Volunteer Services
Volunteer Opportunities
Option #1: Search for a long-term (typically semester or yearlong) Volunteer Opportunity on BroncoJobs:
- Log in to BroncoJobs.In the Jobs & Internship box, click on "More search options" next to the "Search" button.
- Under "More Searches," choose "Volunteer Opportunities."
- You can either enter a keyword or keywords to narrow your search or simply click "Search."
- Click "Job Title" to sort jobs by alphabetical order.
- Jobs are categorized by agencies’ areas of focus and names.
- Find out more information about the agency/organization and specific volunteer duties, decide which position(s) you prefer, and begin your volunteer experience.
Give us feedback on the Volunteer Services website regarding you volunteer placement experience!
Option #2: One time events and on-going volunteer opportunities: Simply scroll down to view events.
ONE-TIME VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
Housing Resources, Inc.
Children's Activity Helpers
21st Annual Walk for the Homeless
ON-GOING VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIESAmerican Diabetes Association
American Red Cross of Greater Kalamazoo-Disaster Preparedness
American Red Cross of Greater Kalamazoo-Youth Facilitator
Bethany Christian Services
CELCIS
Gryphon Place
Heartland Hospice
Indian Prairie Elementary School
JP Morgan Chase Publishing Centers
Kalamazoo Institute of Arts
New Genesis Inc. 5-Star Afterschool Program
United Way's School of Hope
Volunteer Center @ Heart of West Michigan United Way
One-Time Opportunities
American Diabetes Association
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Location:
Battle Creek Binder Park Zoo, Kalamazoo Celery Flats.Job Description:
Walk for Diabetes in both Kalamazoo and Battle Creek Volunteers needed. Volunteers will be assisting with passing out maps of the walk route, helping with set up and take down of food and pamphlet tables, and distributing surveys to walkers. Volunteers can either do one or both of these events.Food and a volunteer shirt will be provided to all volunteers.Days/Times Needed:
The Battle Creek Walk is on Saturday October 3, 2009 at the Binder Park Zoo.The Kalamazoo Walk is on Saturday October 10, 2009 at Celery Flats.
Length of Commitment:
The volunteers would be needed from 7am -12pm.Contact:
If anyone has any questions feel free to contact Korie Nartker at Knartker@diabetes.org
Housing Resources Inc. (HRI)
Children's Activity Helpers
September 15th & 22nd
Agency working with homeless families seeks 3-4 volunteers to work alongside a staff person to provide supervision and activities for 10-20 children while parents attend a financial literacy course. Volunteers are needed only on September 15th and 22nd from 5:30-7:00 p.m. at the HRI office in the Goodwill builidng at 420 E. Alcott, Kalamazoo, MI 49001. Volunteers do not need to commit to both dates--can just do one day or all days. Contact Kathy Smyser at 382-0287 ext. 114 or ksmyser@housingresourcesinc.org.21st Annual Walk for the Homeless
Set-up and Registration 8 AM
Walk event begins at 9 AM
Clean-up and tear-down 11 AM
Volunteers are needed to help with event day set-up and tear-down, help with registration and course set-up, clean-up, and tear down. Individuals may also participate in the event. Contact Kathy Smyser at (269) 382-0287 ext. 114 or at ksmyser@housingresourcesinc.org.ON-GOING VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
Bethany Christian Services
Location:
901 Eastern Ave. NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49503
Agency/Organzation Description:
Bethany Christian Services is a not-for-profit adoption and orphan care agency with more than 60 years of experience delivering compassionate, professional services.
Job Description:
Bethany Christain Services seeks mentors to play baseball, go to the park, and spend time with the youth for more one hour per week. No special skills or experience is required--just the desire to listen, learn, and have fun.
Job Qualifications:
Must be 18 years of age or older, provide own transportation, and be willing to undergo a screening process.
