In today’s world, social isolation has become a hidden but growing public health concern, especially among older adults. Here in West Michigan, many seniors face this reality daily. While the region is known for its strong community values, the aging population is increasingly at risk of feeling disconnected and alone. Social isolation doesn’t just affect emotional well-being; it’s linked to serious health risks like heart disease, depression and cognitive decline. Recognizing this, local organizations and neighbors are driving change to build stronger, more connected communities, ensuring that aging in West Michigan doesn’t have to mean aging alone.

Discover how social isolation affects seniors in our community and how you can contribute to building connections and hope.

Understanding Social Isolation: Who’s at Risk and Why It Matters

Social isolation is more than just feeling lonely; it’s a serious public health issue affecting millions across the United States. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), social isolation and loneliness impact mental and physical health significantly. Understanding who is most at risk and why is the first step toward creating stronger, healthier communities. 

Who Is Most Vulnerable?

Social isolation doesn’t affect everyone equally. Certain individuals and groups face higher risks due to a mix of personal circumstances and social factors.

At the individual level, people living with chronic illnesses or disabilities often find it harder to stay connected. Others may experience discrimination or feel marginalized because of their race, socioeconomic status, gender identity or language barriers. Life changes like job loss, divorce or the loss of loved ones can also increase feelings of isolation. On a broader scale, older adults are among the most vulnerable. Many face reduced mobility, smaller social networks and may live alone.

TrueNorth’s Community Connections: Strengthening Belonging, Enhancing Well-being

TrueNorth’s Community Connections programs are rooted in a simple but powerful truth: we thrive when connected. In today’s fast-paced and often isolating world, having strong social ties and a sense of belonging can make all the difference in a person’s health, confidence and overall quality of life. That’s why Community Connections is dedicated to building and expanding social circles in Newaygo County – offering people aged 55 and older the opportunity to come together, discover shared interests and participate in experiences that inspire and uplift.

Through a wide range of activities – from group outings and cultural events to workshops and physically active experiences – Community Connections helps individuals step outside their routines and into the community. These shared moments foster friendships, mutual respect and learning between people of different backgrounds, experiences and generations.

At its heart, Community Connections is about empowerment. Participants aren’t just joining in – they’re also encouraged to lead, share their skills and shape the community around them. Through art, nature walks or volunteering opportunities, people showcase who they are and what they bring to the table.

In every neighborhood, there is untapped potential and quiet isolation. TrueNorth’s Community Connections bridges those gaps, reminding us that we are stronger when we reach out, show up for one another and grow together. These programs don’t just build connections – they build community.

The Health Consequences Are Serious

Chronic social isolation isn’t just emotionally painful – it’s linked to a host of health problems. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states that socially isolated people have higher risks of heart disease, stroke, diabetes, depression, cognitive decline and even premature death. Loneliness can trigger stress responses in the body, leading to inflammation and a weakened immune system.

Why Community Matters

Social isolation doesn’t happen in a vacuum. Where people live, work, and play plays a big role. Communities lacking accessible public spaces, safe neighborhoods, or reliable transportation make it harder for people to connect. Economic instability and a lack of inclusive policies can deepen the divide.

Taking Action

Building stronger social connections benefits everyone. When people feel supported and engaged, they make healthier choices, cope better with stress and enjoy longer, more fulfilling lives. Personal outreach and community-wide efforts, like creating welcoming spaces, expanding access to services and fostering inclusive environments, are essential for combating social isolation

Understanding social isolation is crucial as we work toward building communities where everyone feels seen, supported and connected. We can bridge the gaps and help make healthier, happier lives together.

Michigan’s Aging Shift: What It Means for Families, Communities, and Health

Michigan is experiencing a dramatic demographic shift. In 1970, children outnumbered seniors by a ratio of four to one, with 3.25 million youth compared to only 750,000 older adults. Today, those numbers have flipped. Michigan now has just 2.1 million children – a 35% decline – while the total population has grown to 10.1 million. Meanwhile, the senior population has swelled, driven largely by aging Baby Boomers. Now, 45 of Michigan’s 83 counties have more seniors than children, according to 2023 U.S. Census estimates analyzed by MLive.

