Skip to main content
Michigan Header Logo
LEO Labor and Economic Opportunity
Michigan Header Logo Michigan Header Logo
Labor and Economic Opportunity
  • Bureaus & Agencies
    Bureaus & Agencies collapsed link
  • Boards, Commissions & Councils
    Boards, Commissions & Councils collapsed link
  • LEO Initiatives
    LEO Initiatives collapsed link
  • About
    About collapsed link
  • News from LEO Agencies
Bureaus & Agencies
Go to Bureaus & Agencies
  • Bureau of Employment Relations
  • Bureau of Services for Blind Persons
  • Michigan Career & Technical Institute
  • Michigan Economic Development Corporation
  • Community & Worker Economic Transition Office
  • Michigan High-Speed Internet Office
  • Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration
  • Michigan Rehabilitation Services
  • Michigan State Housing Development Authority
  • Office of Global Michigan
  • Office of Mobility and Electrification
  • Office of Rural Prosperity
  • State Land Bank Authority
  • Unemployment Insurance Agency
  • Workers' Disability Compensation Agency
  • Workforce Development
Bureau of Employment Relations
Go to Bureau of Employment Relations

  • Michigan Employment Relations Commission
  • Wage and Hour
Bureau of Services for Blind Persons
Go to Bureau of Services for Blind Persons

Bureau of Services for Blind Persons

  • Broad Overview
  • BSBP Local Offices
  • BSBP Office Information
  • DeafBlind Services
  • Documents and Reports
  • Transition Programs
  • BSBP Advisory Commission
  • BSBP Resources
  • BSBP Training Center
  • BSBP Vocational Rehabilitation
  • Business Enterprise Program
  • Independent Living Services for Seniors
  • Pre-Employment Transition Services
  • Braille and Talking Book Library
Michigan Career & Technical Institute
Go to Michigan Career & Technical Institute

Michigan Career & Technical Institute

  • MCTI Locations
  • Business
  • Student Resources
Michigan Economic Development Corporation
Go to Michigan Economic Development Corporation

Community & Worker Economic Transition Office
Go to Community & Worker Economic Transition Office

Michigan High-Speed Internet Office
Go to Michigan High-Speed Internet Office

Michigan High-Speed Internet Office

  • Michigan Digital Equity and Inclusion
  • MI Connected Future
  • Funding Opportunities
  • Contact Us
Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration
Go to Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration

  • MIOSHA MTI Survey Page
  • About MIOSHA
  • Consultation Education and Training
  • Online Penalty Payment
  • Policies and Procedures
  • Reporting Fatalities and Injuries
  • Safety and Health Programs
  • Standards
  • Employer Assistance
  • Enforcement and Appeals
  • Topics
  • Resources
Michigan Rehabilitation Services
Go to Michigan Rehabilitation Services

Michigan Rehabilitation Services

  • MRS for Individuals
  • MRS for Students
  • MRS for Businesses
  • Calendar
  • Legislative Reports
  • Disability Resources
  • STEMM-Up
Michigan State Housing Development Authority
Go to Michigan State Housing Development Authority

Office of Global Michigan
Go to Office of Global Michigan

Office of Mobility and Electrification
Go to Office of Mobility and Electrification

Office of Rural Prosperity
Go to Office of Rural Prosperity

  • Events
  • Rural Readiness Program
  • Roadmap to Rural Prosperity
  • Rural Readiness Grant Program
State Land Bank Authority
Go to State Land Bank Authority

State Land Bank Authority

  • About Us
  • Partner Land Banks
  • Requests for Proposals and Qualifications
  • Reports and FAQ's
Unemployment Insurance Agency
Go to Unemployment Insurance Agency

Unemployment Insurance Agency

  • UIA Resources for Workers
  • UI Dashboard
  • UIA Resources for Employers
  • Tools & Resources
  • Schedule an Appointment
  • Contact UIA
Workers' Disability Compensation Agency
Go to Workers' Disability Compensation Agency