Orientation/Training:
Short interview and training
Days/Times Needed:
Flexible-Including nights and weekends
Length of Committment:
6 months to 1 year
CELCIS
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Location:
WMU- Ellsworth Hall- On Main CampusAgency/Organization Description:
The Career English Language Center for International Students (CELCIS) is an intensive English program designed to prepare second language learners to study in universities in the United States. The program can also be useful for people who wish to improve their English skills for their jobs.Job Description:
Conversation Partners- Friendly, English-speaking WMU students needed for casual conversation with CELCIS international students. Meet for one hour each week whenever your schedule permits. Have fun and make new friends!Job Qualifications:
WMU Student, fluent in english, and friendly.Orientation/Training:
None requiredDays/Times Needed:
Conversation partners meet for one hour per week, whenever their schedules permit.Length of Commitment:
School Semester or longerAdditional Information:
For online registration, got to www.international.wmich.edu. Click on the ELS tab, then click on the conversation partner tab on the right.Contact:
Melanie Mancini- Activities Coordinator(296)-387-4800 or email at celcis-activities@wmich.edu
United Way's School of Hope
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Location:
118 Commerce Ave SW Grand Rapids, MI 49503Agency/Organization Description:
Heart of West Michigan United Way’s Schools of Hope, partners with the Grand Rapids Public Schools to recruit and train reading tutors to work with elementary students in grades 1 – 3 in 15 schools.We have a waiting list of children who need reading tutors. As a Schools of Hope reading tutor, you can change that. Our goal in the 2008 – 2009 school year is to increase the number of tutors from 1,200 to 1,500.
Tutors spend 30 minutes each week with the same child. Schools of Hope schools provide all the materials for tutors. Schools of Hope coordinators are present during all tutoring sessions to provide assistance and support. Most programs are housed in a separate classroom designated specifically for Schools of Hope.Job Description:
Assist children in reading, writing and other literacy based skills in cooperation with the program coordinator. Commit to one semester or one school year and regularly meet with your student for 1/2 hour a week while school is in session. All materials and reading strategies are provided and coordinators are present during tutoring sessions.Job Qualifications:
Our volunteers should have an interest in working with young students. We require one two-hour training session where volunteers learn reading strategies and basic program information. Our volunteers should be at least high-school age, and must clear the required background check.Orientation/Training:
We ask that volunteers complete one two-hour training session. Our training sessions are frequent and are at various times during the day to accommodate your schedule. If your organization has five or more volunteers interested, we’ll bring our training session to you!Days/Times Needed:
Times and days depend on the school in which you choose to volunteer. Programs run during school hours (generally 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.). Tutors are asked to commit one half hour each week on the same day and time.Length of Commitment:
School Semester or YearAdditional Information:
Over forty local companies support Schools of Hope and allow their employees paid time to mentor! We thank these companies and others for their support of our program.Contact:
Renee Goodemoot, 269-632-1002, RGoodemoot@waybetterunitedway.orgNew Genesis Inc. 5-Star Afterschool Program
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Location: 1340 Cobb Ave. Kalamazoo, MI 49007Agency/Organization Description:
New Genesis Inc. is a youth and family services nonprofit organization that was birthed from Christian Life Center in 1993. We work to strengthen individuals and families by providing services that fosters personal enrichment, development, and growth. New Genesis currently accomplishes this mission through Project Impact, which is the foundation of the 5-Star Afterschool Program.Job Description:
The 5-Star Afterschool Program focuses on Abilities, Academics, Arts, Athletics and Attitude. You would be tutoring school age children in reading, language arts as well as math. You are responsible for assisting the classroom instructor in supervision and activity facilitation.Job Qualifications:
Inquire by contacting New GenesisOrientation/Training:
Inquire by contacting New GenesisDays/Times Needed/Length of Commitment: Monday through Friday 3:00pm - 6:00pm
Length of Commitment: The program duration corresponds with the KPS Academic Calendar.
Additional Comments: Need 8-10 students daily for the program. Students are not required to volunteer each day. Schedule dependent on their personal schedule as well as the scheduled volunteers for that day.
Contact:
Ervin Armstrong, Executive Director269-343-7023 ext. 211
earmstring@newgenesisinc.org
Indian Prairie Elementary School
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Location: 3546 Grand Prairie, Kalamazoo, MI, 49006Agency/Organization Description:
Indian Prarie Elementary is a Kalamazoo Public School serving Kindergarten through 3rd grade.Job Description:
We need tutors for either 1:1 or 1:2 with children who need help with their math and/or reading skills. The children would also need to be monitored on the computers and assisted with their homework.
Job Qualifications:
Reliable, patient, and kind yet firm with the children.
Orientation/Training:
Yes, one week prior to the program starting.
