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Let's Grow Together: The Growing Hope Volunteer Newsletter
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Are you looking for opportunities to give back and stay involved in your local community? The following content is a list of on-going and up-coming volunteer opportunities with Growing Hope. Whether you're looking for a chance to get your hands dirty on the farm or a chance to use your organizational skills in the Growing Hope office, we have an opportunity for you! Use the links below to jump to sections describing areas of work you're most interested in.
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Farewell from a Volunteer Coordinator
Dear Growing Hope Volunteers,
Last August I began my year of service as an AmeriCorps VISTA with Growing Hope, and what a year it's been! As a volunteer team, we've cleaned, built, painted, planted, weeded until we could weed no more, and enjoyed each others company along the way. As I look back on my year of service with Growing Hope, I can say with confidence that our volunteers made this experience truly special for me. For those of you I had the pleasure of working with directly and indirectly, thank you for offering your time and opening your hearts to my coworkers and I. Without a doubt, Growing Hope cannot survive without the vitality provided by our volunteers. It's been such a treat to see the impressive work you've all accomplished and witness long-lasting relationships being built.
Post AmeriCorps VISTA service, I will be pursuing a masters degree in Public Health as Saint Louis University in Saint Louis, Missouri. I look forward to taking the skills and experience I've gained throughout this past year and applying them to my studies and professional experiences going forward. As I move on to the next chapter in my life, I can say confidently that our exceptional volunteer team will be taken care of by another fellow Hope Grower and VISTA, Julia Entwistle. Julia is in the midst of her very own VISTA experience at Growing Hope. I've had the pleasure of working along side her at the GH Center and am happy to say that she will be taking over the responsibilities of Volunteer Coordinator as I transition out. Hopefully this will have little impact on each of our volunteers, as lines of communication will remain the same. I hope each of you enjoy working with Julia as much as I have!
I cannot thank you all enough for making this year of service meaningful and unforgettable. I find our team of volunteers so inspirational and feel grateful to have played even the slightest role in that team. You helped me develop valuable skills that will surely carry me through my future adventures and given me the opportunity to look back on this year with pride and a sense of accomplishment. Thank you so very much and good luck to each and every one of you!
Sincerely,
Kat Krupsky |
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Farm Workdays
Dates & Times: Mon. 3-5pm and
Wed. & Fri. 10-12pm
Location: The Growing Hope Center
Description: Great for individual and group
volunteers. Come prepared to work outdoors! Wear close-toed shoes and clothes that you can get dirty. Every day is different! Get your hands dirty planting in the hoop house, preparing outdoor garden beds, transplanting seedlings, moving compost, harvesting for the farmers market, and/or help with site maintenance.
Evening Hoop House Caretaker
Dates and Times:
Saturdays & Sundays,
between 5-7pm
Location:
The Growing Hope Center
Description:
We need a trustworthy, dedicated volunteer who can make a regular commitment to one or more hoop house watering shift. This volunteer will be asked to come to the GH Center and water our hoop house while the staff is away. Typically this job takes about 1-2 hours and all training can be provided prior to starting your shift.
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Lend a Handy Hand!
Gas Line Install for Dryer
Dates & Times: Flexible
Location: Growing Hope Center
Description: Are you certified to install gas lines for home appliances and interested in helping out in your community? Help Growing Hope install a gas line in the basement of the GH Center so staff can have a functioning washer and dryer for special events.
Marketplace Bathroom Demo
Dates & Times: Weekdays, between 7/28-8/7
Location: 16 S. Washington St. Ypsilanti, MI 48197
Description: Calling all handy workers!!! We
need a couple of volunteers experienced in demolition work to help with tearing down walls in the old bank building, where our new, year-round marketplace now exists. We're looking for two, maybe three, volunteers with site demo experience and plenty of handy skills to go around. We'll spend a couple hours demoing the bank bathroom (to prepare for building an ADA-accessible bathroom). Wear comfortable clothes you don't mind getting dirty, closed toe shoes, long sleeves and long pants, and bring any personal protective equipment you have!
Rain Barrel Maker
Dates & Times: August 5th-14th, preferably on a Monday or Wednesday during office hours
Location: 9 S. Adams St. Ypsilanti, MI 48197
Description: Join us at the YpsiPlanti Garden Supply shop to assemble a few rain barrel kits to be sold in the shop. Offer your handy skills in exchange for an opportunity to learn how to construct your very own rain barrel and a small discount on your very own rain barrel if you choose to purchase one. This job should only take 1-2 hours to complete.
