Volunteers are critical to the success of so many great efforts in our community! Whatever skills or interests you have, there's a place for you to help build a better Genesee County. We've listed a number of current volunteer opportunities below.

Do you need to do court ordered community service? Contact:

• Food Bank of Eastern Michigan, (810) 239-4441.
• North End Soup Kitchen, (810) 785-6911.
• First Presbyterian Church of Flint in downtown Flint, (810) 234-8673.

Want your volunteer opportunities listed here? Contact Julia Zaher, (810)232-6285, with the information.

Current Volunteer Opportunities   

HOSPICE VOLUNTEERS

Are you caring, compassionate and have a desire to help others? Becoming a Grace Hospice volunteer may be perfect for you! Our volunteers share their time and talents, offering companionship to our patients while easing the burden family members may feel. Help is needed to visit patients in their homes and we also need help in the office as well as out in the community. Contact: Kim Cox, LBSW, (810)230-0127 or kcox@ghospice.com.  

DOCTORS, NURSES, PHARMACISTS, MEDICAL ASSISTANTS, CLERICAL HELP

Genesee County Free Medical Clinic desperately needs your service! The clinic serves patients on Tuesday afternoon and evening, Wednesday afternoon and Friday morning. If you can serve for a 3-4 hour block of time, we need you! Contact Carolyn, (810)235-4211 or gcfmc@comcast.net.

FLINT ARTS COUNCIL SEEKS VOLUNTEERS

Second Friday Art Walk - the second Friday of every month from 6-9pm. Location: Greater Flint Arts Council, 816 S. Saginaw St., Downtown Flint. Help in a variety of ways.

Flint Festival of Quilts Sept 9-11, at GFAC with other venues participating. 

Contact: Cathy Johnson 810.238.6875 or cathy@greaterflintartscounil.org.

CERAMIC PROGRAM:

Help disabled and special needs adults with project details (painting), hold projects while they paint, help get lunches ready. Classes are Mon. and Wed. 8am-1pm. Contact: Dawn Shurter, Abilities First, (810)394-0974.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS:

McCree Theatre is seeking new members for its board of directors, especially those with skills in accounting, marketing and fund development. Contact: Raynetta Speed, mccree.theatre@att.net or (810) 257-3088 ext. 536.

FUNDRAISING HELP:

Flint Folk Music Society is looking for someone to help approach corporate sponsors for seasonal sponsorships to support concerts. Contact: Linda, (810)569-6610, www.flintfolkmusic.org. 

LEAD ACTIVITIES FOR ELDERLY PEOPLE:

Do you know how to lead a group of elderly people through simple exercise, a craft or other activity? Rockwell Assisted Living in Fenton is looking for people who could lead activities once or twice a week on a regular basis. VOLUNTEER COORDINATOR also needed. Flexible hours. Contact: Lu, (810)629-6391.  

CLERICAL HELP NEEDED:

For an agency working to reunite children in foster care with their birth parents. Data entry, correspondence, report keeping, use of Publisher and Power Point programs and other duties. Building Bridges Community Outreach Center (810) 308-3321.   

LITERACY VOLUNTEERS:

Love to read? Help adults with their reading skills who are preparing to take the GED.  Flexible schedule, 4-8 hours per week. Must be 18.  ContactGeneseeCounty Literacy Coalition at Christ Enrichment Center. Debbie Springer, (810)239-9425.     

SERVE LUNCH TO SENIOR CITIZENS:

Volunteers needed to help serve already prepared lunches to senior citizens 11:30am-1pm, M-F, at Braidwood Manor, 336 N. Main St., Davison. Contact: Donna, (810)653-1808.  

RED CROSS BLOOD DONOR PROGRAM:

Needs help at community blood drives. Greet, register, serve juice and cookies to donors.  Contact: Janet Hamm, (810) 232-1401 , Ext. 304, hamm@geneseelapeer-redcross.org

TUTORING/MENTORING:

Help kids ages 4-16 whose parents are in jail by volunteering as a tutor/mentor using the Reading & Counting to Success Program. Reading/math tutoring from 6-7:15pm Mon. and Wed. at Motherly Intercession located near the Flint Public Library. Contact: Pat Scott, (810)424-9909, paty.scott@comcast.net. 

NORTH END SOUP KITCHEN:

Is now serving dinner and needs volunteers from 2pm-5:30pm, M-F. Contact: Catherine, (810)785-6911. 

HOME HOSPICE VOLUNTEERS:

DATA ENTRY AND FILING:

One day per week at The Court Appointed Special Advocate Program of the Weiss Advocacy Center.  Qualifications:  must be 21, have knowledge of Microsoft Access based programs, pass background check, and able to make a 6 month commitment, Tuesdays or Wednesdays preferred.  Please contact Jamie Brooks, CASA Program Manager, 810-234-7160 or email: casa-manager@sbcglobal.net.  

DO YOU HAVE 2 HOURS A WEEK?

Mentors are needed for youth ages 12-16 that have been referred from the courts to the 4H-Americorps Youth Mentoring Program, part of the MSU Extension program. Adults 18 and over needed to spend 2 hours a week with these youth doing homework, talking or other activities. Training provided. One year commitment requested. Males especially needed. Contact Christine Leonard, (810)244-8527 or leona150@msu.edu.   