Days/Times Needed:
Tuesdays and Thursday at 4:55pm ( Once a week per tutor)Length of Commitment:
January through June 1st or as many hours as you can giveAdditional Information:
Community service hours are recorded and a certificate will be given at the committment.Contact:
Sherry DeHaan at 269-327-3918 or email at shdehaan@aol.comJPMorgan Chase Publishing Centers
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Agency/Organization Description:
This January, KCIS will be launching JPMorgan Chase Publishing Centers in seven KPS elementary schools. Publishing Centers will give children the gift of seeing their own writing made into “published” books, complete with dedication and “about the author” pages.With the support of their teachers, students will be able to go to the Publishing Center during designated hours, to work with a volunteer to turn their writing projects into finished products. The final product will be typed by volunteers and subsequently published and bound for the students.
The seven Publishing Centers will be located at Arcadia Elementary, Edison Environmental Science Academy, King-Westwood Elementary, Lincoln International Studies School, Milwood Elementary, Parkwood-Upjohn Elementary, Spring Valley Center for Exploration, and Woods Lake Elementary.Job Description:
Volunteers to work with the children at school: In-school volunteers will work on-site at one of the seven Publishing Centers. Children who bring writing from class to the Center for publication will sit down with these volunteers to go over their writing and create a final draft. If there are misspelled words or grammatical errors, you will work with the child to correct them. In order to properly operate the Center, we need at least 2 volunteers in every time slot. This prevents the children from missing out if a volunteer is absent. We are asking for a minimum time commitment of 60 minutes per week for in-school volunteers. This can be divided into 2 30-minute shifts if needed.Typing Volunteers: Typing volunteers work from home to type out the final drafts of the children’s stories. If your busy schedule prevents you from being able to make a commitment to work directly at a school, this is a great way to get involved. Typing is one of the most important aspects of the Center. As a volunteer typist, you will be surprised by the wonderful stories you will discover as you learn about what the children are working on in school. The stories are not lengthy, but there will be a small amount of layout required. You will receive all of the training and instruction you need.
Center Coordinators: This volunteer position requires a serious time commitment. We are seeking one Coordinator for each of the seven elementary schools. You will assist KCIS in running the Center, including scheduling volunteers and maintaining materials. Please contact us for more detailed information about this position if you are interested!
Job Qualifications:
Your job will not be heavy-handed, nor do you have to be a great writer to be a volunteer. Everything we do at the Center is easy to learn in just a few visits.Contact:
We are still finalizing the Center schedules, but are hoping to gather a list of interested volunteers. If you’re interested in volunteering, please contact Coco Cook ASAP at ccook@kcis.us or at 337-1601 ext.218Kalamazoo Institute of Arts
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Location:
314 S. Park St. Kalamazoo, MI 49007
Agency/Organization Description:
Become a teacher’s aide in a ceramics class for developmentally disabled adults at the Kalamazoo Institute of Arts.Job Description:
Assist disabled adults in ceramics class.Job Qualifications:
Caring, compassionate personality. No art
background necessary, but interest in special ed, occupational therapy, or physical therapy might be helpful.
Days/Times Needed:
Monday evenings, 6:30-9:00 p.m., beginning January 5, 2009.
Class meets for 12 weeks, but any given volunteer need not be present for all sessions.Additional Information:
MAKE A DIFFERENCE AND HAVE FUN TOO!Contact:
For more information or to volunteer, call Sandy Linabury
at 349-7775, ext. 3114, or email sandy_L@kiarts.org.
Heartland Hospice
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Location:
8075 Creekside Drive Suite 120, Kalamazoo, MI
Agency/Organziation Description:
Heartland Hospice offers support, care, and comfort to the terminally ill and their families.
Job Description:
Compassionate Friends--These volunteers provide friendly visits, run errands, read to patients, or lend a gentle ear.
Job Qualifications:
18+ years of age, transportation, background check, and TB test.
Orientation/Training:
14 hours of traning per medicare guidelines. Day/time flexible.
Days/Times Needed:
Flexible
Length of Commitment:
3 months+Additional Information:
It is recommended that a potential volunteer be at least 12 months beyond a personal loss.American Red Cross of Kalamazoo-Disaster Preparedness
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Location:
5640 Venture Court, Kalamazoo, MI, 49009
Agency/Organization Description:
The American Red Cross, a humanitarian organization led by volunteers and guided by its Congressional Charter and the Fundamental principles of the International Red Cross Movement, will provide relief to victims of disasters and help people prevent, prepare for, and respond to emergencies.Job Description:
Help educate our area youth to prevent, prepare for, and respond to emergencies. Partner with us in educating the children in our community to be disaster-ready! We are in need of people who have confidence in their presentation skills to facilitate Red Cross created disaster-preparedness courses to area youth.
