Volunteer with Growing Hope!
Thanks for your interest in volunteering with Growing Hope! Whether you are looking to get dirty and dig around The Growing Hope Center or stay a little cleaner and help out in our offices or at the Ypsilanti Farmers Markets, we have volunteer opportunities for you or your group!
Please click below based on what type of volunteer opportunity you're looking for, and fill out our volunteer application. Then you can register for a volunteer orientation! If you are part of a group that is interested in volunteering together, please contact our Volunteer Coordinator at 734.786.8401 to talk about opportunities or email to volunteer@growinghope.net.
Volunteer FAQs
Read our latest Volunteer Newsletter
Current Opportunities:
Youth & Schools
GHC Urban Farm
Education/Facilitation
Garden Programs
Farmers Market
Growing Hope Center Site
Event/Development
Join a GH Board Committee
Click here to sign up for a Volunteer Orientation
Project: Parkridge Community Center After-School Program
Dates and Times: Tuesdays 5pm-6pm (April 9th-May28th)
Location: Parkridge Community Center Armstrong Dr. Ypsilanti, MI
Description: Volunteers will assist Growing Hope staff to implement garden-based nutrition activities for youth ages 5-11. Volunteers will assist students with activities that include gardening, healthy snack preparation and hands-on nutrition activities.
Project: Summer Camps Dates and Times: Monday-Thursday 1pm-2pm late June-early August Location: various sites throughout Ypsilanti
Description: Volunteers will assist Growing Hope staff at partner organization's sites to implement garden-based nutrition activities that include healthy snack preparation, veggie tasting and gardening. Volunteers work along side growing hope's high school interns to implement the activities for youth ages 5-11.
GHC Urban Farm Opportunities
Position: Spring Farm Workdays
Dates & Times: April 10th - June 26th, Wednesdays 4-7pm
Location: Growing Hope Center
Description: Come prepared to work outdoors and get dirty! You'll get a chance to help out with various farm or garden tasks- every day is different! Tasks could include planting & direct seeding, prepping beds, moving compost, site maintenance, etc. No previous gardening experience necessary!
Position: Farm Harvest Helper
Time Commitment: Tuesdays 9am-12pm, Fridays 9am-12pm May-October
Description: Our Growing Hope Center Urban Farm grew 2,800 lbs of food last year! The food we grow is sold at the Farmers’ Market, at local restaurants and food outlets (like the Ypsi Food Co-op), and also gets used for our programs and donated. As a Harvest Helper, you’ll learn the techniques involved in proper harvesting of vegetables and fruits on the farm, and help us grow our wholesales program!
Education/Facilitation Opportunities
Position: Workshop Facilitator
Dates and Times:flexible
Location:Growing Hope Center
Description: Have skills you’d like to share with the community? We’d love to have you facilitate or co-facilitate a gardening workshop, a cooking class, etc.
Garden Programs Opportunities
Position: Raised Bed Install Helper
Dates and Times: Weekday afternoons and evenings
Location: Meet at the Growing Hope CenterDetails: Our Raised Bed Vegetable Garden Program gives 3 raised bed gardens to low and no income families, along with compost to fill the beds, and the skills to garden. In return, the Raised Bed families track their harvest data, and are able to give us good information on how much someone can grow in a 4x4 raised bed! If you’re interested in helping with these installs, we’d love to have your assistance!
Position: Ypsilanti Farmers Markets volunteer
Dates and Times: Tuesdays between 12-8pm, Saturdays between 7:30am-2:30pm May-October
Description: Our Downtown Ypsi Farmers Market located on Ferris St and Hamilton Sts and our Depot Town Farmers Market, located at 100 Rice St. are open each Tuesday and Saturday, respectively, from May- October! Running successful farmers markets calls for volunteers who are willing to pitch in and make it happen! There are several ways to get involved with the our markets, including: Market set-up. Counting attendees and Clean-up/Tear-down. Contact us for more info to sign up for a shift!
Growing Hope Center Site Opportunities
Project: Garage insulation
Dates and Times:Flexible January- April, 2-6 hours
Location: Growing Hope Center
Description: We need a volunteer clean and insulate the inside eves of our garage before the birds come back and set up shop! All materials will be provided.
Project: Fence Patching
Dates and Times:January, 1 hour
Location: Growing Hope Center
Description: Back fence needs to be reattached to posts and front fence needs two pickets replaces. All materials will be provided.
Project: Washer and Dryer Installation
Dates and Times:January-March, 2-6 hours
Location: Growing Hope Center
Description:Hook up a washer in dryer in the basement of the GHC. All connections and vents are installed. Materials will be provided.
Project: Basement Clutter Reduction
Dates and Times:January – March, 10+ hours
Location: Growing Hope Center
Description: If you like to organize and de clutter spaces, we have the job for you! Our basement needs some TLC; we need tools organized, dishes sanitized and packed away and room made for archived files.
Event/Development Opportunities
Chefs in the Garden Planning Committee
Dates and Times:Monthly planning meetings (1-2 hours), attendance at all Sunday Chefs in the Garden events, recruiting honorary hosts as well as chefs (5-10 hours/mo).
Skills/Experience Needed:Event planning skills, connections in the local food scene, interest in organizing/decorating, helping to prep food, clean, serve,
Location:Growing Hope Center
Description:Chefs in the Garden brings local chefs to dish up seasonal fare at delicious dinner parties at the Growing Hope Center. As a member of this committee, you will help plan the Chefs in the Garden dinner series, as well as recruit guests and chefs.
Contact Person:ashley@growinghope.net
Chefs in the Garden Bartender
Dates and Times:4-5 Chefs in the Garden fundraising dinners in 2013, likely on Sunday evenings
Skills and Experience Needed:Bartending experience
Location:Growing Hope Center
Description:Chefs in the Garden brings local chefs to dish up seasonal fare during delicious dinner parties at the Growing Hope Center. These are major fundraising events for Growing Hope. We’re looking for a bartender for one or more of the events.
Contact Person:ashley@growinghope.net
Join a Committee
Growing Hope Center Planning Team
Growing Hope Finance Committee
Growing Hope Board of Directors
Growing Hope Advisory Board