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Support our Farmers Markets!
Downtown Ypsi Market Support Volunteers
Dates & Times: Tuesdays from 2-3pm and/or from 7-8pm
Location: 16 S. Washington St. Ypsilanti, MI 48197
Description: Do you love Ypsilanti Farmers Markets? Volunteer with our exceptional market team and show how much you love Ypsi markets. GH needs volunteers to help with set-up and tear down at every Tuesday market. Volunteers will be asked to help with tents, tables, and chairs.
Depot Town Market Support Volunteers
Dates & Times: Saturdays from 8-9am and/or from 1-2pm
Location: 100 Rice St. Ypsilanti (in the plaza)
Description: Do you love Ypsilanti Farmers Markets? Volunteer with our exceptional market team and show how much you love Ypsilanti markets. Growing Hope needs volunteers to help with set-up and tear down at every Tuesday market. Volunteers will be asked to help with tents, tables, and chairs.
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Development and Marketing!
Dates & Times: Thursday 8/6 and Friday 8/7, during office hours
Location: The Growing Hope Center
Description: Are you a button making master? If not, are you interested in becoming one?! Help us construct buttons for the Michigan Farmers Market Association (MIFMA). Be prepared for repetitive motions. We can be flexible with your availability during work hours.
Chefs in the Garden Prep-Meister
Dates & Times: Thursday 8/20 and Friday 8/21, during office hours
Location: The Growing Hope Center
Description: The Chefs in the Garden garden party series is finally here!!! With these exciting events come plenty of prep work that must be done to ensure success. Our first garden party will take place and August 23rd and we're in need of volunteer who can sanitize and wash dishes and silverware. Additionally, we need help getting signs, cards, and place settings ready for the event.We're flexible during office hours so let us know if you're interested and or available.
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Garden & Education Programs!
School Garden Leadership Training (GLT)
Support Volunteers
Date/Time: Monday, August 10th from 11-3pm
Location: The Growing Hope Center
Description: GLT is an educational program offered by Growing Hope to teach community members about what it takes to start their very own community garden. Keeping our standard GLT in mind, Growing Hope has designed a curriculum specifically for school gardens and we need volunteers to help support this event. We're looking for 1-2 volunteers to assist with food prep, clean-up and washing dishes. Volunteers will be able to listen in on our curriculum and learn about what it takes to start a school garden in their community.
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Special Events!
Chefs in the Garden Support Volunteers
Dates: Sunday, August 23rd
Shifts: (1) set-up from 11-4:30pm (2) serving and tear-down from 4-8pm
(3) clean-up crew from 7:30-9pm
Location: The Growing Hope Center
Description: Finally, the events you've all been waiting for are here! The 2015 Chefs in the Garden season is on it's way and we need volunteers like YOU to make this season a success! Chefs in the Garden is a fun, exciting, and memorable garden party series hosted by Growing Hope on the GH Urban farm. During these events, we invite local, well-known chefs to whip up a spectacular creation in the kitchen, using locally and seasonally inspired ingredients. Like all Growing Hope events, volunteers are a must! At Chefs, we ask volunteers to help with tasks such as set up, serving, washing dishes, and event tear down. For more information and to sign up for one of our three volunteer shifts, please follow the following link: August Chefs in the Garden Volunteer Registration.
Learn and Serve with Growing Hope
Dates & Times: Saturday, August 29th from 1-4pm
Location: The Growing Hope Center
Description: Learn & Serve is a group service day, hosted by Growing Hope, where our organization pairs an educational workshop with service work. These events are held on the last Saturday of every month. Come prepared to participate in a workshop or presentation as well as service work. Our August Learn & Serve is going to be informative and fun! Join Growing Hope for a Fall Planting workshop that will be followed by relevant service work. Learn about fall crops, what to plant, how to prepare your garden for the fall, and more! For more details, email our Volunteer Coordinator at [email protected].
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Growing Hope is located in Ypsilanti, Michigan in the eastern end of Washtenaw County. Whether you're just down the street in Ypsilanti, from our neighboring city of Ann Arbor, or across the metro-Detroit region, our community includes volunteers, donors, business sponsors, and general Growing Hope enthusiasts. People from across Michigan and visitors from outside our state are welcome to join us as volunteers or participate in our events. There are many ways to be involved!
For more information about volunteering with Growing Hope or to register for one of the opportunities listed above, please contact our Volunteer Coordinator at: [email protected] OR 734.786.8401.
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