To volunteer for any of the following positions, please contact Lora Stevens at 231.924.0641 or lstevens@truenorthservices.org. To receive monthly emails about volunteer opportunities at TrueNorth and in Newaygo County, please click here.
Advisory Committees
TrueNorth has several advisory committees including Camp Newaygo, Center for Nonprofit Housing, Project Literacy, Special Events, and Volunteer Services. Volunteers serve on the committees for at least 6 months. Committees meet approximately once a month to discuss relevant issues. Currently accepting new committee members: Project Literacy, Special Events, and Volunteer Services.
Bakery Pick-Up Volunteer
The Food Pantry at TrueNorth receives donated baked goods from Bill's Shop n' Save every weekday morning. This volunteer would be in charge of picking up the baked goods from Bill's Shop n' Save 1-2 days per week, bringing the food to the TrueNorth Food Pantry, stocking pantry shelves with the baked goods, and rotating the product on the shelves. This helps TrueNorth staff members prepare the pantry for families in need to receive food.
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Newaygo County
Big Brothers Big Sisters is a program where mentoring provides young people with one-on-one time spent with a volunteer mentor doing activities they both enjoy for about 8 hours each month. Shared interests might include shooting hoops, playing a board game, going fishing, or just spending time together and talking. Background check required.
Camper Arrival & Departure Days
Camp Newaygo needs volunteers to greet the campers for each session and help campers depart, so staff members can answer questions for parents. Coming to Camp can be an intimidating experience for children as well as parents, so it is important to make them feel as welcome as possible. Click on the heading above for information on dates and times volunteers are needed.
Camp Newaygo Volunteers
Volunteers are asked to make a commitment to do a variety of tasks at Camp for one day a week from June to August. Must be available from 8:00am-3:00pm one day per week throughout the summer. Tasks may include office work, gardening, and driving campers to different activities such as horseback riding. These volunteers make great camp experiences possible for kids, schools, and groups in Newaygo County.
Center for Nonprofit Housing - Volunteer Office Assistant
The Center for Nonprofit Housing (CNH) provides members of the community with quality, affordable housing. In the current economy, the need for housing is very high and Michigan is one of the hardest hit states by the foreclosure crisis. The staff at CNH is stretched to the limit and office assistants are needed to support them so they can provide more services to families in need of quality housing. Volunteers will not be responsible for giving advice to clients on government-funded programs or any other aspect of the housing and foreclosure process.
Food Pantry Client Care
Volunteers in the Food Pantry distribute food to families in need through the TrueNorth Food Program. These volunteers also collect food in the pantry from those who donate it. Volunteers are trained on the job and usually work with 1-2 other volunteers. Must commit to a weekly (or bi-weekly) 4-hour morning or afternoon shift.
Gardening Guru
TrueNorth has several gardens outside of the agency building in Fremont. They need regular attention from a volunteer who enjoys gardening. The gardens make our building more inviting to those who may need to use our services, so it is important to keep the gardens well-maintained. This can be done individually or in a group. It could be a great opportunity for families to volunteer together. Tools may be provided if necessary.
Knitting Volunteer
Knitters are needed to provide blankets, scarves, sweaters, and other items for families in need in Newaygo County (crocheting is also needed). Donations are accepted at the TrueNorth Service Center throughout the year. Some yarn and knitting patterns are available at the TrueNorth Service Center as well.
Meet & Greet - Food Pantry
Meet & Greet volunteers greet families before they access the TrueNorth Food Pantry. They also enter important, confidential information into a computer database. Volunteers are trained on the job and a background check is required before volunteering. Must commit to a weekly schedule and be available for a 4-hour morning or afternoon shift.
Mobile Food Pantry
Volunteers are needed to distribute food to families and help carry food to their cars after they go through the line. Must have a passion to help those in need and demonstrate respect and discretion regarding clients. Volunteers are needed from 9:30am-11am on the last Wednesday of every month except December.
Photographer
TrueNorth offers numerous programs and services to Newaygo County and surrounding areas. However, many people are not aware of what our agency does. A volunteer photographer could help boost our community outreach by taking pictures of our events, programs, and services. It is imperative that the communities we serve can see how our agency is serving the community so this volunteer would serve a vital role in the organization.
Project FOCUS/PACE Volunteer
Project FOCUS and PACE are out-of-school programs that implement mentoring, civic engagement, high adventure, and academic enrichment activities in the communities of Hesperia, White Cloud, Baldwin, Hart, and Walkerville. Volunteers must have a friendly and outgoing personality and enjoy working with children. If you have a special skill you would like to share or would just like to help them with homework once a week, our youth programs can use your help! Volunteers needed once a week from 3pm-5pm Mon-Thurs during the school year.
Project Literacy Tutor
Project Literacy is designed to help adults with reading and writing difficulties bring their skills up to a level that helps them function in today's society. Volunteer tutors attend at least 2 training sessions and are then matched with an adult learner. Tutors must commit to at least 1 year of tutoring weekly for 1-2 hours.
Warm Hearts Blanket Bee
The Warm Hearts Blanket Bee is an opportunity to provide a small comfort to families in their time of need. No-sew fleece blankets are made by attaching two layers of warm fleece with simple knots, so almost anyone can do it because there is no experience necessary. These blankets are then distributed to families who are homeless or unable to adequately heat their homes. The Blanket Bees occur quarterly at TrueNorth.