Michigan Festivities FAIRS • FESTIVALS • ART & CRAFT SHOWS

Help Out This Weekend

Ways to help in Michigan this weekend. Check with the organizer before you go.

Food bank shifts, park and river cleanups, and event volunteering, grouped by region. Dated listings come first and drop off the day after they happen; ongoing shifts follow. Sign up on the organizer’s page before you go.

Southeast

  • Food bank shift

    Community Kitchen weekend meal shifts

    Ann Arbor

    Where
    Delonis Center, 312 W. Huron St.
    When
    Ongoing shifts, see sign-up page. The organizer lists Saturday and Sunday mid-day meal shifts.
    Run by
    Food Gatherers

    Help cook, set up, serve and clean up at the Food Gatherers Community Kitchen. Individuals only, no groups. Ages 12+ with an adult, or 14+ alone. Register in advance; no walk-ins. Details: foodgatherers.org.

    Sign up with Food Gatherers

  • Food bank shift

    Warehouse sorting and packing

    Flint

    Where
    1939 Howard Ave.
    When
    Ongoing shifts, see sign-up page. Individuals: weekdays 8:30 am to 4:30 pm. Groups: some Saturday mornings, call ahead.
    Run by
    Food Bank of Eastern Michigan

    Inspect, sort and repack donated food at the Food Bank of Eastern Michigan. Volunteers must be 12 or older; under 18 with an adult.

    Sign up with Food Bank of Eastern Michigan

  • Food bank shiftFamily-friendly

    Gleaners volunteer shifts

    Southeast Michigan

    Where
    Taylor, Detroit, Warren, Livingston and other sites
    When
    Ongoing shifts, see sign-up page
    Run by
    Gleaners Community Food Bank

    Sort and pack food at distribution centers, help at fresh food distributions, or assist shoppers at Fresh! by Gleaners. The organizer says shifts are open to individuals, families, corporate teams and community groups. Contact Gleaners first if you have food allergies. Details: gcfb.org.

    Sign up with Gleaners Community Food Bank

Southwest

  • Food bank shift

    Food packing shifts

    Battle Creek

    Where
    South Michigan Food Bank, 5451 Wayne Rd.
    When
    Ongoing shifts, see sign-up page
    Run by
    South Michigan Food Bank

    Pack fresh food boxes and other food for the food bank’s pantries and distributions. The organizer says volunteers assemble about 75% of its packed food. Details: smfoodbank.org.

    Sign up with South Michigan Food Bank

Mid-Michigan

  • Food bank shift

    Warehouse and mobile pantry shifts

    Bath

    Where
    Greater Lansing Food Bank, 5600 Food Court
    When
    Ongoing. Warehouse: weekdays 9 to 11 am and 1:30 to 3:30 pm. Weekend shifts are with mobile food pantries.
    Run by
    Greater Lansing Food Bank

    Sort food and build Weekend Kits in the warehouse, or help at a mobile food pantry. Volunteers must be at least 14. Details: greaterlansingfoodbank.org.

    Sign up with Greater Lansing Food Bank

  • Parks & cleanups

    Stewardship volunteers

    Midland

    Where
    Chippewa Nature Center, 400 S. Badour Rd.
    When
    Ongoing. The weekend land maintenance group meets the 2nd Saturday of each month, 10 am to noon (not this weekend).
    Run by
    Chippewa Nature Center

    Help care for the nature center’s 1,500 acres: invasive plant removal, trail work, gardening and other projects. Apply online and sign up for opportunities through the center’s POINT volunteer app.

    Sign up with Chippewa Nature Center

West Michigan

    Nothing listed for this section right now — know of one? Tell us

    The Thumb

    • Food bank shift

      Meal prep volunteers

      Port Huron

      Where
      Mid City Nutrition Program, 830 Griswold St.
      When
      Ongoing. Lunch prep Monday to Saturday, 8 am to 12:30 pm; dinner prep Sunday to Friday, 2:30 to 5:15 pm. Orientation required first.
      Run by
      Mid City Nutrition Program

      Help prepare lunch and dinner at Port Huron’s community meal program, or help with weekday inventory. Fill out the volunteer form on the organizer’s page and they contact you when an orientation is available. Volunteers must be over 18 for now.

      Sign up with Mid City Nutrition Program

    Northern Michigan

    • Food bank shift

      Repack at Food Rescue

      Traverse City

      Where
      2889 Aero-Park Dr.
      When
      Ongoing shifts, see sign-up page
      Run by
      Goodwill Northern Michigan

      Repack rescued food into pantry-sized boxes in the Food Rescue of Northwest Michigan warehouse. Ages 18 and older. Details: goodwillnmi.org.

      Sign up with Goodwill Northern Michigan

    Upper Peninsula

    • Building & repairs

      Build-site, ReStore and lunch volunteers

      Marquette

      Where
      Habitat office, 2354 US 41 S; ReStore, 133 Carmen Dr., Harvey
      When
      Ongoing. Construction shifts Monday to Saturday, 8:30 am to noon and 12:30 to 4 pm.
      Run by
      Marquette County Habitat for Humanity

      Help build, repair and install ramps, work at the ReStore, or bring lunch for the crew. Sign up in advance through Yoopers United (linked from the organizer’s page). No one under 16 on an active job site; ages 14–15 can do light duties with 1:1 supervision. Construction volunteers take a free online safety course first.

      Sign up with Marquette County Habitat for Humanity

    Food bank, cleanup or festival in Michigan looking for help?

    Know a volunteer need? Tell us

    Michigan Festivities isn’t affiliated with these organizations. Shifts fill up, so sign up on the organizer’s page first.