Community Service Opportunities

Amnesty Decoders
Operated by Amnesty International, this network of digital volunteers helps conduct research into global human rights violations. Volunteers have used their phones and computers to verify the location of oil spills, find evidence of drone strikes, and flag abusive tweets to women politicians in India.

Brilliant Detroit
Brilliant Detroit provides programming and support year-round out of Brilliant Detroit homes in high-need neighborhoods. Brilliant Detroit’s mission is to build kid-success neighborhoods and a large part of what we do is to ensure that kids are kindergarten-ready and assure grade-level reading by third grade. Become a literacy mentor, organize book donation rooms, and more.

Catchafire
This volunteer search tool is exclusively for online volunteer projects. Each one has a timeline that can range anywhere from an hour to a few weeks. So whether you have an afternoon or several days, you can help non-profit organizations with tasks like writing thank you letters or editing photos.

Comfort Shawls
Crochet shawls to help comfort the sick and the elderly. Email cortese.deanna@aod.org

Communities in Schools
CIS of Michigan's goal is to bring the Community into schools through volunteers and partners. Volunteer at a mobile food pantry to assist local students who may be facing food insecurity.

Crisis Text Line
Here’s a perfect example of technology being used for good. Become a volunteer to help the Crisis Text Line continue to offer free, 24/7 support for those in crisis. If you’re at least 18 and can commit to volunteering four hours each week, you can apply to be trained for free.

DoSomething.org
DoSomething empowers young people to enact social change both online or off. Volunteer online through one of our campaigns to help solve real-world problems. DoSomething members have used the internet to successfully urge Apple to diversify their emoji’s, change the dictionary definition of “Black/black”, and create the largest crowdsourced anti-bullying guide.

Focus: HOPE
Through their programs, Focus: HOPE provides an intergenerational and holistic mix of services to help disrupt the effects of racism, poverty, and other forms of social injustice. Programs include early learning, youth development, job training, food for seniors, and community advocacy.

Forgotten Harvest
Forgotten Harvest collects and donates surplus food to local charities and families in need. As a volunteer, you can help pack emergency food boxes, sort food to be distributed through Wayne County, and clean or organize the warehouse.

Gleaner's Community Food Bank
Gleaners relies on volunteers to help feed children, families, seniors, veterans, and other vulnerable neighbors across Southeast Michigan. Volunteers at our warehouses and distribution centers sort and pack food, from fresh fruit to frozen vegetables to canned goods and more. Other times, volunteers help operate mobile grocery sites, tend community gardens, enter data, distribute food at pantries, and more.

Project Gutenberg
Founded in 1971, this may just be the virtual volunteering effort that started it all. The goal is to create the largest digital library, and so far they’ve amassed 59,000 free eBooks. Volunteer by donating eligible materials, transcribing books into a digital form, or proofreading others’ work.

Seasons Hospice and Palliative Care
Seeking volunteers to help make memory bears. Memory Bears are made from the clothing that once belonged to a loved one and can bring comfort and peace for grieving families. All materials are provided. Volunteers work in the comfort of their own home using a simple four-piece pattern. For information. Call Mary Biber 800.370.8592.

Smithsonian Digital Volunteers
The Smithsonian Institution is the world’s largest museum, education, and research complex, but even they could use a little help sometimes. Help make their collections more accessible by volunteering online to transcribe historical documents or edit Wikipedia articles related to their artifacts and research.

The NOAH Project
The NOAH Project serves as a central hub for services, resources, and relationships as we journey alongside individuals on the path to stable housing. Our vision is to be an anchor of hope leading the Detroit community in ending homelessness. Volunteer with the Bag Lunch Program, in the Wellness Center, and more.

Translators Without Borders
For those fluent in more than one language, check out this nonprofit that combines language skills with humanitarian aid. Volunteers provide translations (10 million words a year!) to international organizations that focus on crisis relief, health and education.

United Nations Volunteers
If you’re looking to take your online volunteering worldwide, this is the place to start. UNV connects you with organizations working for peace and development in need of skills like research, writing, art, and design. There are over 12,000 volunteers from 187 countries lending their talents to organizations around the globe.

Zooniverse
Zooniverse is a platform for people-powered research that literally wouldn’t be possible (or practical) without the help of online volunteers. Spend as much or as little time as you’d like identifying endangered animals, classifying galaxy systems, or transcribing Shakespearean manuscripts.

Looking for ways to contribute remotely?

There are many opportunities for you to volunteer in the comfort of your home. We are continuing the project “Happy Cards,” an ongoing project sponsored by the Henry Ford College Community Service Club. You can help by designing homemade greeting cards. The cards are mailed to local nursing home residents, Veterans Hospital in Detroit, and individuals who are sick or lonely.

You may use materials that you have in your home (wrapping paper, ribbons, stickers, old cards, etc.) and create something from scratch. This project is a great way to repurpose and recycle materials.

This is a great educational project for children by combining community service, art, and recycling.

Contact the Office of Student Activities if you are interested. Names and addresses will be provided if needed. You will need to mail the cards. Keep track of your hours and indicate where you sent the cards.

studentactivities@hfcc.edu (313) 845-9865