Ann Arbor is among the wealthiest cities in Michigan, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t people in our city who struggle. According to the University of Michigan, nearly 3,000 people in Washtenaw County grapple with homelessness, are unable to afford basic needs, and do not have access to nutrient-rich food or safe, stable housing.
However, there are many things we can do to make a difference in our communities. Here are a few places high schoolers can volunteer at during the season of giving:
Food Gatherers offers two locations for volunteering: their warehouse and community kitchen. At the Community Kitchen, volunteers are able to do most cooking and serving to people in direct need of a meal. At the warehouse, volunteers go through all of our rescue food to make sure it’s still good for distribution.
The Humane Society of Huron Valley (HSHV), is a no-kill animal shelter, dedicated to giving animals a home regardless of their characteristics. “Our shelter couldn’t function without our volunteers,” says Jamie Campbell, the HSHV Volunteer Coordinator. “We have over 2000 volunteers including fosters, main shelter volunteers, tiny lions volunteers, community cat volunteers and junior volunteers helping to serve our mission and help animals. The number of hours volunteers donated in 2023 was equivalent to 67 full time paid staff members.”
Alpha House aims to work with families experiencing homelessness. By providing families with shelter, quick re-housing, housing assistance and home based support, Alpha House helps families have a better future. Volunteers do everything from maintenance, painting, cooking, cleaning, tutoring to arts and crafts with the families.
