Volunteer

"Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven."

-Matthew 5:16

SAFE ENVIRONMENTS

The following Safe Environments Requirements must be completed prior to volunteering with OLGC in many ministries.

Thank you for your attentiveness!

Volunteer with our Evangelical Charity Ministries

For general inquires, contact Michelle Piccolo, Director of Christan Service/Evangelical Charity [email protected] or (734)453-0326 ext 227.

Are you looking to go out and serve in our local community? Scroll down to the bottom of this page for an extensive list!

Not sure where to begin? Complete this short form to receive additional information about a variety of ministries and programs as you discern where God is calling you.

St. Aloysius Monthly Food Drive

Once a month, the Baskets of Hope food collection will be designated to St Aloysius in Detroit. We need your help loading and boxing up the donations from the Church to the truck as well as driving the truck to Detroit. This is a great service opportunity for families, small groups, and sports teams to volunteer! Sign up by clicking the Volunteer link or here.

You can also volunteer directly with St Al's in various ways. Check out all of the opportunities on their Neighborhood Services page.

Volunteer

PBJ Outreach

P.B.J. (Peanut Butter and Jelly) Outreach, Inc. is a non-profit organization focused on feeding and clothing the poor and marginalized living in the Detroit metropolitan area. Meet us any Saturday morning at 6:00am in the OLGC Social Hall to pack food and head to one of our 3 distribution sites in Detroit. Visit PBJOutreach.org for more information.

Volunteer

Helping Hands

Helping Hands volunteers serve parishioners who are in need of getting rides to appointments, to Mass, run errands, deliver groceries as well as performing small handyman fixes and seasonal outdoor work. If you would like to help a parishioner with any of these tasks, email Barrie Brown to be added to the list of helpers.

Email Barrie Brown

Bereavement Ministry

When it comes time to help a grieving family during the funeral services, our Bereavement Ministry is there to assist during the liturgy. This much needed ministry also walks with the grieving family for up a to year with monthly contact via phone and cards. If you feel called to serve in this area, reach out to Georgia Scappaticci.

Email Georgia Scappaticci

Life Issues

The mission of OLGC’s Life Issues Ministry is to inspire our parish and community to cherish the dignity of all human life from conception to natural death. Our goals are to educate and spread awareness, spark action and involvement within the parish and community and offer support and provide resources to those impacted by life issues. Click on our flyer to read about some of the events we sponsor throughout the year and email us to volunteer. Visit our page at https://www.olgcparish.net/lif...

Email Our Life Issues ChairLife Issues Ministry FlyerLocal Pregnancy Resources

Meals by Referral

Do you have a gift of cooking and hospitality? Meals by Referral exists to help parishioners recovering from surgery, new mom's recovering from labor and delivery or for those who are sick by providing meals for up to 10 days. Email Lee McDonagh for more information.

Email Lee McDonagh to Volunteer

Work of Our Hands Yarn Ministry

Do you love crafts and have a knack for crocheting? This ministry uses their gift of creativity to create items such as fleece blankets for baby items, adult blankets and hat linings as well as water filter covers and angel wraps and other gifts to meet the needs of those requesting items with a personal touch.

Email Marilynn KokoszkaEmail Karen Folland

Clergy Appreciation

We are so grateful for our priests! This ministry serves to support, honor and thank our priests and deacons through spiritual bouquets, meals, notes and clergy appreciation days. If you'd like to help out, reach out to Mary Zick for more information.

Email Mary Zick

Parishioner Support Ministry

Do you have the gift of gab? Do you like sending cards out of the blue to friends and loved ones? Carol Clinton and Ann Houska run this ministry which sends cards to parishioners who are sick, homebound and bereaved and chat on the phone to bring a smile to their faces.

Email Carol Clinton

St. Kizito Sister Parish Outreach

"Change a Life. Save a Family."