This shift has wide-reaching implications – from school enrollment to healthcare systems to community infrastructure. It also highlights the growing need for resources supporting aging adults and working families.

In response to rising housing insecurity, Trinity Health has transformed a former assisted living facility near Ann Arbor into a temporary emergency shelter for families. Located just outside Ypsilanti, the shelter offers rooms large enough for four beds, with easy access to bus lines, major employers, and schools. Trinity Health officials say the goal is to reduce barriers to transportation and essential services.

Meanwhile, in Flint, access to early brain health support is expanding. The “Capturing Memories” Community Brain Health Day on June 21 provided free Alzheimer’s screenings to area residents. The event included cognitive testing, blood biomarker analysis, and, if needed, a telehealth consultation with a neurologist at no cost. This proactive, accessible care is essential as Michigan’s population ages.

From shifting demographics to expanded health and housing services, Michigan communities are adapting to meet the needs of their residents.

As we’ve explored how demographic shifts are reshaping Michigan communities – and seen local responses like emergency family shelters and free brain‑health screenings – it’s clear meaningful connection plays a larger role than ever. That’s why TrueNorth’s upcoming Tee Up for TrueNorth golf outing isn’t just a fun day on the green – it’s a vital fundraiser that supports Community Connections programming, the heart of TrueNorth’s mission to combat social isolation and build strong community ties through one-on-one outreach, group events and volunteer engagement.

Tee Up for TrueNorth: Golfing with Purpose

Join us on Saturday, August 23, at Village Green Golf Club for the second-annual Tee Up for TrueNorth outing – an 18-hole, four-person scramble that supports Community Connections initiatives. Whether you’re competing in the men’s or mixed division, the event includes a round of golf, a cart, lunch and fun contests with prizes. More importantly, every dollar raised fuels programs like All Together, Call & Connect, Coffee Connections, Community Friends and Tech Help, which bring volunteers and isolated community members together for meaningful interaction.

These initiatives foster everything from volunteer interest groups and friendly check-in calls to neighborhood coffee meet-ups and one-on-one tech support. As social isolation continues to impact mental and physical health, this event delivers much more than sport – it creates connection and camaraderie where needed most. Register today, and you’ll enjoy a memorable golfing day while actively strengthening community bonds and supporting people who might otherwise feel overlooked. By teeing off, you’re also teeing up brighter, more connected communities across West Michigan.

While many children eagerly await the end of the school year, the summer months bring added stress for a significant number of families facing food insecurity and hunger. Families often struggle to keep their children fed without access to free or reduced-price school meals. For low income households, who already face challenges putting food on the table during the school year, the summer makes an already difficult situation worse.

Keep reading to learn more about summer hunger and how you can give a hand up to help our children in need.

How Schools’ Help Lessen Child Hunger

Before diving into the challenges and effects of summer hunger, it is essential to understand the role schools play in fighting child hunger. 

The Food Research and Action Center’s (FRAC) article, “Benefits of School Lunch“ discusses the impact school’s have on child hunger, noting that  “receiving free or reduced-price school lunches reduces food insecurity, obesity rates and poor health.” When children receive free or reduced breakfasts and lunches at school their households’ spend less on food and can better afford other basic necessities like housing and healthcare. For families experiencing food insecurity, this is a crucial support. Food costs have risen while many families’ incomes have remained the same. Schools providing healthy, nutritious meals help decrease food insecurity in their communities, and ensure kids receive the nutrition they need to excel at school.

As FRAC notes, school meals also help improve students’ health. Fresh produce is more expensive than many other groceries and has a shorter shelf life, making it challenging for low-income families to purchase regularly. Schools are able to provide those essential fruits and vegetables for kids to give them the nutrients they need to lead healthy, active lives. Without proper nutrition, students struggle to focus and learn effectively. School meals are an essential program that feeds hungry kids and helps improve community food security.

