Mitzvah Day
December 25 All day
On December 25th, join hundreds of others from the Detroit Jewish community giving back by volunteering at a local nonprofit. Your mitzvah allows the staff of these organizations to have time off and enjoy Christmas with their families.
There are a variety of volunteer locations and needs with something for everyone, including family friendly options. You simply need to reach out and let them know you want to help.
Choose a Mitzvah Day project and contact the lead person listed to join. Spots are first come, first served!
For questions, contact Daniel Bucksbaum at bucksbaum@jewishdetroit.org, or Tamara Lopes at lopes@jewishdetroit.org.
- 11850 Woodrow Wilson
Detroit, MI 48206 - Lead contact: spethoud@casscommunity.org – 313-883-2277 x203 (Sue Pethoud)
- Contact on December 25: Faith Fowler- ffowler@casscommunity.org – 313-883-2277
- Description of Agency: Homeless services agency with shelters, emergency housing and permanent supportive housing programs.
- Volunteer Project: Prepare and serve meals.
Arrival Details: Park in the lot and enter the kitchen down the cement ramp in the back of the building. You will need to push a button at the gate for access.
Dress Code: Closed toe shoes. Will provide aprons, hair nets, and gloves
Children: 12+
Shifts: 10am-2pm
- 11600 Grand River
Brighton, MI 48116 - Lead contact: cassidy@mealsonwheelsmi.org – 810-632-2155 (Cassidy Timo)
- Contact on December 25: Candie Hovarter- info@lwmow.org -517-375-3598
- Description of Agency: Meals on Wheels is a nonprofit organization that delivers meals to homebound seniors in Livingston, Westerns & Southeast Oakland County.
- Volunteer Project: Delivering meals to homebound seniors who have reserved to receive a meal on Christmas Day.
Arrival Details: Please park in the parking lot, enter the building through the side door- let them know your name and they will give you your route sheet and food and then you can begin delivering.
Background Check Required: Yes
Dress Code: Casual
Children: All ages (under 18 must be accompanied by an adult).
Shifts: 9:30am-1pm
- 15100 W 10 Mile Rd.
Oak Park, MI 48237 - Lead contact: brobinson@jslmi.org – 248-592-5068 (Beth Robinson)
- Description of Agency: Jewish Senior Life is far more than a place to live. It’s 6 beautiful residences in 2 vibrant communities in southeast Michigan where bonds of friendship are built or renewed, and passions are pursued. It’s where residents actively engage with one another and, as a result, remain active in mind, body and spirit. And its where creative programs and services extend spiritual, social and cultural values of the Jewish tradition to residents, families and community members. JSL is a place where older adults can embrace life and community in a secure and supportive environment.
- JSL is proud to provide inclusive residential communities. We welcome all people without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, disability, gender, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, familial status and marital status.
- Volunteer Project: Candle Lighting / singing / sharing holiday (Chanukah & Christmas) memories.
Arrival Details: Please go to the main entrance.
Background Check Required: Yes
Specific Skills: Comfortable leading songs
Children: Yes
Shifts: 4-5pm
- 6760 W. Maple Road
West Bloomfield, MI 48322 - Lead contact: brobinson@jslmi.org – 248-592-5068 (Beth Robinson)
- Contact on December 25: Laura Shields- lshields@jslmi.org -248-320-3850
- Description of Agency: Jewish Senior Life is far more than a place to live. It’s 6 beautiful residences in 2 vibrant communities in southeast Michigan where bonds of friendship are built or renewed, and passions are pursued. It’s where residents actively engage with one another and, as a result, remain active in mind, body and spirit. And its where creative programs and services extend spiritual, social and cultural values of the Jewish tradition to residents, families and community members. JSL is a place where older adults can embrace life and community in a secure and supportive environment.
JSL is proud to provide inclusive residential communities. We welcome all people without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, disability, gender, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, familial status and marital status. - Volunteer Project: Serve dinner to Meer residents and help clean up after.
Arrival Details: Come through the main entrance. If no one is at the desk when you arrive, call the Meer cell phone at 248 794-0360.
Background Check Required: Yes
Children: Yes, but need to be old enough not to run around the dining room.
Shifts: 4-7pm
- 438 St. Antoine St.
Detroit, MI 48226 - Lead contact: volunteer@popefranciscenter.org – adrienne@pfr.org -313-784-9234 (Adrienne Polumbo)
- Description of Agency: Located in the heart of downtown Detroit, Pope Francis Center provides vital services to individuals experiencing homelessness. On an average day, we welcome over 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.
