April 17-23, 2022: Volunteer Week

WHEREAS, each year, more than two million Michiganders spend time volunteering, and more than 8,000 individuals meet community needs through national service; and,

WHEREAS, for 185 years, Michigan has been a state full of innovative, giving, and caring people, and these volunteers help secure and improve our communities and quality of life; and,

WHEREAS, volunteers are the heartbeat of our schools and shelters, hospitals and hotlines, and faith-based and community groups. From mentoring at-risk youth and caring for older adults to supporting our veterans and military families and rebuilding communities after disasters, these everyday heroes make a real and lasting impact on the lives of people across the state; and,

WHEREAS, volunteer and service opportunities are accessible through AmeriCorps and AmeriCorps Seniors programs, Michigan Volunteer Registry, local schools, college campuses, volunteer centers, mentoring organizations, and various nonprofits; and,

WHEREAS, today, as many Michiganders face hardship, we need volunteers more than ever. Service opportunities tap the energy and ingenuity of our greatest resource, people, to improve our communities; and,

WHEREAS, during this week, we join with the Michigan Community Service Commission to raise awareness of and celebrate the impact and importance of volunteers in Michigan, and we encourage citizens in the Great Lakes State to dedicate time to their communities by volunteering with their favorite organization; 

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Gretchen Whitmer, governor of Michigan, do hereby proclaim April 17-23, 2022, as Volunteer Week in Michigan.