Workers' Disability Compensation Agency

  • EDI
  • Employees' Information
  • Employers
  • Forms
  • Funds Administration
  • Health Care Services
  • Hearings and Appeals
  • Insurance Requirements
  • Resources and Reports
  • Self-Insurance
  • Vocational Rehabilitation
Workforce Development
Go to Workforce Development

Workforce Development

  • About Us
  • Funding Opportunities
  • Michigan Works!
  • Programs and Services
  • Registered Apprenticeships
  • Industry and Business
  • Workforce Professionals
  • Data and Public Notices
  • Agricultural & Foreign Labor Services
  • Education and Training
  • Veterans' Employment Services
  • Post Secondary Schools
Boards, Commissions & Councils
Go to Boards, Commissions & Councils
  • Michigan Council for Rehabilitation Services
  • Michigan Employment Relations Commission
  • Black Leadership Advisory Council
  • Commission on Middle Eastern American Affairs
  • Hispanic/Latino Commission of Michigan
  • Michigan Asian Pacific American Affairs Commission
  • Michigan Community Service Commission
  • Michigan Council on Future Mobility and Electrification
  • Michigan Women's Commission
  • Michigan Workforce Development Board
  • MiSTEM Advisory Council and MiSTEM Network
  • Unemployment Insurance Appeals Commission
  • Workers' Disability Compensation Appeals Commission
Michigan Council for Rehabilitation Services
Go to Michigan Council for Rehabilitation Services

  • MCRS Events
Michigan Employment Relations Commission
Go to Michigan Employment Relations Commission

Black Leadership Advisory Council
Go to Black Leadership Advisory Council

Black Leadership Advisory Council

Commission on Middle Eastern American Affairs
Go to Commission on Middle Eastern American Affairs

Hispanic/Latino Commission of Michigan
Go to Hispanic/Latino Commission of Michigan

Michigan Asian Pacific American Affairs Commission
Go to Michigan Asian Pacific American Affairs Commission

Michigan Community Service Commission
Go to Michigan Community Service Commission

Michigan Community Service Commission

  • About MCSC
  • Volunteer!
  • Michigan's AmeriCorps
  • Governor's Service Awards
  • Mentor Michigan
  • News, Funding & Resources
  • Afghan Arrivals
  • Youth Initiatives
Michigan Council on Future Mobility and Electrification
Go to Michigan Council on Future Mobility and Electrification

Michigan Women's Commission
Go to Michigan Women's Commission

Michigan Workforce Development Board
Go to Michigan Workforce Development Board

Executive Order 2020-107 established Michigan Workforce Development Board

MiSTEM Advisory Council and MiSTEM Network
Go to MiSTEM Advisory Council and MiSTEM Network

MiSTEM convenes a statewide network of leaders in education, business and local communities to empower the next generation of innovators.

  • About
  • Why STEM?
  • Our Work
  • Regional Networks
  • Get Involved
  • MiSTEM News
  • Advisory Council
  • STEM Toolbox
Unemployment Insurance Appeals Commission
Go to Unemployment Insurance Appeals Commission

Unemployment Insurance Appeals Commission

  • Financial Hardship Waiver (Section 62(a)(ii)) En Banc Decision (Owczarski dissenting) Issued on January 31, 2024
  • Info for MOAHR
  • Digest
  • Circuit Court Decisions
Workers' Disability Compensation Appeals Commission
Go to Workers' Disability Compensation Appeals Commission

formerly MI Compensation Appellate Commission

  • Current Statistics
  • FAQ
  • Policies
  • Resources
LEO Initiatives
Go to LEO Initiatives
  • All-Access Michigan
  • Build Michigan's Infrastructure Workforce Program
  • COVID-19 Workplace Safety
  • Mental Health in the Workplace
  • MI Funding Hub
  • Resources for Businesses
  • MI Small Business
  • Michigan Poverty Task Force
  • Skills to Work
  • Youth Employment
  • Workplace Rights
All-Access Michigan
Go to All-Access Michigan

Build Michigan's Infrastructure Workforce Program
Go to Build Michigan's Infrastructure Workforce Program

