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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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5 Reasons Why GH Volunteers are the Best
By: Kat Krupsky, Volunteer Coordinator
What's not to love about motivated individuals who spend their time helping others? Day in and day out, volunteers across the world continue to further the missions of organizations and serve those in need. However, as the summer months are thrusted upon us and Growing Hope programs are running full throttle, we are reminded everyday why our volunteers are the best ones around! Some may say we're biased, but we would argue that in 5 reasons, we can convince you they are the best too!
1. They a
re always willing to do more!
Our volunteers never fail to ask "how else can I help". No matter the work, Growing Hope volunteers are always ready for more!
2.
They fill the gaps and foster success!
Like most organizations similar to Growing Hope, our budget for staff time isn't always a big as our ambitions. However, our stellar volunteers are always there to fill in where no one else wants to or has time to. Without our volunteers, many programs would never even leave the ground.
3.
They are always willing to share!
Not only do our volunteers share their valuable time, but also their knowledge, personal stories, and background. Some of the best characteristics of volunteer experiences with Growing Hope are directly related to personal contributions from other volunteers. Our volunteers are always eager to ask questions, share their experiences in the garden, offer knowledge, and open up about their own personal backgrounds. This provides opportunities to not only give back to your community, but learn from and about your neighbors.
4.
They are always smiling!
The weather may not always be consistent, but the smiling faces on our volunteers are! No matter the topic and no matter the conditions, Growing Hope volunteers are ready to tackle the task at hand with a positive attitude and an infectious smile.
5. They further our mission!
Our staff may be small, but with the help of our exceptional volunteers, our reach is large. Growing Hope volunteers see volunteer jobs as more than just an opportunity for service work. They ask questions and learn about our organization so they can take what they've learned and share with their community. Through volunteering, they become knowledgeable about our vision and build capacity by communicating our mission.
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Farm Workdays
Dates & Times: Mon. 3-5pm and
Tue. & 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.
Hoop House Caretaker
Dates and Times: Thursdays-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 Saturday shift.
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Lend a Handy Hand!
Lawn Care Volunteer(s)
Dates & Times: Weekly/Flexible
Location: The Growing Hope Center
Description: Interested in offering your lawn mowing services? Help k
eep the Growing Hope Center beautiful by taking a few hours to mow our grass once a week, or as often as you are able. All materials are provided. Just show up and be prepared to cut grass from 1-2 hours.
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.
Kitchen Floor Sealer
Dates & Times: Any free weekend. We can be flexible with your availability.
Location: The Growing Hope Center
Description:
To obtain kitchen certification, Growing Hope is required to glue down any kitchen floor tile that seems to be coming up/loose, and then seal the whole floor with an acrylic floor sealant product. We also need to caulk the baseboards to seal them. If you're a volunteer with some knowledge or experience with this type of work, holler at us! This job should take between 5-6 hours to complete.
Hardware Installer
Dates & Times:
Flexible
Location:
The Growing Hope Center
Description:
We need a volunteer to i
nstall required hardware to enable our downstairs bathroom door to be self-closing, per kitchen certification requireme
nt. If you're handy and have a knack for installing household hardware, this job is for you!
Fence Painter
Dates & Times: Weekdays, flexible
Location: The Growing Hope Center
Description: Do you like to paint and be outdoors? Help us complete the painting of our white picket fence along East side of the Growing Hope Center Farm. All materials can be provided, though if you have commercial painting equipment, feel free to bring it along! We estimate that this job well take about 6 hours to complete. It can be broken up into multiple workdays if needed.
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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!
Bulk Mailing Help
Dates & Times: Monday 7/13, Tuesday 7/14, Wednesday 7/15, between 9-5pm
Location: The Growing Hope Center
Description: We need a few volunteers to help prepare approximately 300 pieces of mail that will be sent out to potential capitol campaign supporters. This job typically includes stuffing envelops, labeling, sealing, and placing stamps. This job is great for those who like to hang out inside with the Growing Hope Staff!
Button Making Master
Dates & Times: Starting 7/2 until completed, 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 and bottle-openers that will serve as thank-you gifts to our donors from the patronicity campaign.
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Special Events!
Ann Arbor Art Fair Economic Impact Study
Dates & Times: July 15th-18th
Location: The Ann Arbor Art Fair
Description: The Ann Arbor Area Convention and Visitors Bureau (AAACVB) will be conducting an economic impact study of the 2015 Ann Arbor Art Fair. The AAACVB is looking for volunteers to collect survey responses during the Art Fair. This opportunity is not ran by Growing Hope, but as a volunteer you have an opportunity to give a charitable donation through your service. For every volunteer shift filled by a GH volunteer, The Ann Arbor Area Convention and Visitor's Bureau will be
donating $25 to our organization. To register, follow the link below. Be sure to list Growing Hope as your organization when you register.
YpsiTasty Guides and Greeters
Dates & Times: Tuesday, July 21st between 4-9pm (depending on your volunteer role)
Location: The Ypsilanti area (The Downtown and Depot Town Farmers Market locations)
Description:We'll need folks to help guests at our YpsiTasty Grub Crawl on Tuesday, July 21. The event is from 5-9pm. Volunteers may be assigned to the guest check in station where tickets and maps will be distributed, or will be asked to staff different information stations where guests can check in, ask questions, and get directions. Guest check in will be between 4-4:30. This is a super fun event, and volunteers get to sample some tasty local food as a reward for their work! Check out more details on our events page at:
Learn and Serve with Growing Hope
Dates & Times: Saturday, July 25th from 1-4pm
Location: The Growing Hope Center
Description: Calling all youth! Growing Hope has a group service day planned specifically for you! Join us at the Growing Hope Center for a Teen Mentor led service day that will be paired with a site tour, a Growing Hope overview, and some fun group activities. Our Teen Mentors, youth employed by Growing Hope, will introduce volunteers to our Youth Garden space and lead them in service work that contributes to its development. All volunteers 18 and under will need a parent or guardian to complete a volunteer Registration and Release Form prior to volunteering with us. For more details or to register for this event, please email Kat Krupsky 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, Kat Krupsky at: [email protected] OR 734.786.8401.
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