Needs From: United Way of the Lakeshore

The annual Letter Carriers Food Drive is Saturday, May 9, 2026! Letter carriers across the nation will once again collect donations of non-perishable food items to fill the shelves of our local food pantries.

Collection volunteers will assist with collecting food donations along postal routes. Volunteers in this position will need to be licensed drivers with their own vehicles. Please meet at the Post Office located at 800 1st Street in Downtown Muskegon beginning at 10:00 AM. Snacks, beverages, and lunch are provided.

Even if you're not able to volunteer, you can still make a big impact by simply placing a bag of non-perishable food or household items next to your mailbox before your letter carrier arrives on Saturday. Every bag helps support local families in need.

Thank you for being part of this incredible community effort!

The annual Letter Carriers Food Drive is Saturday, May 9, 2026! Letter carriers across the nation will once again collect donations of non-perishable food items to fill the shelves of our local food pantries.

Sorting volunteers will assist with sorting the food donations once they are brought in. Please meet at the Post Office located at 800 1st Street in Downtown Muskegon beginning at 1:00 PM. Snacks, beverages, and lunch are provided.

Even if you're not able to volunteer, you can still make a big impact by simply placing a bag of non-perishable food or household items next to your mailbox before your letter carrier arrives on Saturday. Every bag helps support local families in need.

Thank you for being part of this incredible community effort!

We are looking for volunteers to help plant trees, tall shrubs, and short shrubs on May 12th.*Please keep in mind that we will be planting, so wear closed-toe shoes and clothing suitable for planting. MCD will provide gloves and planting tools. Come learn about food forests, help improve the neighborhood, and be part of creating a lasting community space. All experience levels are welcome!
What is a Food Forest
A food forest, also called a forest garden, is a diverse planting of edible and useful plants designed to mimic the ecosystems and patterns found in nature. Food forests are three-dimensional systems, with plant life growing in all directions — upward, downward, and outward.

This type of design includes multiple layers of vegetation, such as tall trees, small trees, shrubs, herbs, groundcovers, roots, and vines, all working together to create a self-sustaining and productive environment. By imitating natural forests, food forests can produce food while improving soil health, supporting wildlife, and requiring less maintenance over time.

Come join the Muskegon Conservation District, Michigan Forestry Assistance Program, City of Muskegon, and Nelson Neighborhood Improvement Association for the planting of the Nelson Neighborhood Food Forest. 

We are looking for volunteers to help plant trees, tall shrubs, and short shrubs on May 14th.
The day will include:
9:00 AM – 12:00 PM: Interactive workshop
1:00 PM – 4:00 PM: Volunteer planting
*Please keep in mind that we will be planting, so wear closed-toe shoes and clothing suitable for planting. MCD will provide gloves and planting tools.
Come learn about food forests, help improve the neighborhood, and be part of creating a lasting community space. All experience levels are welcome!

A food forest, also called a forest garden, is a diverse planting of edible and useful plants designed to mimic the ecosystems and patterns found in nature. Food forests are three-dimensional systems, with plant life growing in all directions — upward, downward, and outward.

This type of design includes multiple layers of vegetation, such as tall trees, small trees, shrubs, herbs, groundcovers, roots, and vines, all working together to create a self-sustaining and productive environment. By imitating natural forests, food forests can produce food while improving soil health, supporting wildlife, and requiring less maintenance over time.

Join us in packing Sack Suppers in their final stage before delivery! 

While this shift is designated for the task of packing Sack Suppers, no task is ever a guarantee. Projects do change last minute due to food goods available on-site. Please be ready to have a good time while ensuring kids in our community get the nutrition they need to thrive!

For a full listing of our volunteer opportunities, please visit our websites:

http://kfb.volunteerhub.com/

https://www.kidsfoodbasket.org/get-involved/find-your-opportunity/

Thank you for supporting Kids' Food Basket!

We need help preparing good, healthy, nourishing meals for children and families in our community! 

Come help prepare Sack Suppers!  You could be assisting with things like sandwich making, packing fresh produce, making trail mix, sorting food, re-packing food items,  or other much needed tasks. No task is ever a guarantee, and projects do change last minute due to food goods available on-site.

Please be ready to have a good time while ensuring kids in our community get the nutrition they need to thrive! 

We will welcome volunteers 5+ years of age. Volunteers ages 5 to 16 must also have parent or guardian supervision. For more information regarding this event, please check out our Volunteer FAQs.

Volunteers are the heart and soul of the Lakeshore Food Club, bringing our mission to life through their work.  We could not serve the community without their help...or yours.  If you would like to be part of this service, we require a brief volunteer onboarding to provide you with food safety handling instructions and other training information to help you in your role.

Our generous volunteers are vital to the effective operation of the Lakeshore Food Club and the newly established Regional Food Hub in Hart.  They help with the following tasks which include:

Assisting with the clean, safe and efficient operation of the LFC in accordance with our Food Safety Regulations and Standard Operating Procedures

Greeting members and assisting them through the supermarket style checkout

Inspecting, sorting, boxing, labeling, repacking, and stocking food in the stockroom

Cleaning and packaging fresh produce

Stocking shelves, coolers, and freezers 

Alison Glossinger

AGlossinger@LakeshoreFoodClub.org

(231) 480-4334

Muskegon Maritime Academy (571 E. Apple Ave., Muskegon) is seeking caring, dependable volunteers to help serve lunch to students now through the end of the school year.

Muskegon Maritime Academy is a K–5 school that will unfortunately be closing at the end of this academic year. Due to funding cuts, the school does not have adequate staff available to serve daily lunches. While generous partners are helping ensure meals are prepared and available, volunteers are needed to assist with the lunch service itself so students can continue receiving a warm, nutritious meal each day.

What Volunteers Will Do:

Serve lunch to students (approximately 30 students at a time; about 100 total per day)

Set out utensils, plates, and supplies

Place food into warmers

Support a smooth and welcoming lunch experience

Students assist with clean-up at the end of their lunch periods, and school staff will be present — volunteers are not expected to handle discipline matters.

Schedule:

Monday–Friday

11:00 AM – approximately 12:45 PM

Shifts are under 2 hours

Help is needed consistently through June

Volunteer as few or as many days per week as you’re able

What’s Provided:

Gloves and aprons

A nutritious lunch

A meaningful way to support local students during a time of transition

Requirements:

Volunteers must be 18+

Background check required

Even one or two days a week can make a real difference. Providing consistency and a friendly presence during lunchtime will help ensure students continue to feel cared for and supported during these final months of the school year.