COVID-19 Workplace Safety
Go to COVID-19 Workplace Safety

Mental Health in the Workplace
Go to Mental Health in the Workplace

  • Affecting the Workplace
  • In the Workplace
  • Individualized Behavior
  • Understanding the Impact
MI Funding Hub
Go to MI Funding Hub

Resources for Businesses
Go to Resources for Businesses

MI Small Business
Go to MI Small Business

Michigan Poverty Task Force
Go to Michigan Poverty Task Force

  • Opportunities for MI Nonprofits
Skills to Work
Go to Skills to Work

Youth Employment
Go to Youth Employment

Workplace Rights
Go to Workplace Rights

About
Go to About
  • Contact LEO
  • LEO Careers
  • Executive Leadership
  • Legislative Reports
Contact LEO
Go to Contact LEO

Contact for LEO divisions

LEO Careers
Go to LEO Careers

Executive Leadership
Go to Executive Leadership

Executive Leadership

  • Susan Corbin
  • Jonathan Smith
  • Stephanie Beckhorn
  • Sean Egan
  • Kim Trent
  • Jason Palmer
  • Quentin Messer
  • Amy Hovey
Legislative Reports
Go to Legislative Reports

Legislative Reports

News from LEO Agencies
Go to News from LEO Agencies
  • Bureaus & Agencies
  • Boards, Commissions & Councils
  • LEO Initiatives
  • About
  • News from LEO Agencies
Back Bureaus & Agencies
  • Bureau of Employment Relations
  • Bureau of Services for Blind Persons
  • Michigan Career & Technical Institute
  • Michigan Economic Development Corporation
  • Community & Worker Economic Transition Office
  • Michigan High-Speed Internet Office
  • Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration
  • Michigan Rehabilitation Services
  • Michigan State Housing Development Authority
  • Office of Global Michigan
  • Office of Mobility and Electrification
  • Office of Rural Prosperity
  • State Land Bank Authority
  • Unemployment Insurance Agency
  • Workers' Disability Compensation Agency
  • Workforce Development
Back Bureau of Employment Relations
  • Michigan Employment Relations Commission
  • Wage and Hour
Back Bureau of Services for Blind Persons
  • Broad Overview
  • BSBP Local Offices
  • BSBP Office Information
  • DeafBlind Services
  • Documents and Reports
  • Transition Programs
  • BSBP Advisory Commission
  • BSBP Resources
  • BSBP Training Center
  • BSBP Vocational Rehabilitation
  • Business Enterprise Program
  • Independent Living Services for Seniors
  • Pre-Employment Transition Services
  • Braille and Talking Book Library
Back Michigan Career & Technical Institute
  • MCTI Locations
  • Business
  • Student Resources
Back Michigan Economic Development Corporation
Back Community & Worker Economic Transition Office
Back Michigan High-Speed Internet Office
  • Michigan Digital Equity and Inclusion
  • MI Connected Future
  • Funding Opportunities
  • Contact Us
Back Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration
  • MIOSHA MTI Survey Page
  • About MIOSHA
  • Consultation Education and Training
  • Online Penalty Payment
  • Policies and Procedures
  • Reporting Fatalities and Injuries
  • Safety and Health Programs
  • Standards
  • Employer Assistance
  • Enforcement and Appeals
  • Topics
  • Resources
Back Michigan Rehabilitation Services
  • MRS for Individuals
  • MRS for Students
  • MRS for Businesses
  • Calendar
  • Legislative Reports
  • Disability Resources
  • STEMM-Up
Back Michigan State Housing Development Authority
Back Office of Global Michigan
Back Office of Mobility and Electrification
Back Office of Rural Prosperity
  • Events
  • Rural Readiness Program
  • Roadmap to Rural Prosperity
  • Rural Readiness Grant Program
Back State Land Bank Authority
  • About Us
  • Partner Land Banks
  • Requests for Proposals and Qualifications
  • Reports and FAQ's
Back Unemployment Insurance Agency
  • UIA Resources for Workers
  • UI Dashboard
  • UIA Resources for Employers
  • Tools & Resources
  • Schedule an Appointment