- Volunteer Project: Serve breakfast and lunch, manage laundry and showers, distribute hygiene items and clothing, and much more for over 200 guests each day. When you arrive for your shift, our staff will walk you through the day and assign tasks. On this date, we’ll also be distributing gifts to our guests to provide extra comfort during the cold winters of Michigan. These items include sweat suits, thermal underwear, socks, gloves, hats, scarves, and hygiene products.
Arrival Details: We’re located at 438 Saint Antoine St. in downtown Detroit. Complimentary volunteer parking is available at the UDM Law School gated parking lot, located on Larned directly across the street from the Center. Enter the Center near the courtyard between UDM Law School and Ss. Peter & Paul Jesuit Church.
Background Check Required: Yes
Items Volunteers Need to Bring: Only that which is necessary. Please keep personal items to a minimum.
Dress Code: Long pants, closed-toe shoes, hat or hair net when serving food.
Children: No
Shifts: 6:45-11:15am
- 5601 Hatchery Rd.
Waterford, MI 48329 - Lead contact: lvachon@vorchardscotl.com (Liz Vachon)
- Contact on December 25: First Floor Lease Staff- 248-462-5971
- Description of Agency: Canterbury on the lake (DIFFERENT THAN CANTERBURY VILLAGE!!) is a retirement community. We are requesting that you visit the nursing home section of our community which is called “The Pavilion.” There are signs indicating where that entrance is located.
- Volunteer Project: One-on-one visits with residents that agree. Just pop in and ask them if they would like to chat for a little while.
Arrival Details: Arrival times: morning 9:30am-noon and/or afternoon 2:00pm-5:00pm
Does not need to be both times.
Items Volunteers Need to Bring: Magazines or other types of conversation starters. Card games or checkers or chess as well, but not necessary.
Dress Code: Comfortable, but presentable.
Children: 18+
Shifts: 9:30am-12pm and/or 2-5pm.
- 5675 Larkins Street
Detroit, MI 48210 - Lead contact: mgamer@brilliantdetroit.org – (Maya Gamer)
- Description of Agency: Brilliant Cities is a neighborhood-powered model ensuring children 0-8 are school-ready, healthy, and supported. We do this by transforming houses into community hubs where children and families have what they need to thrive.
Our vision is to cultivate “Kid Success Cities” full of opportunities for young children and families to have what they need for a bright future. This looks like:
80% of children served in neighborhoods with Brilliant Cities hubs reading at grade level by third grade with measurable well-being.
A proven and sustainable model that can be deployed to interested cities. - Volunteer Project: Volunteers will work together to organize our programming supply room and make space for new programming supplies. Volunteers will learn about Brilliant’s mission of literacy support while helping to organize book donations.
Volunteer activities include, arranging bins of books on shelves (some lifting involved). Organizing books by reading level (no lifting required), Beautifying Literacy Room storage space.
Arrival Details: Volunteers should plan to enter through the gate on McGraw Ave, and enter the building through the orange door. There is plenty of parking on-site and on the street.
Background Check Required: Yes
Items Volunteers Need to Bring: None. However, donations of new or gently loved books for children ages 0-8 are always welcome.
Dress Code: Comfortable clothing and closed-toed shoes.
Children: 12+
Shifts: 11am-1pm
- 1235 Lawndale
Detroit, MI 48209 - Lead contact: 313-377-6674 (David McKay)
- Description of Agency: Jimmy’s Kids Christmas Morning Program
- Volunteer Project: Pick up bags of toys to deliver to families on Christmas morning.
More info: http://jimtuman.com/jimmyskids/
Arrival Details: Vehicles will be directed around the church parking lot for pickups.
Items Volunteers Need to Bring: Happy holiday spirit along with any gifts they would like to distribute to the needy families they will be delivering to (not required).
Volunteers with Specific Skills: Bi-lingual (Spanish) but not required.
Children: Yes
Shifts: 9am-2pm
- 249 Baldwin Ave
Pontiac, Michigan 48342 - Lead contact: Contact@HopeShelters.org
- Description of Agency: HOPE provides safe and judgment-free shelter, innovative programs, and public advocacy to end homelessness. HOPE is committed to helping each guest resolve their homelessness and identify a network of supportive services delivered in a trauma-informed setting.