Michigan Schools’ Programs

Michigan public schools guarantee two meals every day for all students through the Michigan School Meals Program which began during the 2023-24 school year. “The program provided over 76.3 million breakfasts and 135.6 million lunches,” to participating schools last year according to the Department of Education’s article, “Michigan Children Will Continue to Receive Nutritious Free School Meals in 2024-25.” As the article’s title notes, this program continued in the 2024-25 school year, building upon its impact.
Many nonprofits like TrueNorth work together with schools to feed food insecure children through programs like our onsite Food Center, Mobile Food Pantry, and Weekend Food Assistance program.

Summer Hunger Challenges

As seen above, schools play an integral role in fighting child hunger. This is why summer hunger is a prevalent concern in many communities. 

No Kid Hungry’s article, “Five Things to Know About Summer Hunger in the United States,” discusses how the end of the school year impacts children and families  financially: “Family grocery costs rise more than $300 a month when school is out and school meals disappear.” With the additional food costs, a high percentage of low income families are faced with challenging situations. No one should have to choose between paying utilities or medical bills instead of putting food on the table, but many do.

 Knowledge loss, often referred to as “summer slide”, is another consequence of summer hunger. No Kid Hungry notes in their article how children who face hunger and food insecurity are more likely to experience skill loss during the summer and often start the school year behind their peers. Even a few months of food insecurity can greatly impact kids’ physical and mental health, making the need for summer food supports essential in communities.

Effects of Summer Hunger

Summer hunger negatively impacts those experiencing it. Keep reading to learn more about the effects on kids’ health and school readiness and how you can help sustain our families.

Physical and Mental Effects

Kids need proper nutrition to learn and grow both physically and mentally. 

According to the article, “How Summer Hunger Affects Children,” by Feed the Children: “Even marginal food insecurity can be a significant predictor of poor health in children. Health issues like asthma, childhood obesity and diabetes can all be factors associated with food insecurity and lead to lifelong problems.” Children can receive negative health effects even if they experience hunger and food insecurity for a brief period of time. 

Kids’ development and overall well-being can also be negatively affected by summer hunger as FRAC’s article, “The Role of the Federal Child Nutrition Programs in Improving Health and Well-Being,” notes. They discuss how research links food insecurity with “lower health-related quality of life,” “lower physical functioning,” “developmental risk” and “mental health problems (e.g. depression, anxiety, suicidal ideation).” These health consequences clearly illustrate the need for food support for children and their families.

As noted above, children experiencing hunger also can face negative mental health outcomes. Feed the Children discusses how “not having food puts children at risk for increased behavioral and emotional problems.“ No child should have to worry about whether they will have enough to eat. These worries can put children at risk for anxiety, depression and even impact their relationship with food. Not only do children experience these outcomes, but their parents can also experience poor mental health as they try to make ends meet, as Feed the Children notes. This can also impact children as their parents’ mental health affects their abilities to take care of their kids.

All of these health outcomes demonstrate the great need for summer food support.

School Readiness Effects

Summer hunger impacts school readiness as well. No Kid Hungry’s article, “How Does Hunger Affect Learning?” explains proper nutrition is critical for school readiness: “Children’s learning outcomes suffer when they regularly experience hunger and that nearly every aspect of physical and mental function is hurt as well. Food insecurity affects concentration, memory, mood and motor skills, all of which a child needs to be able to be successful in school.” When a child is hungry, it is nearly impossible for them to focus on anything else. This hurts their ability to learn and retain information and skills, setting children experiencing hunger and food insecurity behind their peers.

The article further discusses how hunger hurts cognitive development and children’s mental health. These factors contribute greatly to the summer slide as kids are unable to maintain what they learned over summer break due to these health effects. For all of our children to succeed, they need accessible, nutritious food that fuels their brains and bodies.

For an in-depth look at child hunger, check out our blog post, “Child Hunger Causes and Impacts.”

Fight Summer Hunger in Your Community

You can make a real difference in the lives of children in your community by supporting efforts like summer meal programs and local food pantries. Whether you choose to donate funds, food or volunteer your time, your support brings nourishment and hope to those who need it most.