  • Contact UIA
Back Workers' Disability Compensation Agency
  • EDI
  • Employees' Information
  • Employers
  • Forms
  • Funds Administration
  • Health Care Services
  • Hearings and Appeals
  • Insurance Requirements
  • Resources and Reports
  • Self-Insurance
  • Vocational Rehabilitation
Back Workforce Development
  • About Us
  • Funding Opportunities
  • Michigan Works!
  • Programs and Services
  • Registered Apprenticeships
  • Industry and Business
  • Workforce Professionals
  • Data and Public Notices
  • Agricultural & Foreign Labor Services
  • Education and Training
  • Veterans' Employment Services
  • Post Secondary Schools
Back Boards, Commissions & Councils
  • Michigan Council for Rehabilitation Services
  • Michigan Employment Relations Commission
  • Black Leadership Advisory Council
  • Commission on Middle Eastern American Affairs
  • Hispanic/Latino Commission of Michigan
  • Michigan Asian Pacific American Affairs Commission
  • Michigan Community Service Commission
  • Michigan Council on Future Mobility and Electrification
  • Michigan Women's Commission
  • Michigan Workforce Development Board
  • MiSTEM Advisory Council and MiSTEM Network
  • Unemployment Insurance Appeals Commission
  • Workers' Disability Compensation Appeals Commission
Back Michigan Council for Rehabilitation Services
  • MCRS Events
Back Michigan Employment Relations Commission
Back Black Leadership Advisory Council
Back Commission on Middle Eastern American Affairs
Back Hispanic/Latino Commission of Michigan
Back Michigan Asian Pacific American Affairs Commission
Back Michigan Community Service Commission
  • About MCSC
  • Volunteer!
  • Michigan's AmeriCorps
  • Governor's Service Awards
  • Mentor Michigan
  • News, Funding & Resources
  • Afghan Arrivals
  • Youth Initiatives
Back Michigan Council on Future Mobility and Electrification
Back Michigan Women's Commission
Back Michigan Workforce Development Board
Back MiSTEM Advisory Council and MiSTEM Network
  • About
  • Why STEM?
  • Our Work
  • Regional Networks
  • Get Involved
  • MiSTEM News
  • Advisory Council
  • STEM Toolbox
Back Unemployment Insurance Appeals Commission
  • Financial Hardship Waiver (Section 62(a)(ii)) En Banc Decision (Owczarski dissenting) Issued on January 31, 2024
  • Info for MOAHR
  • Digest
  • Circuit Court Decisions
Back Workers' Disability Compensation Appeals Commission
  • Current Statistics
  • FAQ
  • Policies
  • Resources
Back LEO Initiatives
  • All-Access Michigan
  • Build Michigan's Infrastructure Workforce Program
  • COVID-19 Workplace Safety
  • Mental Health in the Workplace
  • MI Funding Hub
  • Resources for Businesses
  • MI Small Business
  • Michigan Poverty Task Force
  • Skills to Work
  • Youth Employment
  • Workplace Rights
Back All-Access Michigan
Back Build Michigan's Infrastructure Workforce Program
Back COVID-19 Workplace Safety
Back Mental Health in the Workplace
  • Affecting the Workplace
  • In the Workplace
  • Individualized Behavior
  • Understanding the Impact
Back MI Funding Hub
Back Resources for Businesses
Back MI Small Business
Back Michigan Poverty Task Force
  • Opportunities for MI Nonprofits
Back Skills to Work
Back Youth Employment
Back Workplace Rights
Back About
  • Contact LEO
  • LEO Careers
  • Executive Leadership
  • Legislative Reports
Back Contact LEO
Back LEO Careers
Back Executive Leadership
  • Susan Corbin
  • Jonathan Smith
  • Stephanie Beckhorn
  • Sean Egan
  • Kim Trent
  • Jason Palmer
  • Quentin Messer
  • Amy Hovey
Back Legislative Reports
Back News from LEO Agencies
        
/leo/boards-comms-councils/mcsc/feature/2016/10/31/25-ways-to-nourish-family-volunteering-this-holiday-season
Back to Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity

outline of the shape of Michigan state in teal color


Search is currently unavailable. Please try again later.

