The Greater Lansing area has many wonderful organizations that help those in need in our community. Visit our Guide to Giving Back below for a list of opportunities to volunteer or donate this holiday season.
If you have questions, please reach out directly to the organization. If you know of organizations or groups who are in need of assistance, please send organization name and contact information to [email protected]
Thank you and GLAMoms wishes you a happy and healthy holiday season.
Ourspace Foundation
The Ourspace Foundation is a separately incorporated 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization, that works to establish and promote the corridors of Lansing as premier tourist destinations where people experience quality interactive education, culturally enriching events/activities, and diverse entertainment opportunities. The Ourspace Foundation utilizes community venues as classrooms, highlighting local art and artists, and cultivating robust entrepreneurial districts in partnership with people, organizations, businesses, and local groups.
Events planned for 2025: 517 Juneteenth Weekend (June 19-22) and 517 Hispanic Heritage Weekend (Sep 18 – 21)
We are always in search of volunteers for our festivals!
Red Cross - Mid-Michigan Chapter
The Red Cross Mid-Michigan Chapter is always there in times of need. We aspire to turn compassion into action so that all people affected by disaster across the chapter receive care, shelter and hope; our communities have access to safe, lifesaving blood and blood products; all members of our armed services and their families find support and comfort wherever needed; and in an emergency, there are always trained individuals nearby, ready to use their Red Cross skills to save lives.
Our dedicated team of volunteers and employees provides humanitarian and biomedical services to the people of Michigan including disaster, blood, and training services, and helping members of the military, veterans, and their family members.
Serving: Clare, Clinton, Eaton, Gratiot, Hillsdale, Ingham, Isabella, Jackson, Lenawee, Livingston and Shiawassee counties.
Buddy's PALS
Buddy’s PALS
https://www.buddys-pals.org/
Buddy’s PAL’s mission is to bring specially trained dogs and handlers into classrooms and other educational institutions to assist with everyday learning, comfort, and stress reduction. Our program is completely volunteer-based, and we are committed to making a positive impact in the lives of students and educators alike. We are dedicated to educating the public about the benefits of pet comfort and the important role that dogs can play in our lives.
Buddy’s PALS has over 60 handler teams in the Greater Lansing area that volunteer in schools, libraries, and other partner organizations across the region and is expanding to other areas in Michigan.
Michigan Running Foundation
Michigan Running Foundation
https://www.michiganrunningfoundation.com/
The mission of the Michigan Running Foundation is simple, we want to support youth running across the state of Michigan. Our organization has a two-stage approach to accomplish this goal. Half the money that is raised by timing and putting on races is used through our grant program to support High School and Middle School Cross Country and Track programs, Youth Running Clubs, our Mighty Mile program, and much more! Half of the money is invested to establish an endowment fund to support youth running in Michigan for many years.
Annually the Michigan Running Foundation awards upwards of $60,000 in grants from our foundation to support youth running in Michigan.
Care Free Medical
Care Free Medical
https://www.carefreemedical.com/
In 2004, after 28 years of providing medical care for families in the semi-rural community of Mason, Michigan, Dr. Barry Saltman and his Nurse Practitioner wife, Suzanne, thought they would like to pay back the community for the years of support they enjoyed during their careers. They thought perhaps they might identify 50 to 100 people who were without insurance. As word spread, they were overwhelmed with the community’s need and decided to forego retirement to address it.
Care Free Medical has one location at 1100 W. Saginaw St, Suites 5 and 6, Lansing that provides an impressive variety of care including, primary care, dental care, optometry, and behavioral health care services.
Care Free Medical has two annual events that GLAMoms loves supporting, the Golf Outing and Family Mini Golf Outing as well as Dancing with the Local Stars
Child and Family Charities - Hope for the Holidays!