- Volunteer Project: Mingle with guests and help serve food. There are games to play. BINGO is a fun activity. Dinner is served at 5:30 and 6:00. Help with this is appreciated.
Arrival Details: Please use the paved parking lot and the small deck at the rear of the building. A phone number is posted on that door. Please call the number to gain access.
Background Check Required: Yes
Dress Code: Casual
Children: No
Shifts: 2-6pm
- 960 East Jefferson
Detroit, MI 48236 - Lead contact: Ajones323@yahoo.com -313-461-4696 (Anquenetta Jones)
- Description of Agency: To educate, advocate, and promote healthy aging to enable people to make choices about home and community-based services and long-term care that will improve their quality of life.
- Volunteer Project: Meal Delivery Driver-deliver 1 hot meal and 1 cold box to a route of 10 older adults in the Detroit Area. Turn-by-turn directions are provided.
Arrival Details: Please use the paved parking lot and the small deck at the rear of the building. A phone number is posted on that door. Please call the number to gain access.
Background Check Required: Yes
Dress Code: Casual
Children: No
Shifts: 2-6pm
- Lead contact: jessicatierney@jarc.org – 248-940-2607 (Jessica Tierney)
- Contact on December 25: Jacob Gottlieb – jacobgottlieb@jarc.org -248-940-2751
- Description of Agency: JARC provides support services to enable adults with developmental disabilities to live full and meaningful lives.
- Volunteer Project: Play some games, ideas can be provided prior, bake some cookies, hang out, and enjoy one another’s company.
Locations:
- Meadow (Huntington Woods, please call for address)
- Katzman Home (West Bloomfield, please call for address)
- Keller/Walch Home (Farmington Hills, please call for address)
- Pitt Home (Bloomfield Hills, please call for address)
Arrival Details: Park on the street.
Background Check Required: No
Items Volunteers Need to Bring: Possibly games, if volunteers have something facility does not have.
Children: 3+
Shifts: 10am-12pm
- 21335 Tuck Rd.
Farmington Hills, MI 48336 - Lead contact: shannon@sanctumhouse.org – 313-995-1899 (Shannon Brandt)
- Description of Agency: We are a two-year wrap around program that services Human Trafficking women.
- Volunteer Project: Help cook, play games, talk with the residents. Maybe baking cookies.
Arrival Details: Please No Men.
Background Check Required: No
Items Volunteers Need to Bring: Maybe cookie cutter or items to make cookies.
Children: No
Shifts: 12-2pm
- 6900 McGraw
Detroit, MI 48210 - Lead contact: volunteer@bridgingcommunties.org -313-361-6377 x109 (Alexis Escoto)
- Description of Agency: We are a non-profit organization located in Southwest Detroit. Our main focus is to assist seniors staying in their home and also the surrounding community.
- Volunteer Project: Volunteers will be picking up meals from the hosted site Bridging Communities and delivering the meals to homebound seniors on the route that will be given. DAAA will send BCI something within 7-10 days for background checks. Please make sure it is completed in a timely manner to ensure they are approved to participate.
Arrival Details: Volunteers should arrive at our office at 6900 McGraw at 9am. Come through the front door and we’ll get you signed in at the front desk and give you your route. Our goal is to have everyone on their way out between 9:30am and 10am.
Background Check Required: Yes
Items Volunteers Need to Bring: Each route should have 10 stops. Please bring 10 plastic grocery store bags with you if possible. Each client will receive one cold pack of food and one hot pack, putting them in a bag together will make delivery easier.
Children: Yes, but must accompany an adult.
Shifts: 9-11am
- 20651 W. Warren Rd.
Dearborn Heights, MI - Lead contact: mphillips@vistamaria.org – (Madeleine Phillips)
- Description of Agency: What began 140 years ago as a home for girls and women in need has evolved to encompass mental health services, foster care and adoption, and secure care for the survivors of human trafficking, along with a focus on education, independent living, and advocacy for the welfare of children. Vista Maria embraces a trauma-informed approach — understanding that all people have experienced traumatic events, yet it is through an understanding of trauma and restorative relationships that we instill hope and enable healing within each child and family.
- Volunteer Project: Examples of activities can include cookie decorating, crafts, painting, games.
Arrival Details: Will discuss will finalizing.
Background Check Required: No
Items Volunteers Need to Bring: Volunteer waiver, all materials for the activity, copy of ID to show at our security.
Children: 18+
Shifts: 5-6:30pm