Popular on michigan.gov

  • Agriculture and Rural Development
  • Civil Rights
  • Environment
  • Health and Human Services
  • Natural Resources
  • Secretary of State

How Do I...

  • Register to Vote
  • Renew My License Plate
  • View assistance programs
Unsupported Browser Detected

The web Browser you are currently using is unsupported, and some features of this site may not work as intended. Please update to a modern browser such as Chrome, Firefox or Edge to experience all features Michigan.gov has to offer. 

Supported Browsers
  • Google Chrome
  • Safari
  • Microsoft Edge
  • Firefox

25 Ways to Nourish Family Volunteering this Holiday Season

  1. Boards, Commissions & Councils
  2. Michigan Community Service Commission
  3. Feature News & Stories
  4. 25 Ways to Nourish Family Volunteering this Holiday Season

Years ago, as a Volunteer Manager for a retirement living community in rural Michigan I was professionally challenged by a delightfully tenacious 10 year old girl named Charlotte. She simply wanted to volunteer with her mother on our campus. 

Our organization did not allow for volunteers to serve until the age of 14.  Charlotte was determined to serve and called or came into my office with her mother weekly to check if I was making any progress on changing our volunteer policy to be inclusive of families. I had opened up the conversation with the administrators and my colleagues but was met with little enthusiasm or support for the idea due to reservations about supervision and liability issues.  There was also trepidation about the time and energy it would take to create meaningful volunteer opportunities for entire families.

After weeks of brainstorming with Charlotte and her mother, we came up with a list of viable activities a family could do serving on our campus.  Definition of a family would also be challenged to include any two or more caring and supportive individuals consisting of at least one adult over the age of 18.  We started with a pilot program that eventually grew to include mothers with babies and toddlers, grandparents with grandchildren, older sisters with younger sisters, Big Brothers Big Sisters and their littles and many more combinations of families.   

Families in America come in all shapes, sizes and ages which only presents an even wider door for organizations to have their needs met and a chance to offer and create new service opportunities. Volunteering as a family is something we can all do. Whether it’s two of us or an extended family.  What a great way to begin a new family tradition.

We often frantically pursue exposing our children to extracurricular activities like dance classes, clubs, sports teams, music groups and the theater at an early age in hopes it creates lifetime skills but we often forget that early habits of service to others may just as importantly help our children develop into more caring, compassionate and giving citizens of the world. 

Charlotte changed the fabric of life at this retirement community by introducing us to the value of family volunteering.  It would not have happened without her mother and father’s encouragement, desire to teach valuable lessons in giving and the willingness to come out of their own comfort zone to participate in some of her chosen volunteer activities.

I’ve wondered over the years, if I had not taken up the challenge of this 10 year old girl how different the culture of this organization would have been. Fast forward 15 years and the family volunteering program continues to be a vibrant, enriching and important program in the life of the residents and staff of this retirement community.  The acceptance of younger volunteers has also grown.  Later, we went on to create after school programs for elementary and middle school youth, where parents and older siblings were welcomed. Our pool of volunteers soared!

National Family Volunteer Day is Saturday before Thanksgiving As we enter the holidays and our search for finding the true spirit of the season, here are some simple ways to explore with your family meaningful ways to engage and perhaps begin your family on a yearlong journey of giving and community service. One way you can celebrate with us is to volunteer with your family this Holiday season.

