It’s that time again. The leaves are falling, snow feels more and more imminent, and the air is growing chillier by the day. Yet it seems when the weather is at its coldest, human hearts are at their warmest.
Winter is the unofficial season for volunteering. It seems as if the holidays have a way of bringing out the best in people.
From boxes collecting food for the less fortunate to the Salvation Army workers braving the elements to ring bells outside of shopping centers, kindness has a way of permeating the frigid winter air.
What do you do when the spirit gets the best of you? Here in the Ypsilanti area, you can find plenty to do.
A surefire way to get involved is to contact VISION, an organization with the purpose of getting the students and staff of Eastern Michigan University actively involved in making the community a better place. Be sure to stop by its office in the Student Center or contact it at vision@emich.edu for more information on its many programs.
One program affiliated with VISION is Habitat for Humanity, an organization dedicated to providing reasonably priced homes for low-income families in the area. Its projects focus on renovating foreclosed and abandoned houses in order to create new livable, affordable places. The program is dependent on the hard work of volunteers; if swinging a hammer is your thing, visit h4h.org to learn more.
Best Buddies is another volunteer organization you can become involved with through VISION. In a world where material objects and wealth are given so much importance, something as simple as friendship is often overlooked as a valuable gift.
However, to a person with a disability, companionship can make all of the difference.
Best Buddies pairs college students with a “buddy” in order to build a meaningful connection between the two. The program entails quite a commitment — you must write your buddy once a week, hang out twice a month and fill out a report once a month — but the impact it has is tremendous. Write to vis_bestbuddies@emich.edu to discover how to be matched with a buddy of your own.
Is working with children more your forte? If you have a passion for helping kids, America Reads might be the volunteer opportunity for you. The program focuses on providing mentoring to elementary school-aged children through local paid workers and volunteers. The tutors work on improving literacy and math skills. If you want to make a lasting impact in a kid’s life and push him or her toward success, contact vis_AmericaReads@emich.edu
Don’t forget about our lovable, furry friends either. Animal shelters are great places to get involved, especially for animal lovers.
The Humane Society of Huron Valley, based in Ann Arbor, has a volunteer program helping more than 10,000 animals every year. Through the shelter, you can walk a dog, comfort a cat and much more. If reaching out to the four-legged members of the community sounds like your idea of volunteering, visit www.hshv.org
No mention of holiday season volunteering can be made without bringing up those familiar red kettles.
The Salvation Army of Detroit is celebrating its 125th year and looking to enlist plenty of volunteers to reach its goal of $82.2 million in donations. All monetary gifts go directly to provide food and shelter to those in need, which is especially important as poverty levels rise. Want to register to ring? Go to registertoring.com to learn to do just that.
