Amidst this festive season brimming with excitement and joy, it’s important to bear in mind there are many in our community facing significant challenges. Several of our neighbors in the Ann Arbor area are dealing with issues such as homelessness, addiction, hunger, domestic violence, and other difficulties. Not to mention, the winter chill and overall spirit of abundance can often amplify or exacerbate those challenges. Fortunately, there are several amazing organizations throughout Washtenaw County actively addressing these needs in practical and impactful ways.

This holiday season provides ample opportunities for giving back in the Ann Arbor area, whether it be through donating non-perishable food items and toys or volunteering to support local organizations. Read on to discover how you can actively engage in these meaningful initiatives!

 

Volunteer With Ann Arbor Meals on Wheels or Ypsilanti Meals on Wheels

Hunger and food insecurity is one of the most pressing issues that needs to be addressed — and Meals on Wheels is actively meeting this need all throughout the country, including here in Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti. Ann Arbor Meals on Wheels is a program of Community Health Services at Michigan Medicine bringing meals to the homebound in the area who are unable to shop and prepare complete, nutritious meals for themselves because of their health. And Ypsilanti Meals on Wheels delivers meals throughout Eastern Washtenaw County — with special holiday meals planned for Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day. Volunteer to help provide this basic need in either Ann Arbor or Ypsilanti.

 

Donate to the Hope Clinic’s Hope for Tomorrow Campaign

The Hope Clinic does it all, including providing medical and dental services, free food, care and prayer to anyone who needs it throughout our county. Support their mission of providing free care for the whole person by contributing to their Hope for Tomorrow Campaign. This campaign aims to raise $5.5 million, which will more than double the number of clients served by 2025. The funds will be directed to the areas that constitute the greatest need, including dental care, behavioral and mental health care, and endowment. Learn more about the Hope for Tomorrow Campaign and get involved here!

You can also donate items, shopping off their Amazon wish lists for their medical clinic, food pantry, behavioral health services, and baby care, if you’d rather help in that way. Their most-needed items include baby care items, soup and cereal, and non-food groceries, like toiletries and cleaning supplies.

 

Become a Salvation Army Bell Ringer

We’ve all seen the jolly bell ringers stationed outside of grocery stores during the holiday season. Take part in the Salvation Army’s Red Kettle campaign by volunteering to ring a bell at one of the many kettle locations in the area! Locations manned by volunteers always bring in the most money, so this is an excellent way to help the Salvation Army reach their fundraising goals for 2023. Speaking of, if you are unable to be a bell ringer, you can simply donate directly to the Salvation Army — it’s by far the best way to support their mission.

 

Shop the Amazon Wish List for the Shelter Association of Washtenaw County

The Shelter Association of Washtenaw County at the Delonis Center provides temporary shelter and connections in a safe and caring environment. Since 1982, the organization has worked with a diverse range of people struggling with homelessness, including first-time homelessness, veterans, domestic violence survivors, and people battling substance abuse and/or mental health issues. The SAWC offers a variety of services, including shelter, a food kitchen, a free medical clinic, and more. And in the colder months, the SAWC serves an additional 550 people in their Warming Center. To help support their mission, you can donate to the SAWC — or shop directly from their Amazon Wish List, for needed items such as bedding, gloves, socks, underwear, clothing, cleaning supplies, bath and body products, and more.

 

Sponsor a Family Through SOS Community Services

SOS Community Services is a community-based non-profit dedicated to preventing and ending family homelessness in Washtenaw County. They serve about 4,000 people annually, including families, individuals and children, using comprehensive services designed to take them from homelessness to self-sufficiency and permanent, stable housing. This holiday season, you can sponsor a family by purchasing gift cards so they can shop for holiday gifts this year. Purchase and donate gift cards ranging in value from $10-25 each from major retailers, such as Target, Meijer and Walmart. The goal is to provide 50 families in SOS programs with enough gift cards to buy $50 worth of gifts per family member! All gift cards should be turned in to SOS by the first week of December so they can be distributed in time for families to go shopping. Click here for more details — and other ways to get involved with SOS during the holiday season!

 

Donate Toys to Toys for Tots

The Marine’s popular holiday charity, Toys for Tots, has a huge impact on Washtenaw County every year. In 2022, they distributed more than 16,336 toys throughout the area to more than 1,703 children, and they hope to distribute even more this year! Take new, unwrapped toys to any of these businesses in the area with TFT donation boxes. You have until December 22 for most locations!

 

Donate Books to C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital

Having a child in the hospital is a stressful and heartbreaking experience — especially during the holiday season. Brighten the day of a patient at C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital, nicknamed Little Victors, by donating books to their inpatient and outpatient programs. There are several ways to help: you can support their Giving Library by making a monetary contribution, purchasing books off their Amazon Wish List, or hosting a book drive. Or you can get involved with their Reach Out and Read® program, which “makes literacy promotion a standard part of pediatric primary care so that children grow up with books and a love for reading.”

 

Support Jewish Family Services

Jewish Family Services of Washtenaw County is a non-profit social services agency serving the greater Ann Arbor community, offering services ranging from older adult caregiving to immigrant resettlement and career services. Since 1993, JFS has served a diverse, international population, creating solutions, promoting dignity, and inspiring humanity. You can support their mission in a number of ways, including donating money, donating items, or volunteering.

 

Volunteer with United Way for Southeastern Michigan

United Way for Southeastern Michigan and United Way of Washtenaw County officially merged on October 1, and together, they now serve Detroit and Southeastern Michigan “to improve communities and individual lives in measurable and lasting ways.” They do this through a number of programs and services, focused on health, education and income. There are several ways to volunteer with United Way throughout the year, including knitting hats, gloves and scarves, helping with housekeeping or grocery shopping for elderly or disabled adults, and much more. Check out this up-to-date list of volunteer opportunities available this holiday season — and beyond!

 

Volunteer with Food Gatherers

Food Gatherers is one of the largest and most well-known nonprofit organizations in Ann Arbor, working to alleviate hunger and eliminate its causes in our community. They distribute about 7.8 million pounds of food annually through 140 partners and programs serving Washtenaw County. Food Gatherers is always grateful for financial donations as it helps them continue their mission of feeding anyone and everyone in need in the area. But you can also volunteer your time this holiday season by working in the warehouse or serving in the community kitchen. You can also get the little ones involved with these volunteer opportunities designed just for kids!

 

Donate Wish List Items to Humane Society of Huron Valley

If animals are near and dear to your heart, consider giving back to the Humane Society of Huron Valley, the only no-kill shelter and animal shelter in Washtenaw County. They have the highest save rate among all similar animal shelters in Michigan. Since they opened in 1896, HSHV has helped more than 14,000 animals and their people every year. There are many ways to help the animals at HSHV this holiday season, including giving a designated amount that will cover costs like feeding a litter, feeding some dogs and cats, giving everyone a treat, or feeding all bellies. Or give the ultimate gift: feeding all the animals in their care for an entire week! And of course, you can always volunteer at the shelter or sign up to be a foster parent.

 

Support Ozone House

Ozone House is the only organization in Washtenaw County that provides free, voluntary and confidential support for youth and their families as well as shelter, housing and support for youth ages 10-20 who are living independently, are homeless or at risk. This is an especially difficult time of year for the vulnerable youth in our community — but there are several ways to make a difference by working with this incredible organization. You can volunteer as a crisis line counselor, donate goods, give money, or host a fundraiser.

 

Thank You!

Thank you for coming alongside these local organizations to support those in need this holiday season.