25 Ways to Nourish Family Volunteering this Holiday Season

  1. Support our Troops by packing a Christmas shoebox with some of the comforts of home for Operation Shoebox.  http://www.operationshoebox.com/
  2. Record an audiobook for others by going to Librivox a free public domain for audio books. https://librivox.org/pages/volunteer-for-librivox/
  3. Make “blessing bags” by filling zip lock bags with small useful items like protein bars, pair of socks, fleece gloves, travel size personal care items, and wet wipes to give to those who ask for handouts or are homeless. Don’t forget to put in a personal “I care” note or simple drawing of encouragement.
  4. Create a Family Giving List – add to your many holiday lists one that lists 12 ways your family can give in the community or provide service for the upcoming 12 months. Make sure the kids have input!
  5. Learn about philanthropy and spread financial stewardship with your child, by funding a micro-loan and tracking how the loan is paid back via the organization KIVA. https://www.kiva.org/
  6. Decorate a senior’s home in your neighborhood with holiday lights or offer to help with putting up and taking down a Christmas tree for them to enjoy throughout the holiday.
  7. Deliver hot drinks to someone who’s been outside in the cold all day, like a Salvation Army bell ringer, 
  8. Partake in an Angel Tree.  There is bound to be one in your community if not start one. Check with your local United Way to find one or where to offer to organize one.
  9. Help end world hunger. The gift that keeps giving. Give a goat to a family. https://www.heifer.org/gift-catalog/animals-nutrition/gift-of-a-goat-donation.html
  10. Establish a “family giving box” by having the kids decorate a large box or container to serve as the family collection box of outgrown or unused items that can be tossed in. When the box is full, take it as a family to a local charity.
  11. Eat at least one meal this holiday season as a family at a community meal or shelter to provide an opportunity to talk and share with people in tough situations. If appropriate, volunteer ahead of time to help serve meals and/or clean up as well.
  12. Together as a family choose toys to give to a local toy drive.
  13. Create a batch of thank you cards to give throughout the year to share how your family appreciates their civic service – the mail deliverer, snow removal personnel, the garbage & recycling collectors, etc.
  14. Read holiday stories or join a scheduled activity with seniors living in a nursing home or assisted living campus by contacting their activity director. 
  15. Sing carols with a shut-in, you can get a list of who will be all alone this holiday from a local church or senior center.
  16. Make and give environmentally friendly cleaning products to share with neighbors.
  17. Walk and pet animals at your local animal shelter or animal rescue mission.
  18. Contact your local food pantry, alongside your children and request what food item is most in need. Check your cupboard to see if you have the needed item to spare and donate it.
  19. Mail a card to reconnect with a relative that your family has not seen in a while.
  20. Go on a trash walk and help clean up your neighborhood or section of your community.
  21. Help clean up after social hour at church or the school Christmas program as a family.
  22. Create a get well card together and drop it off at your local hospital for a child suffering an illness.
  23. Make and tie a fleece blanket to donate to a homeless shelter in your community. www.wikihow.com/Make-a-Fleece-Tie-Blanket
  24. Deliver cookies or treats to the volunteer staff of a local food or clothing pantry.
  25. Gather school supplies for a family in need by asking your school Principal if there is a family in need and donate the items anonymously.

 

Related News

Claimants can access online unemployment resources when UIA offices are closed for Juneteenth

Going PRO Talent Fund Awards $16 Million in Grants to Support Worker Training Across the State

Supporting Michigan Veterans: Turning Military Experience into Meaningful Careers

Youth Employment Month spotlights efforts to connect young Michiganders with valuable work experience

$9M awarded to strengthen and sustain Michigan museums

Help Still Needed: Volunteers Essential to Ongoing Storm Recovery

AI and the Workforce Plan will create good-paying jobs, invest in workforce and enhance Michigan’s economic growth

Michigan launches public-private partnership with DTE Energy and Consumers Energy to boost manufacturing and support good-paying jobs

Lt. Gov. Gilchrist Announces Over $107 Million in Funding Commitments to Build Michigan’s Infrastructure Workforce

Applications for $700,000 in latest Rural Readiness Grant Program now open

Follow us

Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity
25 Ways to Nourish Family Volunteering this Holiday Season
Copyright State of Michigan
Copyright 2025 State of Michigan Mi.gov Home Policies Accessibility Disability Resources Statewide FOIA Directory Departments
Tracking Image