Bridging relationship from 8,000 miles away, we connect with our sister parish, St. Kizito Bwayiise Parish in Kampala, Uganda. This ministry provides medical care to those who once had none, matching families from OLGC with children of the Bwayiise slums to ensure an education. To learn more, email Jasmin Walker or Chuck Salter.

Email Chuck SalterEmail Jasmin WalkerWatch Videos From St KizitoRead articles about St Kizito

Christmas Giving Tree

One of our largest fundraisers of the year is our annual Giving Tree at Christmas. We ask parishioners to donate items from various Detroit and local organizations in need such as clothing, toys, and gift cards. This ministry requires all hands on deck during the Christmas season and is always looking for help. Email Darlene Rinke to volunteer.

Email Darlene Rinke

Manna Meals

Manna Meals is a Detroit soup kitchen, in Corktown, that is staffed by OLGC volunteers on Tuesdays. We would love to have you join us! Each week 4-5 of us carpool from the church parking lot at 6:00 a.m, returning by 10:30 a.m. We rotate each week who is coming based on each of our personal schedules. We have a good time together, working with the paid staff, making sandwiches then serving them inside St. Peter’s. Please call Ann Schneider at 248-767-0778 to get more information!

St Francis Community Garden

Located outside the Social Hall, our garden has been operating since 2018 providing food for those in need in our community. Every summer we deliver hundreds of pounds of fresh vegetables to Salvation Army of Plymouth and St. Mary’s Food Pantry in Wayne. If you’re interested in helping water and maintain the garden, or deliver the harvest, reach out to Susan Gutman.

Email Susan Gutman

Other Service Opportunities

Serve in the Surrounding Area

Open Door Ministry - Canton - Food Pantry and Job Bank

Open Door Ministries mission is not to just provide food to needy families, but to help them to be able to provide food for themselves. We do this through our food pantry, job bank, ODM Graduate School, and one on one counseling. This is a community wide effort to provide meaningful help to those in need.

All ages are welcome to join this community wide effort.

Address

4301 South Lilley Road

Canton, MI 48188

Thursday's 3:00pm - 8:00pm

  • Distributing Food
  • Helping with Job Bank
  • Packing Groceries
  • Cleaning

Individuals

If you are an individual wanting to volunteer, you don't have to call. Just come in and see either Steve Darr or Kevin Brooks. We distribute food every Thursday evening except for Thanksgiving day and the week between Christmas and New Years.

Groups

We love to have groups come and help! If you're part of a group, please call us at 734.397.1777 ext 2011 or email us at [email protected] so that we can better coordinate your visit to be meaningful for your group.

Donations

If you would like to drop off donations at Open Door Ministry you can do so on Tuesdays from 9:00am - 11:00am, Wednesdays from 9:00am - 2:00pm, or Thursdays from 1:00pm - 8:30pm.

Trinity Presbyterian Church Food Pantry - Plymouth

On the 3rd Saturday of every month, Trinity holds a Food Pantry that feeds over 200 families from our local community. Discover more and be a part of the teams that unpack and distribute food, serve soup and love on families, help with registration, and so much more.

Visit their website to sign up for a Saturday morning to help pack and distribute food.

First Step - Plymouth (Shelter located in Wayne)

The mission of First Step is to eliminate both domestic and sexual violence and to provide comprehensive services to individuals and families impacted by these crimes. You can read more about them at https://www.firststep-mi.org/ and download their Volunteer Catalog. You can also donate from their Wish List here.

AAA Pregnancy Resource Center - Livonia

Pregnancy Resource Centers are at the forefront of the pro-life movement in our Post-Roe country. But they need your help to keep their center running efficiently. AAA Pregnancy Center in Livonia has many opportunities including:

  • Receptionist | Answer questions that callers have; directs calls as necessary.
  • Client Associate | Meet with clients during their first appointment.
  • Baby Shop Clerk | Sorts, organizes and distributes baby clothes and supplies.
  • Medical Sonographer | Conducts ultrasounds using our equipment.
  • Men2Men Associate | Meets with men who accompany women to ultrasounds.
  • Handyman | Assists with repairs/updates to building, equipment or property.
  • Cargo Carrier | Transport baby items from Mom2Mom sales to the AAAPRC.
  • Mailing Volunteer | Assists in putting together mass mailings.
  • Baby Bottle Volunteer | Assists in prepping or processing bottles for campaigns.
  • Church Liaison | Communicates the AAAPRC’s needs and events to their church.
  • Event Volunteer | Various responsibilities associated with special events.
  • Fundraiser | Contacts various companies for possible donations.