Join TrueNorth in Our Fight Against Hunger

At TrueNorth Community Services, we believe every child deserves to have healthy, nutritious food to live and thrive. We offer multiple programs to help our families put food on their tables while furthering themselves on their paths to self-sufficiency.

We work to meet people where they are through comprehensive programs and services. TrueNorth offers programs that reduce poverty and food waste, guide collaborative food security efforts and bring food and nutrition-related resources to those in need, such as:

• Onsite Food Center 
• Mobile Food Pantry
• Food Rescue partnership with Feeding America
• Educational classes for Food Center members
• Weekend PowerPacks to feed kids on the weekends during the school year

We understand the need to feed local children during the summer. To help meet this need, TrueNorth partnered with Holton Public Schools for the second summer in 2024. Together, we distributed over 46,000 meals to area youth as part of the Meet Up and Eat Up initiative. We look forward to continuing this essential partnership for the third year this summer.

Join us in our fight against hunger by donating food, supporting our programs through monetary gifts or volunteering. We have a number of opportunities for you to make a life-long impact on our children and families.

Summer camps like Camp Newaygo provide life-changing opportunities for girls to grow into their best selves. While young women face unique challenges as they grow up, having positive learning experiences at programs like summer camps help them thrive while at camp and beyond.

Keep reading to learn more about the need for summer camps, their impacts and how you can empower the next generation of leaders.

Need for Summer Camps

In Anja Whittingon’s article, “Developing Noncognitive College Readiness Skills at Camp: Long-Term Outcomes,” she discusses the challenges girls more commonly face compared to their male counterparts. These can include “a lack of confidence in their academic abilities, higher levels of anxiety and depression, stress over their financial situation (the average income for female college students is lower than men’s), and lower rates of emotional and physical health.” Challenges like these can appear at young ages as Katty Kay and Claire Shipman discuss in their book, Confidence Code for Girls. Kay and Shipman note findings of a 30% drop in confidence for girls ages eight to 14. This drop in confidence negatively affects girls’ development and overall well-being.

Centerstone’s article, “It’s Time We Close the Confidence Gap Between Boys and Girls,” further discusses the confidence gap and why it exists: “Boys are generally encouraged to take risks and assert themselves, activities that inherently boost confidence. This difference in socialization emphasizes the need for intentional efforts to build girls’ self-assurance to level the playing field.” The way children are communicated to directly impacts their confidence and self-image. As Centerstone notes, this difference in communication needs to be intentionally addressed. This is why girls’ summer camps like Camp Newaygo, a program of TrueNorth Community Services, are essential for closing the confidence gap and showing young women what they are capable of.

How Camp Newaygo Meets this Need

Since 1926, Camp Newaygo has been rooted in tradition and grounded in a simple belief: every child deserves a safe place to grow. That belief continues to guide their work today—offering girls meaningful outdoor experiences, building confidence and creating a community where they can truly belong.

The 102-acre camp rests along Pickerel Lake in the Manistee National Forest, near the town of Newaygo, Michigan. This setting fully immerses participants in nature while they learn independence in a safe environment.

Camp Newaygo offers more than just a week away from home—it’s a place where girls can take healthy risks, try new things, and discover their own strength. With the support of caring, intentional staff, campers ages 7 to 17 build confidence, practice independence, and connect with others in meaningful ways. Each summer, girls from across the country and around the world come together to laugh, collaborate, and create friendships that often last long after the final campfire. The experience is playful and joy-filled but also deeply impactful. It’s not just about what they do at camp. It’s about who they become because of it.

Camp Newaygo’s programming centers around their value outcomes of resilience, independence and growth. With over 30 activities for participants to choose from, there are many opportunities for participants to learn new skills, find new passions, experience teamwork and foster community. From archery, gymnastics and pottery to photography and fishing, there are opportunities for all participants to excel.

By creating an environment focused on empowering and uplifting young women, Camp Newaygo continues to help grow thousands of strong, compassionate leaders.

