January 13, 2021
The Michigan Community Service Commission today announced it will help support 56 Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service volunteer projects engaging more than 5,000 volunteers who will serve more than 16,000 volunteer hours to benefit Michigan communities.
Projects include providing child-size masks to youth serving organizations and thanking healthcare workers for the care given to Michigan residents. Organizations have also planned projects to address community needs related to COVID-19 including food distribution events, providing support for the homeless, addressing mental health needs and providing education and tools to prevent the spread of infection.
“Serving our communities is an important way to carry forward the spirit of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., while also rallying together to unite Michiganders after a challenging year," Lt. Governor Garlin Gilchrist II said. "I’m proud to support communities in our great state in a time when it's needed most. I encourage everyone to find a way to serve while following safety guidelines."
The Michigan Community Service Commission is awarding more than $20,000 in grants to organizations ranging from $100 to $1,000 to help communities recover from the impact of COVID-19. Funding has also been provided by partners AmeriCorps the Agency and Youth Service America through the Allstate Foundation.
These projects are happening in communities across the state, some of which are still in need of volunteers.
Below you will find a complete list of projects the Michigan Community Service Commission is supporting, and details on how Michiganders can join the efforts.
You can register for the available opportunities at https://miserves.org/mlk-day-events/.
Our federal partner, AmeriCorps, has been partnering with the Presidential Inaugural Committee to promote the importance of service and volunteerism. There are two options to show your support.
1.) Go to https://bideninaugural.org/day-of-service/ and pledge your commitment to serve on MLK Day and/or throughout 2021.
2.) Record a video using the prompt "Why is giving back important to you?" The guidelines for creating and uploading the video can be found at https://stories.bideninaugural.org/prompt-single/GivingBack.
|
Location |
Brief Project Description |
Date |
|
Flint United Way of Genesee County 111 E Court St. |
Two outdoor food distribution events each at a Flint school location |
Jan. 18 |
|
Albion Harrington Parent Council Organization 100 S. Clark Street |
Virtual event to celebrate the life of MLK where students will read essays, perform song and dance. Public is welcome to watch the performance virtually |
Jan. 18 |
|
Detroit COTS 2211 E Jefferson, Ste 400 |
Volunteers will be making activity kits for children at Peggy’s Place homeless shelter |
The week of Jan. 18 |
|
Detroit Detroit PAL 1680 Michigan Ave. |
AmeriCorps members and volunteers will create a mental health awareness program for teens and create kits of journals, snacks and writing supplies |
Jan. 21 |
|
Fremont Volunteer Resource Center of Newaygo County 6308 S. Warner Ave. |
Volunteers hosting community-wide food drive for child-friendly, shelf-stable foods to support the weekend backpack program for school aged children |
Jan. 8-24 |
|
Lansing Les Meres et Debutantes Club of Greater Lansing Alumni Association PO Box 22214 |
Group will provide personal hygiene kits for women in domestic violence shelters |
Jan. 9 |
|
Flint Communities First, Inc. 415 W Court St. |
Volunteers will contribute art in the form of poems, paintings, drawings and songs to contribute to a mural in a housing community |
Art contributions collected Jan. 13-20 and unveiling of final piece mid-February |
|
Swartz Creek Genesee Intermediate School District - 21st Century 2033 Elms Road, Bldg. C |
Service-learning student leaders, will create family-friendly game kits for families impacted by quarantine and will be distributed by the school |
Jan. 4-Feb. 20 |
|
Detroit Urban Safety Program Wayne State University 42 W Warren Ave. |
The Urban Safety Program will host community-wide Zoom meetings to teach families how to improve lung health and avoid exposure to COVID-19. Volunteers will deliver cleaning supplies to homes in Detroit |
Jan. 18 |
|
Alpena United Way of Northeast Michigan 108 Water St. |
Students will bake items for health department employees and design art to be displayed at the health department |
Jan. 21 |
|
Saginaw Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. PO Box 6853 |
Members will create cards for staff and message of support for patients will also providing refreshments the local physician’s office caring for COVID-19 patients |
Jan. 18 |
|
Bay City Disability Services Resource Center 1820 N Trumball Drive |
Young people will create art depicting their abilities and parents will write a piece about their child’s special abilities. These pieces will be displayed and accessible online. |
Week of Jan. 18 |
|
Albion Albion College/Albion Food HUB 611 E Porter St. |
College students in collaboration with the Albion Food Hub, will distribute food to the community. |
Last week of January and first week of February |
|
Taylor Wolverine Human Services 20300 Superior Road, Ste 140 |
Volunteers will create and distribute packs of cleaning supplies to families providing foster care services in multiple Michigan counties |
Jan.18- 22 |
|
Sault Ste Marie United Way of the Eastern Upper Peninsula's Retired and Senior Volunteer Program 511 Ashmun St. |