Job Qualifications:
Applicant needs to have an interest in youth and an enthusiasm for teaching others.
Orientation/Training:
Applicant must be over the age of 18 and willing to undertake Red Cross Orientation.
Days/Times Needed:
FlexibleLength of Commitment:
6 months (minimum)Additional Information:
Come be part of the Red Cross Team!Contact:
Zach Cahalan at 269-353-6180 or email at cahalan@greaterkzooredcross.orgGryphon Place
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Location:
1104 S. Westnedge, Kalamazoo, MI, 49008
Agency/Organization Description:
Since 1970, we have been serving individuals who have no where to turn. People of all ages and walks of life call us when life gets tough. We listen and respond with compassion and empathy. Our programs are excellent because we continually grow and change with the needs of our clients.Job Description:
For nearly 40 years, Gryphon Place volunteers have been helping community members in times of need. Volunteers on the 2-1-1/HELP-Line come from diverse backgrounds, but they share a common desire to help others. Volunteers provide emotional support in a non-judgmental manner, are empathic and understanding, and offer information and referral about local community resources.Job Qualifications:
Do you genuinely care about helping others? Do friends come to you when they need help? Are you a good listener and able to remain neutral? Are you thinking about a career in the helping profession? Do you like to personally challenge yourself? If you answered yes to any of these questions, and are at least 18 years old, you woe it to yourself to find out more.Orientation/Training:
45 hours of intensive, experiential training is provided at no charge and is also certified by the American Association of Suicidology and the Council on Accreditation. Potential volunteers are trained extensively in active listening, crisis management skills, suicide assessment, and substance abuse. During training, trainers strive to provide an environment which is supportive and open. In this environment trainees are provided with the opportunity to grow personally while learning how to help others. Training sessions are held four times a year and we offer three different training schedules to help accommodate scheduling difficulties.Days/Times Needed:
FlexibleLength of Commitment:
After satisfactory completion of the training session, volunteers commit to 200 hours of service. Volunteers usually work six to eight hours per week. Scheduling is flexible and we work around your schedule.Contact:
Call 269-381-1510 or go to www.gryphon.org for more information or to apply on-line.American Red Cross of Kalamazoo-Youth Facilitators
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Location:
5640 Venture Court, Kalamazoo, MI, 49009Agency/Organization Description:
The American Red Cross, a humanitarian organization led by volunteers and guided by its Congressional Charter and the Fundamental principles of the International Red Cross Movement, will provide relief to victims of disasters and help people prevent, prepare for, and respond to emergencies.Job Description:
Come partner with us as the American Red Cross looks to share the volunteer experience with youth and young adults. We are in need of youth facilitators who are responsible role models, and who love working with youth and young adults. A number of unique opportunities exist within this ever-evolving program area!
- Help youth implement initiatives that correspond to the Red Cross Mission.
- Be willing to support the Red Cross Mission.
- Liason with schools and other youth organizations.
- Train young adults to teach younger youth valuable disaster preparedness information.
- Be the point person for Red Cross High School Clubs.
- Help chaperone youth special events, like special service projects.
Job Qualifications:
Must be at least 21 and have a clear background check and driver's check. Background in working with youth and young adults preferable. Patience. Flexibility. Must be a responsible role model for youth.
Orientation/Training:
Applicant must willing to undertake Red Cross Orientation.
Days/Times Needed:
FlexibleLength of Commitment:
1 yearAdditional Information:
Come be part of the Red Cross Team!Contact: Zach Cahalan at 269-353-6180 or email at cahalan@greaterkzooredcross.org
Volunteer Center at Heart of West Michigan United Way
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Address: 118 Commerce Ave SW Grand Rapids, MI 49503
Fax Number: 616.459.8460
Geographical Location: Off CampusAgency/Organization Description: Give. Advocate. Volunteer. When we choose to Live United we are connected by making our community a better place to live. Western Michigan University and Heart of West Michigan United Way encourage you to become a volunteer and make a difference. Please see the opportunities below to find what moves you to Live United.
http://www.volunteersolutions.org/hwmuw/volunteer/home/Contact Person: Jane Royer, Volunteer Center Director
Phone Number: 616.752.8603
Email Address: jroyer@waybetterunitedway.org