15 places to volunteer this holiday season

By Metro Times editorial staff on Thu, Nov 9, 2017 at 7:59 pm

Sometimes the best way to get into a festive spirit is to spread joy by giving back to your community. Luckily, there are plenty of ways to get involved in local efforts to feed the hungry, help the homeless, and find animals a loving home. Don't have time to volunteer? You can always consider donating food or money to these organizations.

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Alternatives for Girls

903 W. Grand Blvd.,Detroit; 313-361-4000
Alternatives for Girls helps homeless and high risk young women avoid violence, teen pregnancy, and exploitation. There are many ways to help volunteer at Alternatives for Girls — volunteers are able to help out with fundraising events, the crisis resource center, and street outreach that provides help in the form of warm clothes, food, and harm-reduction kits.
Photo via Instagram user@drwcommunity

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The Baldwin Center

212 Baldwin Ave., Pontiac; 248-332-6101
The Baldwin Center is a nonprofit that has been feeding, clothing, and educating disadvantaged men, women, and children since 1981 — no charge and no questions. Breakfast for the Homeless is Monday through Friday from 7 a.m.-7:30 a.m., lunch is Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday from 10:45 a.m.-1 p.m. and the Clothes Closet is open Monday 8 a.m.-11 a.m., plus Wednesday and Friday 8 a.m.-noon. Prospective volunteers can contact Lori White via lwhite@baldwincenter.org.
Photo via Instagram user@stephenjamesmc

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Blessed Hope Church

3804 Hazel Ave., Lincoln Park; 313-388-1499
The Blessed Hope Church is dedicated to serving the community seven days a week. Their food pantry is open three days a week to those who need food assistance and also serves hot meals Monday through Friday and Sunday. The Blessed Hope Church also accepts all kinds of donations.
Photo via Instagram user@broadwayboy81

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Capuchin Soup Kitchen

1820 Mount Elliot St., Detroit; 313-579-2100
Feeding bodies, nourishing spirits, and strengthening communities is what the Capuchin Soup Kitchen is all about and they serve full-course meals to those in need. A portion of the food is donated, but most of the meal is purchased directly from Michigan producers.
Photo via Instagram user@supvinnie

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COTS Detroit

26 Peterboro., Detroit; 313-831-3777
COTS, Coalition On Temporary Shelter, is committed to sheltering the most vulnerable in the community. Volunteers are needed to assist the kitchen staff and maintaining the clothing closet. Volunteers are the backbone of COTS Detroit and are welcome to volunteer at any given time.
Photo via Instagram user@marionotluigi

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Crossroads of Michigan

2424 W Grand Blvd, Detroit; 313-831-2787
Crossroads is a social service outreach agency that provides emergency assistance, advocacy and counseling. Founded in 1971, they work with the people seeking help to assess their situation, address needs, and come up with ways to prevent the likelihood of more problems in the future. 113 volunteers made a huge impact at Crossroads in 2016 and they’re ready to see more this year.
Photo via Instagram user@crossroadsofmi

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Detroit Dog Rescue

St. Clair Shores; 313-458-8014
Detroit Dog Rescue is aiming to create a state-of-the-art animal center in Detroit. With limited funding for humane animal rescue operations, Detroit Dog Rescue is a dedicated group looking to make a difference. If you’re looking to help man’s best friend, this is the perfect place to volunteer.
Photo via the Detroit Dog Rescue Facebook page

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Fish & Loaves

25670 Northline Rd., Taylor; 736-442-0031
Whether you are seeking assistance or looking to help others in need, Fish and Loaves welcomes all. Fish & Loaves Community Food Pantry works together with the community to provide food assistance to local families in need. Their volunteer training sessions are every Monday and Thursday mornings at the Fish & Loaves Community Food Pantry, 11:30 am.
Photo via Instagram user@fishandloaves

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Focus: Hope

1200 Oakman Boulevard, Detroit; 313-494-5500
As a result of the 1967 uprising, Focus: Hope was put into place to make sure that all people lived in a community where freedom, harmony, trust and affection flourished. With various youth outreach and neighborhood programs, volunteers can join the company in their endeavor to revitalize communities.
Photo via Focus: Hope’sFacebook page

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Forgotten Harvest

21800 Greenfield Road, Oak Park; 248-967-1500
The Forgotten Harvest’s mission is to relieve hunger and prevent food waste in metro Detroit. Formed in 1990, the company has service areas across Wayne, Macomb, and Oakland counties. Shifts for the warehouse volunteer crew are; 9 a.m.-12 p.m. and 1 p.m.- 4 p.m. Monday to Saturday.
Photo via Forgotten Harvest’sFacebook page

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Gleaners Community Food Bank of Southeastern Michigan

2131 Beaufait St, Detroit; 313-923-3535
Gleaners is dedicated to providing households with nutritious foods and other resources. Although they are headquartered in Detroit, they have five other distribution centers in Wayne, Oakland, Macomb, Monroe, and Livingston counties and they provide food to 534 food pantries, shelters and other partners across southeast Michigan. Looking to volunteer? Contact info for coordinators can be found on their website.
Photo viaInstagram user @Gleanersfoodbank

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The Greening of Detroit

3000 W McNichols Rd., Detroit; 313-237-8733
Their mission is to repurpose vacant land create beautiful, productive green spaces for communities in Detroit — and they love volunteers. Each year 3,000 to 5,000 people sign up to dig up some dirt to make a positive difference. Volunteers help the Greening of Detroit clean up spaces, work in farm gardens and plant trees.
Photo via Instagram user@thegreeningofdetroit

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Open Hands Food Pantry and Garden

26998 Woodward Ave, Royal Oak; 248-546-1255
Volunteers run this food pantry for Oakland County residents where food is distributed Mondays 12:30 p.m.-2:45 p.m. and Saturdays 9:30 a.m.-11:45 a.m. According to their website, they are on track to provide food to nearly 14,000 people in 2017.
Photo via Open Hands Food Pantry’sFacebook page.

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Wyandotte Animal Shelter

1170 Grove, Wyandotte; 734-246-1328
The Wyandotte Animal Shelter, also known as The Wyandotte Adoption Center, is an organization that works with nonprofit and rescue groups to implement successful adoptions for animals. Their hours are; 5:30 p.m.- 7:30 p.m. on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Fridays, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. on Saturdays, and closed on Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays.
Photo via the Wyandotte Animal Shelter’s Facebook page

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Affirmations

290 W Nine Mile Rd., Ferndale; 248-398-7105
Affirmations offers a multi-use facility in downtown Ferndale that welcomes people of all gender identities & expressions, sexual orientations and cultures. They provide counseling, health/wellness programming, support/discussion groups, youth services, plus community activities and events. Volunteers are welcome to get involved by working the front desk, serving as group facilitators or being youth advocates. Prospective applicants can reach out to Heather Aymer via haymer@goaffirmations.org.
Photo via Instagram user @goaffirmations

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