Youth will create cards and short essays about MLK., and writings will be distributed to isolated seniors through the Meals on Wheels program |
Jan.18-22 |
|
Grand Rapids Heart of West Michigan United Way 118 Commerce Ave. SW |
Youth and corporate volunteers will make blankets and bracelets for homeless and families with special medical needs |
Jan. 18 |
|
White Lake St Patrick’s Parish 9086 Hutchins Road |
In collaboration with Kids Coalition Against Hunger, a large food distribution event will be held. |
Jan. 30 |
|
Muskegon Muskegon College Network 200 Harvey St. |
A scholarship program to support local youth and zoom meetings to help young people understand the college application |
7-7:45 pm |
|
Monroe Monroe County Opportunity Program 1140 S Telegraph Road |
In collaboration with the Food Gleaner’s program, a community wide food distribution event will be held with fresh vegetables. |
Jan. 15 |
|
South Haven Senior Services/RSVP of Van Buren County 1635 76th St. |
Volunteers will make art, cards and deserts for seniors who are isolated. The items will be distributed through the Meals on Wheels program |
Jan. 12 and Jan. 19 |
|
South Haven HOPE Parent Resource Center 901 South Bailey Ave., Ste 1 |
Volunteers will distribute support items to young parents. Support materials include diapers, wipes, books and materials to help cope with stress and unexpected changes brought on by COVID-19 |
Jan. 18-31 |
|
West Bloomfield United We Walk / West Bloomfield School District 5810 Commerce Road |
In conjunction with Blessings in a Backpack, students are hosting a virtual MLK event featuring their writings, art, and music to raise money for the weekend food program. |
Jan. 17 |
|
Grand Rapids GR Initiative for Leaders |
Virtual MLK celebration event |
Jan. 17 |
|
Lansing Dr. Martin Luther King Commission of Mid-Michigan |
Televised celebration of MLK featuring Dr. Bernice King airing on WILX News 10 |
January 18 at 7:00 p.m., WILX News 10 |
|
Wixom Kids Coalition Against Hunger
|
Volunteers will pack food kits to prevent childhood hunger |
Jan. 16 |
|
Compassion through Food for Healthcare Heroes
|
||
|
Saginaw Saginaw United Way Alpha Kappa Alpha Saginaw Transit Authority |
Volunteers will honor healthcare workers in physician offices, urgent care centers and COVID-19uUnits with care packages of food and gifts |
Week of Jan. 18 |
|
Kalamazoo Michigan Fitness Council |
AmeriCorps members and youth from local schools will honor nursing home employees with refreshments, cards and wellness tips |
Jan. 18 |
|
Kalamazoo Parchment School District |
Students will outfit several hospital breakrooms with refreshments, food, placemats made by students and art for the walls |
Jan.15 |
|
Clare Clare Junior Chamber of Commerce |
Young leaders will treat employees of several nursing homes with refreshments and cards of thanks |
Week of Jan.18 |
|
Alpena Alpena Boys and Girls Club |
Will bake items for the area’s health department employees and design wall art |
Jan. 18th |
|
Caro Human Development Corporation |
With multiple childcare organization, will be coordinating cards and art along with food items for healthcare organizations |
Week of Jan. 18 |
|
Gaylord Otsego County United Way |
Youth from surrounding areas and RSVP Volunteers will write thank you cards and refreshments and provide free yoga classes to healthcare workers |
Jan. 18 |
|
Bay City United Way of Bay County |
High school volunteers will be putting together bags of treats for healthcare providers at McLaren Hospital. |
Jan. 18 |
|
Michigan Mask Program – Keeping Children safe |
||
|
State-wide Michigan 4-H |
Youth sewing masks |
February |
|
Saginaw VBM Girl Scout Troop 50824 |
Youth sewing masks |
Month of January |
|
Lansing Lansing Catholic High School |
Youth sewing masks |
Month of January |
|
Detroit Boys and Girls Club of SE Michigan, Diehl Club |
Youth sewing masks |
Month of January |
|
Albion Harrington PCO |
Parents and community members sewing masks |
Month of January |
|
Highland Park My Sister’s Keeper |
Youth sewing masks |
Month of January |
|
Manistique Emerald Elementary Leadership Team |
Youth sewing masks |
Month of January |
|
Sterling Heights Academy 4 ‘lil Angels |
Sewing masks for families |
Month of January |
|
Superior Township Nation of Youth |
Youth sewing masks |
Month of January |
|
Clarkston Kids Standard Publication |
Youth sewing masks |
Month of January |
|
Benton Harbor Benton Harbor Community Water Council- Black Autonomy Network Community Organization |
Youth sewing masks and needs additional volunteers to sew masks |
Month of January |
|
Eastpointe Platforum |
Youth sewing masks and creating cleaning kits for various youth organizations |
Month of January |
|
Grand Rapids Senior Neighbors |
Sewing masks and providing care kits for youth organizations |
Month of January |
|
Carson City Carson City Schools |
Needs volunteers to sew masks for children |
Month of January |
|
Alpena Alpena Boys and Girls Club |
Youth sewing masks for children |
Month of January |
|
Caro Human Development Corporation |
Volunteers needed to sew masks for children in foster care |
Month of January |
|
Detroit Busy Minds Day Care |
Volunteers needed to sew masks for children |
Month of January |
|
Oak Park Sunny Side Enrichment Center |
Volunteers needed to sew children’s masks |
Month of January |
|
Lansing Capital Area Community Services Head start |
Volunteers needed to sew children’s masks
|
Month of January |
|
Oak Park LWSC Day Care |
Volunteers needed to sew children’s masks |
Month of January |