Impact of Summer Camps like Camp Newaygo

The need for intentional spaces like Camp Newaygo has never been greater. Keep reading to learn more about how attending these programs can make life-long impacts on participants.

Health Benefits

Camp offers a range of health benefits for participants. The active, outdoor lifestyle supports improved cardiovascular health, muscle strength, flexibility and better sleep. But, the most lasting impacts are often mental, emotional and social. For many girls, camp is where they learn to manage anxiety, build resilience and feel a genuine sense of belonging.

According to the American Camp Association’s article, “Summer Camp as a Therapeutic Tool for Reducing Anxiety in Youth,” participating in summer camps can reduce anxiety in youth. This can be due to a number of factors the American Camp Association notes, including:

• Being “a hiatus from technology and screen use”
• Having “constant physical activity in primarily outdoor spaces”
• Promoting “self-sufficiency and independence”
• Living in a “community setting where they must learn to effectively communicate, share and co-exist with other campers of the same age.”
• Encouraging “the formation of further friendships and social connections”

Having new, shared experiences with other participants creates a safe environment for girls’ personal growth. By building new friendships, girls also expand their support system as they learn to lean on each other whether it be for a group camp activity or when dealing with personal struggles.

Esther Kirchhoff, Roger Keller and Barbara Blanc’s further these ideas in their article “Empowering young people—the impact of camp experiences on personal resources, well-being, and community building.” The authors note how after attending summer camp “participants demonstrated increased empathy, emotional self-control, optimism, and assertiveness. Furthermore, the adolescents reported more positive emotions, higher self-esteem and stronger readiness to contribute to the community.” Overall, these outcomes point to the lasting impact camp can have on a girl’s sense of self and well-being.

Life Preparedness

Attending summer camp can also positively impact girls’ life preparedness. As discussed above, there are a number of social skills participants learn through camp activities. From learning how to live with and get along with others from different backgrounds to building self-confidence, summer camps foster crucial life skills young women need to succeed in life.

Whittingon further explains in her article how “experiences that offer opportunities to gain leadership, perseverance, communication skills, develop friendships, develop skills to deal with stress, help girls problem solving, gain confidence, and resilience may offer emotional support.” Not only do these experiences provide that emotional support, but they also are essential skills for excelling in college and beyond as Whittingon notes.

All in all, summer camps empower young women to grow into their best selves so they can thrive while at camp and beyond.

Support Camp Newaygo to Ensure Young Women Flourish

Membership initiatives are integral to the sustainability and growth of nonprofits. Members give on a continual basis, making their commitment to the organization and their cause. Not only are membership programs crucial to nonprofits, but they also add value to those who give and their communities as a whole as people come together to improve their neighbors’ and community’s well-being.

Read below to learn more about membership and how you can get involved to ensure our communities flourish.

What is Membership?

Membership can take a variety of forms depending on the organization. For nonprofits, members tend to be donors who make a greater commitment to the organization. Typically, members receive benefits such as voting on the organization’s board members, receiving news and updates first and getting more of an “insider look” at the organization.

While these benefits are nice for donors to receive, they are rarely the reason donors decide to become members. According to Carter Skeel’s article, “In defense of membership programs,” “the act of giving expresses identification with a particular cause and a desire to join together with others in supporting it.” Donors give through membership because they believe in the cause the organization supports and the nonprofit itself. Members are the ideal donors of nonprofits because they have shown their commitment to their chosen organization helping nonprofits reach their goals of sustainability, donor engagement and community building.

Membership gifts are typically unrestricted, meaning nonprofits can use those funds wherever they need. This makes membership gifts invaluable to nonprofits because these gifts do not have restrictions that come from places such as grant funding. Having funds like this creates stable, sustainable funding for nonprofit organizations. Not only are these funds essential to nonprofits, but membership programs also build donor engagement and community as members interact more with each other and the organization as a whole.

Keep reading to learn more about the value of membership programs.

Why are Membership Programs Valuable?

Membership programs benefit donors, nonprofits and communities as people join together to support causes they are passionate about. Nonprofits rely on donors and their communities to help those in need. Ultimately, the partnership between community members and nonprofits creates positive change in communities, and membership is an effective avenue to accomplish that change.