Go to their website to volunteer.

Vista Maria - Dearborn Heights

Vista Maria volunteers ignite possibility! Every year hundreds of people share their time, thoughtfulness, and talents with our residents—helping each young person heal and transform, showing them love and empowering each person’s own courageous path. Go to their Volunteer page to find out how you can make a difference in a young girl's life today!

Hope Clinic - Ypsilanti

Hope Clinic is an interdenominational Christian nonprofit organization, provides compassionate and practical help to those in need, ministering to the whole person with dignity and respect and is located in Ypsilanti. Hope Clinic offers free dental and medical services. They also offer free weekend meals, a food pantry, laundry services, fresh produce distribution, care and share closet, baby care and financial assistance.

Click here to volunteer at Hope Clinic.

Sanctum House - Novi

Sanctum House provides a safe refuge for women survivors of human trafficking. They provide 24/7 housing, healthcare, dental care, education and so much more. They are in need of the following volunteers:

  • Drivers
  • Mentors
  • Social Media Support (to use and share pages on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter and Instagram)
  • Fundraisers – Strategic fundraising planning Committee, specific event planning, general event volunteers, ie, greeters, clean-up, set-up, decorate, etc
  • Hair Stylists
  • Nail Technician
  • Exercise
  • Art & Craft
  • Cooking/Baking
  • Nutrition
  • Personal finance
  • Life skills
  • Gardening
  • Couponing
  • Recovery classes and/or coaching
  • Recovery Sponsors
  • Animal Assisted Emotional Support Therapy

Visit their website to put your skills to work for good!

Another Way Pregnancy Center - Farmington Hills

ANOTHER WAY PREGNANCY CENTER (AWPC) IS A NON-PROFIT WOMEN'S CARE ORGANIZATION

We exist so no woman or couple feels the need for abortion. Programs offered through our center focus on sexual integrity, fetal development, ultrasounds, parenting, adoption resources, material support, and opportunities for personal growth and restoration.

Volunteering at AWPC is an opportunity to care for those facing difficult pregnancy decisions as well as struggles in relationships, finances, physical health and spiritual well-being. All who work behind the scenes as well as those with direct client contact are vital to what we provide.

For general information or to volunteer, please Contact Us via email, or call our volunteer coordinator at 248-471-5858. Learn about some of our volunteer opportunities by clicking here.

Material Goods Donations

Please call us at 248-471-5858 to schedule a drop-off.

Please bring only clean, safe items. Due to our limited space and limited boutique staff, we ask that all clothing is sorted by size.

You can donate items by visiting their website to view a list of items most in need.

General Boutique Needs:

  • Crib Sheets
  • Lightweight Baby Blankets
  • Girl Winter 9m, 18m, 24m and 2T outfits
  • Boy Winter 18m, 24m and 2T outfits
  • Maternity Spring/Summer Clothing: L, XL, XXL
  • Holiday Clothing NB-2T (Valentine’s, St. Patrick’s, Easter, Patriotic, Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas)
  • Vaseline
  • Infant Car Seats (less than 4 years old)
  • Convertible Car Seats (less than 4 years old)
  • Toddler Car Seats (less than 4 years old)
  • Baby Gates
  • Diapers Size 5 and 6
  • Wipes

Urgent Needs:

  • Boppy Pillows and covers
  • Toddler dishes, cups, and utensils
  • Crib Sheets
  • Similac Sensitive
  • New Breast Pumps
  • Baby Cereal
  • Baby food in jars – vegetable and fruits (no meat)
  • Teethers
  • Baby Shampoo, Lotion, Oil

Specific Client Needs:

  • Travel System
  • Double Stroller
  • Infant Car Seat
  • Baby Swing
CARES of Farmington Hills

The mission of CARES of Farmington Hills is to offer comprehensive support services for individuals and their families in and around the Farmington Hills area that are in need or have limited access to everyday necessities due to insufficient financial resources or family instability. CARES will offer needed support in the areas of food, clothing, job education and training as well as access to other community and county support services – all on one campus.