FOOD BANK:

Help staff the order desk (take food orders, make sure processed properly), sort donated food, build food pantry boxes. Minimum age: 14 (or 8 with an adult). Megan Buysse, Food Bank of Eastern Michigan, (810) 239-4441, mbuysse@secondharvest.org.

BE FLORENCE NIGHTINGALE:

Provide spiritual and emotional support to patients/families during the dying process. Sit quietly with them, read, sing, talk softly, just be there. Contact: Candy Leitheim at Avalon Hospice, (810)733-7250.  

DO YOU KNIT OR CROCHET?

Join the year ‘round Yarns of Love group to make winter hats, mittens, scarves for area children in need. Contact Cindy Cromwell at United Way of Genesee County, (810)762-5827. 

FRIENDLY VISITORS:

Avalon Hospice is looking for a few friendly visitors to spend a few hours a week sitting with a patient, holding their hand, listening to their stories, reading or playing a game together. Also need veterans who can volunteer with patients who are veterans and folks willing to answer phones and greet visitors. Call to register for orientation. Candy Leitheim, (810)733-7250, cleitheim@odsyhealth.com.

ADVOCATES:

Work on behalf of abused and neglected children in foster care as a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA). Need: a compassionate heart, ability to communicate well and 15-20 hours per month. Must be 21. Extensive training and materials provided. Jamie Passon Brooks, CASA program manager, (810)234-7160 or casa-manager@sbcglobal.net.

TRANSLATOR:

Assist with interpretation and translation for the Center for Civil Justice Immigration Law Project. Mainly Spanish, but other languages occasionally needed; flexible hours. Can help with oral interpretation during client meetings, document translation which can be done at home or at the office or both. Carolyn Krieger, (989) 755-3120 or (800) 724-7441 or e-mail ckrieger@ccj-mi.org.   

GREETERS:

Welcome and assist homeless individuals at Mission of Hope's daytime drop-in center, 4618 Roberts Street, Flint. Also would like someone to do computer work. Flexible hours. Bobby, (810) 336-5899.   

WORKERS WANTED:

Paint, patch - help a family stretch the dollars; second Saturday each month; ages 14 and up. No skills necessary although experts welcome. Salem Housing C.D.C., 3216 MLKing, Flint, (810) 785-5340, ext. 21 or e-mail ljohnston@salemhousing.org.   

VISITORS:

Friendly visitors are needed to visit with the elderly in nursing homes throughout Genesee County. Read a book, listen to a story or be a companion for a few hours. Laurie Ehrhardt, Citizens For Better Care, (810) 234-8840.  

GRIEF AND LOSS SUPPORT FACILITATOR:

Work with grieving children, teens and their caregivers. Training provided, three-hour time commitment every other week. Applications available by calling Mott Children's Health Center, (810) 237-8692.   

MICAFE APPLICATION ASSISTANT:

Help Flint and Genesee County senior citizens sign up for a Bridge Card (food stamps), Medicaid and other government programs in Flint. Sarah Hines, (877) 664-2233.   

FLINT CHILDREN'S MUSEUM:

A variety of volunteer opportunities are available with the Flint Children's Museum, including creative costuming, program play and learn partners, green thumbs, weekend warriors and smart mart store manager. Also need help with morning cleaning and a community liaison to work special events. Cathy Foland, (810)767-5437.   

WISH GRANTER:

Volunteers needed to meet with wish kids and their families and conduct the visit that helps determine the child's wish. Help staff make arrangements to carry out child's wish. Ashley Redford, Make-A-Wish Foundation of Michigan, 800-622-9474 Ext. 121.  

BIG BROTHERS/BIG SISTERS:

Work one-to-one with a child, sharing experiences and time, to help the child grow into a confident, capable person. Time commitment: regular visits with the child at least twice a month on individual basis for one year. Minimum age: 16. Contact Reta Stanley at(810) 235-0617.  

VOLUNTEER/DONATIONS:

The United Way needs experienced builders to help build handicap ramps, donations of lumber, building materials and a storage facility where ramps can be built and stored until needed. Gene Ridley, (810) 762-5831.

TUTOR/BILINGUAL TUTOR:

Help English as second language students with translation to improve skills and to learn English. Hispanic Technology Center, (810) 424-3760.   

HOSPICE TRAINING:

Join an interdisciplinary team to give support to patients and their families during end-of-life care. No medical background required. Training provided. Visiting Nurse Services of Michigan, (800) 206-4806 or (810) 496-8779.  

AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS:

Volunteers needed for youth and community programs after school, including open gym, life skills training, teen job preparation, computer proficiency, tutoring, crocheting, knitting, art, chess, checkers and more. Contact Dawn Demps, (810)789-7850, Urban League of Flint.

LITERACY VOLUNTEERS:

Love to read? Help adults who are preparing to take their GED with their reading skills. Flexible schedule. 4-8 hours per week. Must be 18. Contact Christ Enrichment Center, (810)239-9425. 

DOG FOOD/VOLUNTEERS:

Need donations of dog food, straw, throw rugs, pet vitamins for low income families struggling to keep their pets. Also need foster homes for pets. Volunteers to walk dogs, clean kennels & transport dogs from Swartz Creek to Grand Blanc Petsmart on Saturdays (don't need to stay with the dogs just drop off and pick up). Edith, (810) 767-6366 or Glenda, (810)247-0356 or (810)635-9649, 12doglady@gmail.com.