Value to the Donor

Skeel further discusses why donors give through membership in his article: “Membership programs don’t motivate donors because they promise certain benefits—a book, a pin, a mug, and so on. No, they motivate donors through what those benefits convey about the importance of gifts at that level to the organization.” People give because they want to make a difference. When donors fully support a cause and find a nonprofit that does the same, they are likely to financially support that organization.

Membership giving opportunities align well with individuals’ desire to give back and help others. By supporting the organization as a whole, donors illustrate their trust in the organization and their dedication to the cause. Knowing their financial gifts are helping their neighbors and community inspires purpose and hope in their lives.

Value to the Nonprofit

Nonprofits benefit greatly from membership programs and gifts as well. As discussed above, having the flexible funding that comes from membership gifts promotes sustainability for the organization.

Donor retention (keeping donors from year to year) is also key to success for nonprofits and goes hand-in-hand with membership programs. HIVO’s article, “Maximizing Donor Retention with Charity Loyalty Programs,” explains how “donors who remain engaged over time can become more valuable to the charity. As they develop a deeper understanding of the organization’s mission and impact, they may be more inclined to increase their level of support or contribute in other ways, such as volunteering or advocating for the cause.” Members are ideal donors because they have already given a greater commitment, showing they are invested in the organization and its cause. Because of this, members are more likely to give year after year, further boosting the nonprofit’s sustainability as retaining donors is far more economical than finding new ones.

Not only are members essential to the financial sustainability of nonprofits, but most importantly, membership programs foster strong supporters who are invested in the cause and organization. Having support from community members allows nonprofits to build relationships and help even more people. Sometimes members will even volunteer their time, further impacting their community. However members give back, they continue to make a positive difference in their neighbors’ lives.

Value to the Community

Membership fosters community as people join together to support a cause they’re passionate about. This feeling of togetherness impacts communities overall as those who are involved in nonprofits tend to be more invested in their community as well.

Giving to nonprofits through membership can also add economic value to communities. In Barry Shore’s article, “The Impact of Giving Back: How Philanthropy Shapes Communities,” he states: “Philanthropy also contributes to economic development in local communities by boosting investment capital and creating new jobs. When people donate money or resources, they are indirectly investing in businesses that create job opportunities for residents. This influx of cash flow helps to fuel economic growth and stability in communities across the nation.” By giving through membership programs, donors impact their community overall as they invest in their neighbors and community’s development.

Read Kady’s story below to see the impact you can make in your community through membership.

Kady’s Story

Kady’s family was apart. While her children were staying in a safe place, Kady lived out of her car, searching for safe housing where they could all be together.

Thankfully, Kady came to TrueNorth and received multiple services to improve the well-being of her family. “It’s a blessing,” remarks Kady on the impact of the services and guidance she received from TrueNorth. “If TrueNorth wasn’t here I wouldn’t be here.”

TrueNorth placed Kady and her three children in a local motel where they could be together while Kady worked to find stable housing and a job that could support her family. Having guidance and encouragement from TrueNorth helped make this difficult time more manageable as Kady used her resources to move forward.

“Having her support and just knowing someone understood and can help…she never made me feel like I was asking for a handout, she gave me options and I explored my options,” reflects Kady on how her TrueNorth caseworker empowered her to advocate for herself and her family.

Kady was the one who found the place for her family with the support from TrueNorth. Having a new home for her kids relieved stress and anxiety from her as she was now able to look forward to her family’s future.

“My mental state, my anxiety…it was like way worse where I could function but I couldn’t process anything in my head because I didn’t know what was going on,” says Kady about the challenges she faced while finding housing. “I have peace of mind knowing we can all be a family and be together.”

Help Families like Kady’s through Membership

Today, Kady and her kids are safe in their new home because of caring supporters like you. Kady reflects on the impact of her time with TrueNorth: “I feel more stable, and I can push myself to actually do what I need to do instead of just stress…I’m very thankful for you guys.”

