Organization Name: Motor Meals of Ann Arbor Contact Person: Rhonda Rowgowski Phone number or email: (734) 998-6686 Location: 2025 Traverwood Dr., Suite F, Ann Arbor, MI Activity Possibilities: Help to transport food to the homebound in the Ann Arbor area! Visit up to 13 homebound Ann Arbor citizens on a 90-minute route. Days/Times: Any day of your choice, one day per month. Participant Ages: Drivers must be at least 18 years of age with a good driving record. Children under 18 (Littles) may accompany adult drivers (Bigs) with permission. Website: www.ewashtenaw.org
Organization Name: Ronald McDonald House Contact Person: Marsha Phone number or email: (734) 994-4442 or info@rmh-annarbor.org Location: 1600 Washington Heights, Ann Arbor Activity Possibilities: Baking or cooking off-site and bringing food to the facility; preparing and cooking a meal at the House for 30-40 people; organizing a “Resource Drive” and collecting items for the families (the House keeps lists of items that they are looking for). Training Needed: None. Days/Times: Flexible; office is open from 9am-9pm, 7 days a week. Participant ages: All ages welcome.
Organization Name: Wild Swan Children’s Theater Contact Person: Kim McLean Phone number or email: (734) 995-0530; abby@wildswantheater.org Location: Towsley Auditorium, Morris Lawrence Building; Washtenaw Community College Activity Possibilities: Usher for one of the Wild Swan performances, and get to see the show for FREE! Shows are fun and educational. Ushers should arrive one half hour before the show starts; bring a flashlight; and wear black pants/skirt and a white top. Performances have no intermission and last about an hour. Training Needed: None. Days/Times: Schedule varies depending on the show. Performances are held in the morning and afternoon, Wednesday-Sunday. Call for specific days and times. Participant ages: All ages welcome. Website: http://www.wildswantheater.org/
With age requirements:
Organization Name: Ann Arbor Jaycees Contact Person: Mike Cha Phone number or email: (734) 709-6080 or email mcpiano@hotmail.com Location: Depends on event. Activity Possibilities: 1) Healing Hunger: This event takes place on the third Wednesday of every month. In the evening, the Ann Arbor Jaycees help to cook dinner for residents at the Day Shelter. They also help to clean up afterwards and to get things ready for the next evening’s meal. 2) Annual Easter Egg Scramble: This outing takes place in the spring, on a Sunday around Easter. It is usually held at Vet’s Park, and is an Easter egg hunt and activity day for families. Volunteers could help with putting out the eggs, organizing arts and crafts projects, helping with face painting, etc. Training Needed: Training on site. Days/Times: Depends on event. Participant ages: Healing Hunger: 12 and up; Easter Egg Scramble: All ages welcome. Website: www.a2jaycees.org
Organization Name: Ann Arbor School for the Performing Arts Contact Person: Stephanie Weaver Phone number or email: (734) 995-4625 Location: Office is located at 4090 Geddes Rd in Ann Arbor (housed at Concordia College), but events are held throughout Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti. Activity Possibilities: Usher for a concert, and get to listen to the music for free! Concerts are family-friendly, and include instrumental and vocal performances that highlight child performers! Training Needed: None. Days/Times: Concerts are held throughout the year, but volunteers would be most helpful in May, October and December. Participant ages: 10 and up. Website: www.aa-spa.org
Organization Name: Arts and Scraps Contact Person: Wonner Lawson Phone number or email: (313) 640-4411 ext. 5 Location: 16135 Harper, Detroit, MI Activity Possibilities: There are several different volunteer opportunities. If with a group, children as young as 6 can go to the center to volunteer their time packing kits and preparing materials. Youth volunteers are also needed at specific community events. Volunteer assistance within the Arts and Scraps retail store might also be needed. Call for specific upcoming volunteer opportunities. Participant Ages: Depends on activity. Call for more information. Website: http://artsandscraps.org
Organization Name: Food Gatherers Contact Person: Missy Orge Phone number or email: (734) 761-2796; missy@foodgatherers.org Location: 1 Carrot Way, Ann Arbor Activity Possibilities: Although most volunteer opportunities with Food Gatherers require ages 14 and up, as part of BBBS, they will allow Littles to help in the warehouse. This will include sorting and cleaning canned food. Training Needed: None. Days/Times: M-F, 9-4 (spring/summer/holiday breaks/etc) Participant ages: Ask for permission to bring a younger Little. Website:www.foodgatherers.org
Organization Name: Humane Society of Huron Valley Phone number or email: (734) 662-5585 ext. 300 Location: 3100 Cherry Hill Road, Ann Arbor, MI 48105 Activity Possibilities: Children age 12-15, with the accompaniment of an adult, can help with the cleaning chores around the facility (such as cleaning dishes, helping with laundry, or cleaning kennels). Training Needed: Must attend a Volunteer Orientation (check website for dates) Participant Ages: Must be at least 12 years and be accompanied by an adult. *No children under 18, even with adult, are allowed to work directly with animals. Website: www.hshv.org
Organization Name: Junkyard Dogs, Inc. Contact Person: Deb Royal Phone number or email: (734) 641-1398 Location: 35815 Cypress, Romulus, MI 48174 Activity Possibilities: Varied. Call for more information. Participant Ages: 8 & up Website: www.jydrescueteam.com
Organization Name: Leslie Science Center Contact Person: Francy Phone number or email: (734) 997-1075 Location: 1831 Travers Rd, Ann Arbor Activity Possibilities: In the spring, you can help the Science Center with “outdoors clean up.” Activities could include cleaning up trails, weeding, wood chipping, and doing small maintenance projects. In the fall, the Center needs help with their “Annual Animal Haunts.” Children of all ages can help make decorations, create scarecrows, and prepare the Science Center for its fall activities. Training Needed: None. Days/Times: Seasonal. Participant ages: Fall: all ages welcome; Spring: 12 & older. Website: www.a2gov.org/lsc
Organization Name: Washtenaw County Red Cross- Youth Community Action Team (YCAT) Contact Person: Erin Ferris Phone number or email: (734) 971-5300 Location: 4624 Packard Rd., Ann Arbor, MI 48108 Activity Possibilities: Kids can join the Youth Community Action Team and participate in the many areas of Red Cross, such as blood drives, health and safety classes, peer education, and fundraising. Days/Times: 4 hours per month Participant Ages: 12 & up Website: wc-redcross.org
** BBBS is always looking for matches to pick up cans from Borders (on Thursdays) and return the deposits to us! If you are interested, please contact Jessica at jsauter@bbbswashtenaw.org
**This list was last updated in April 2008. If it is outdated or you have suggested additions, please contact us!
