Needs From: United Way of the Lakeshore

Are you someone who likes to work behind the scenes? We need help do the shopping for our angels this year. You'll choose toys for each angel based on age and interests from our toy staging area. We have over 1,000 angels in need this year. Shoppers are needed from 10am to Noon and 1pm to 3pm on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays December 5-16, 2025.

Please note if Orchard View Schools are closed due to weather on the day/s, you are volunteering so are we. 

White Lake Giving Tree – Delivery Day Volunteers Needed

White Lake Giving Tree, a volunteer-led initiative based out of St. James Catholic Church in Montague, supports families in the Montague and Whitehall school districts each holiday season. Through partnerships with individuals, local churches, organizations, and businesses, they collect gifts, winter necessities, bedding, and food for households of all ages—from young families to seniors.

This year, they are serving approximately 300 families, representing more than 800 individuals. Their volunteer team has created a remarkable operation to make sure each family receives the support they need.

They are now seeking volunteers for their busiest and most important day:

Delivery Day
Saturday, December 13
Arrive by 8:45 AM (delivery begins at 9:00 AM)
Location: St. James Catholic Church, Montague

Volunteers will help:

Deliver gifts, food, and essential items to families in the community

Support a highly organized, fast-moving system

Ensure that every family receives their holiday packages with care and dignity

This is a meaningful, one-day opportunity to make a direct, positive impact on neighbors across the White Lake area.

Every Woman’s Place is hosting its annual Holiday Boutique, a dignified, supportive shopping experience for families who receive our services. The Boutique allows parents and caregivers to select gifts and necessities for their children and themselves at no cost, helping ensure a joyful and stress-free holiday season during a time of transition.

We are seeking compassionate, dependable volunteers to assist with set-up, shopping support, and clean-up throughout the Boutique week. Volunteers will play a key role in maintaining an organized, welcoming space and assisting families as they shop.

Keeping the shop stocked, organized, and fully shoppable

Assisting families with selecting items and wrapping gifts

“Checking out” each client by verifying items against a voucher outlining their family’s shopping needs and limits

Providing friendly, respectful support to clients in a trauma-informed environment

Supporting final clean-up and breakdown at the end of the Boutique week

This opportunity is ideal for volunteers who are comfortable interacting directly with families and doing light organizing and stocking throughout their shift

Monday, December 15, 2025 | 10:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m.
3 volunteers
Assist with transforming the space into a welcoming Holiday Boutique through decorating, organizing donations, and setting up displays.

Tuesday, December 16, 2025 | 2:00–6:00 p.m.
3 volunteers

Wednesday, December 17, 2025 | 10:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m.
3 volunteers

Thursday, December 18, 2025 | 2:00–6:00 p.m.
3 volunteers

Monday, December 22, 2025 | 10:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m. + 1 hour clean-up
3 volunteers

Shopping shifts focus on assisting families, keeping inventory organized, wrapping gifts, managing the check-out process using client vouchers, and helping with clean-up at the final shift

Comfort interacting with families in a supportive, respectful way

Ability to do light organizing, standing, and stocking throughout the shift

Commitment to maintaining confidentiality and professional boundaries

Background check approval required prior to volunteering

Volunteers should arrive 10–15 minutes before their scheduled shift

The link to the background check approval form will be emailed to you after you register for a shift. If you have completed a background check within the past year through Every Woman’s Place or United Way of the Lakeshore, you will not be required to submit a new background check for this opportunity. Please note this in your registration comments so staff can verify.

Can you stay in the Christmas spirit and keep recipients on a tight timeline? Santa's Helpers are needed to walk with recipients through the Chapel to pick out stocking stuffers, books, hats etc. with a maximum of 5 minutes to make selections.  Once selections are made, you will walk them out the back of the Chapel to the Gym to pick up their pre shopped gifts for their family.  Once dropped off, you will return to the Check In and get a new recipient!   December 17-18, 2025

Can you stay cheery in the midst of the cold and busyness of the season? Santa's Reindeer are needed to bring angel gifts from our building out to recipient vehicles. Once the gifts are checked for accuracy, you will offer to take the bag/s out to the car with a grocery cart.  Place them in the vehicle and wish the recipient a Merry Christmas.  Come back in to help the next recipient. 

Please bundle up and bring a hat and gloves.  Be sure to wear your winter boots too! December 17-18, 2025

Do you enjoy looking for names/numbers and checking them twice?? Santa's Elves are needed in the gym to pull the pre shopped bag/s for each recipient.  Once located you will have the recipient check that they have gifts for each child in their bag/s and sign their sheet. Once the gifts are checked for accuracy, you hand them off to Santa's Reindeer for assistance out of the building. December 17-18, 2025

Description:
Help spread holiday cheer to local working families! Volunteers are needed to support United Way of the Lakeshore’s Adopt a Working Family program throughout November and December. This program connects community donors with working families in need of extra help during the holidays.

There are many ways to get involved—volunteers may:

Deliver gifts to families in the community.

Pick up gifts from adopters and bring them to our office.

Assist adopters in the office by checking in gifts and labeling them for delivery or pickup.

Sort and organize wrapping supplies and stocking stuffers.

Call families to confirm pickup and delivery details.

Help with other tasks as needed to ensure a smooth and joyful holiday season for all!

When you sign up, you’re expressing your interest in helping with the program. A member of our staff will reach out beginning in November to assign roles and schedule volunteer shifts based on your availability and interests.

Requirements & Notes:

Volunteers should have a friendly, compassionate attitude and be comfortable working with the public.

If you are able to drive (for pickups and deliveries), please note that in the Comments/notes section when signing up.

Please also share any accommodations or accessibility needs so we can provide a positive volunteer experience.

Location:
United Way of the Lakeshore Office (and throughout the community)
31 E Clay Ave, Muskegon, MI 49442

Timing:
Volunteer shifts will be available throughout November and December. Specific dates and times will be scheduled individually.

Do you like to organize, clean and stack? Once all the gifts are passed out, we need to close the toy shop down for the year. We are looking for volunteers on Friday, December 19, 2025, to help us make sure an unused toys, boxes and stocking stuffers are put away for 2026!

Lunch will be provided. 

Do you enjoy looking for names/numbers and checking them twice?? Two individuals are needed On Friday, December 19, 2025, to work in the reception area to assist with pulling pre shopped bag/s from the gym for recipients who missed their pickup date.  Once located you will have the recipient check that they have gifts for each child in their bag/s and sign their sheet and help them to their car if needed.

Be sure to dress for the weather. Lunch will be provided.

Volunteer Bell Ringers need to sign up at www.registertoring.com it lists our volunteer ringer locations in two-hour shifts from November 15 through December 24.  The funds raised through bell ringing help to keep our programs going throughout the year.  Every cent made at the kettles in Muskegon County stay here in our county. Your help is greatly appreciated!