Volunteer with CARES

St Mary's Food Depot and Clothing Closet - Wayne

The St. Mary Community Outreach Center opened its doors to the public on September 3rd, 2003. The Outreach Center is home to the Food Depot & the Open Closet Clothing Bank.

34646 Sims St. (Corner of 2nd & Sims St.) Wayne, MI 48184

Cities We Service:
Wayne, Westland, Canton, Dearborn, Dearborn Heights, Garden City, Livonia and Plymouth

The St. Mary Community Outreach Center relies on volunteers, donations, and sponsors to keep it running and able to support those who are in need. Even by something as simple as spreading the word, we hope to keep the Outreach Center running indefinitely to continue the vision of helping our brothers and sisters in need.

Volunteers

Volunteers are always welcome!
Contact the Outreach Center and ask for Judy.

Donate

Clothing, small household items, and unexpired food can all be donated during regular business hours. Please call (734) 326-2234 for the procedure to donate large household items such as furniture or appliances.

The Outreach Center is a 501C3 organization. All donations are tax deductible.

Serve In Detroit

Manna Meals

OLGC has been responsible for staffing the Tuesday morning volunteers at Manna Meals for well over 20 years. This ministry prepares and serves sandwiches and soup for the homeless at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church in downtown Detroit in an effort to provide fellowship for marginalized brothers and sisters.

Manna Meals meets once per week on Tuesday mornings at 6am in the OLGC parking lot to carpool downtown. Come join us by contacting Ann Schneider at (248) 767-0778 or email her at [email protected]

St Aloysius Neighborhood Services

St. Aloysius in Detroit is in need of volunteers for various duties.

To volunteer, visit their website.

Saint Christine's Christian Services

SCCS is a non-profit organization that serves the needs of the community, foremost among them the Soup Kitchen and Food Pantry.

To volunteer, please call Patty H. at (810) 919-0591.

Center for the Works of Mercy

Located on Woodward Avenue in the heart of Detroit’s North End neighborhood, the Center for the Works of Mercy is the new home of Catholic Charities in Detroit. In collaboration with numerous community partners, the Center for the Works of Mercy puts love into action by offering multiple services under one roof that fulfill a person’s basic needs. These basic needs are the foundation of the corporal works of mercy.

Go to www.ccsem.org/cwm or click here to download the brochure: Center-for-the-Works-of-Mercy-Brochure-Final

For volunteer opportunities, click here: Clothing Volunteers- CWM

Pope Francis Center

Located in the heart of downtown Detroit, Pope Francis Center provides vital services to individuals experiencing homelessness. On an average day, we welcome nearly 200 guests and provide them with nutritious meals, showers, laundry, and access to doctors, dentists, lawyers, and housing providers through our free clinics. We've been serving Detroit’s most vulnerable citizens since 1990, and we’re committed to eradicating chronic homelessness in our city.

Sign up to Volunteer at the Pope Francis Center as an individual or with a group!

Better Way Detroit

Better WAY Detroit™ [BWD] engages, pays, feeds, and counsels homeless persons, and connects them to services for housing, medical and mental health care, and stable employment opportunities. In return, BWD participants help community organizations like St. Vincent de Paul-Detroit and Detroit Goodfellows serve the underserved. During the summer months, we also help clean Detroit parks and neighborhoods of trash and overgrowth to help make them safer.

Contact BWD to volunteer.