You can make a real impact on people like Kady. Not only will your membership gift help meet our neighbors’ needs, but it will also inspire hope for brighter futures. Learn more about membership opportunities below to make a difference today.

Transform Lives through TrueNorth Membership

TrueNorth offers a number of membership opportunities for you to invest in the well-being of our neighbors and communities:

• Friend: $25 – $99
• Patron: $100 – $499
• Community Partner: $500 – $999
• Community Pillar: $1000 – $4999
• Gene Cotton Circle: $5000 and above

Membership means you are supporting all of TrueNorth’s programs and initiatives. Your gift will not only help those in crisis situations like Kady, but it will also ensure that everyone in our community has opportunities to receive help, connect and give back.

When you become a member at TrueNorth, you will also have the opportunity to vote in the election of TrueNorth’s Board of Directors. We value you and your support and know that the more we work together the more good we can do.

Further our mission of inspiring hope and creating a better world by becoming a member today, for Good Happens Here, but only if we make it happen, together.

Volunteers are essential to vibrant communities. This is why National Volunteer Week is so important as communities come together to celebrate and encourage those who give back.

Read more to learn about the history and importance of National Volunteer Week, read stories of giving back and see how you can get involved this week and beyond.

What is National Volunteer Week?

This year is the 50th anniversary of National Volunteer Week–putting a spotlight on the impact and generosity of volunteers. According to GovInfo’s article, “History of National Service,” National Volunteer Week was established by President Richard Nixon in April of 1974 to celebrate volunteers and their impact. This movement has grown over the years as thousands of nonprofit organizations and communities throughout the nation recognize and inspire those who give back.

The 2025 National Volunteer Week will be celebrated from April 20 – 26 during Global Volunteer Month. Started by Points of Light in 2020, this global movement aims to further recognize and encourage volunteerism around the world. Celebrating throughout the month of April shows just how great an impact volunteers have on their communities as people gather together to thank those who continue to give their time to help others.

Importance of National Volunteer Week

Without caring people giving back, many communities would not have the support necessary to thrive. Volunteers make a difference in real people’s lives as they help fight food insecurity, guide the next generation, improve social health and provide essential resources among so much more. Nationally, “over 28 percent of Americans volunteered through an organization between September 2022 and 2023, an increase of five percentage points from the historic low documented in 2021,” according to AmeriCorps’ Volunteering and Civic Life in America Research Summary. This growth illustrates how more and more people recognize the benefits giving back has on their communities and even their own lives. See AmeriCorps’ chart below for a more detailed look at how people are engaging with their communities:

In Michigan, AmeriCorps notes that “2,141,460 formal volunteers contributed 138,630,397 hours of service through organizations worth an estimated $4.4 billion.” These statistics highlight just how great an impact volunteers have on their communities and the state of Michigan overall. Not only is National Volunteer Week a great time to reflect on volunteers’ contributions and positive effects but it also is an opportunity to further those impacts as we encourage others to give back too.

Read the stories below for an in-depth look at why people volunteer and how their lives and communities have been impacted by their service.

Stories of Giving Back

People can give back through a variety of avenues. One thing remains constant, however; volunteers continue to help those around them, ultimately improving the well-being of their communities.

Encourage Others this National Volunteer Week

You can ensure our neighbors thrive this National Volunteer Week and beyond. Whether you thank a volunteer or give back yourself, you can help inspire hope and resilience in your community. Learn more about how you can get involved at TrueNorth Community Services to make a difference below.

TrueNorth’s Volunteer Opportunities

At TrueNorth, we provide opportunities for everyone in our community to receive help, connect and give back. We offer a number of volunteer opportunities for people to renew purpose and help those in need, including:

• Agency Support
• Camp Newaygo
• Community Connections
• Hunger Prevention
• Youth Mentoring
• Special Programs & Events
• Call & Connect

You can transform lives just like Suzie and Diane. By coming together through volunteerism, we can secure the well-being of our neighbors and communities. Support our volunteers and give back today to be confident you are strengthening Michigan communities.