Hope for the Holidays is all about giving… giving gifts to one or more of the over 1,500 children and youth residing in foster care, living in one of their residential programs, or working with Child and Family Charities to provide some Christmas cheer for a family in need of support and help. Child and Family Charities also helps families in the community that reach out to them – last year with your help, they provided gifts to over 100 families locally!
Capital Area Diaper Bank
Capital Area Diaper Bank is part of the National Diaper Bank Network serving the Greater Lansing area.
Capital Area Diaper Bank Amazon Wishlist
Capital Area Humane Society
Capital Area Humane Society: Volunteers contribute to the success of everything we do and our animals benefit tremendously from the time and compassion they give. CAHS is not a government agency and receives zero dollars through tax funding. We serve the greater mid-Michigan region and are not bound by county lines. As well, we are a surrender-only facility.
Volunteer Opportunities
- Dog Socialization
- Cat Socialization
- Housekeeping
- Administrative/Office
- Foster Care
- Education Counselor
- Greeter
- Special Events
Adult Volunteer Requirements
- Must be at least 16-years-old
- Must attend an orientation
“Creating Hope, Completing Families”
Cristo Rey Community Center
Cristo Rey Community Center: “People helping people” that includes Family Center, Prescription Assistance, Counseling Service, Financial Empowerment.
The Community Center has a community kitchen, open distribution of fresh produce, Bread Rack, personal needs closet and a clothing closet.
Holiday Giving – Catholic Community – Clinton, Eaton and Ingham counties
Ele's Place
Their mission: Ele’s Place is a non-profit, community-based organization dedicated to creating awareness of and support for grieving children and their families. Their vision: To ensure no child in Michigan grieves alone.
Ele’s Place is a healing center for grieving children, teens, young adults, and their families. Four branch locations support families throughout Ann Arbor, Grand Rapids, Flint, Lansing and beyond.
At Ele’s Place, hundreds of grieving children and teens find a warm and welcoming place to meet new friends who really understand how they feel, while they begin to heal after the death of someone close to them.
End Violence Encounters (EVE)
End Violent Encounters (EVE) provides supportive services to survivors of domestic and sexual violence, stalking, and elder abuse.
The Firecracker Foundation
The Firecracker Foundation honors the bravery of children who have survived sexual trauma by building a community invested in the healing of their whole being.
The Fledge Foundation
The Fledge Foundation is the non profit part of the Fledge. It is the social entrepreneurs who put compassion for all life and protection of our environment ahead of financial bottom lines. It supports a holistic view of life where we build our own solutions to our own unique problems, causes and environments.
Greater Lansing Food Bank
Greater Lansing Food Bank: In this community, we fight hunger together. It takes all of us gathered around the table, bringing our time, talents and resources to make a difference for people right here in our neighborhood.
Holt Community Food Bank
Holt Community Food Bank (HCFB) serves individuals and families, living in Delhi Charter Township.
Lasagna Love
Lasagna Love believes that kindness, however big or small, is the key to strengthening our communities. Their volunteers are not just helping to feed families; they have started an international movement.
Mark Advocacy Group
Mark Advocacy Group is working to give a voice back to people who feel they have been silenced in their own medical journeys.
Meridian Township Food Pantry
Meridian Township Food Pantries require an appointment and a current Michigan ID and address verification may be required. Those that need food should contact the site for their ZIP code to request food:
48823: St. Paul Lutheran Church – 517-351-8541 and St. John Student Parish – 517-432-5136
48840: Haslett Community Church – 517-339-8383 ext. 15
48864: Okemos Community Church – 517-349-4220
Meridian Township continues to work with community organizations to ensure that residents do not go hungry. Those that wish to help out may consider contributing financially to the food pantries. Residents can also contact call 2-1-1 for statewide volunteer opportunities as well as connections to additional community resources.
New Hope Pet Rescue
NEW HOPE PET RESCUE: Volunteers can help by fostering animals, transporting animals from a shelter, helping at fundraising events, and volunteering at shelters. New Hope Pet Rescue assists the community by providing a means to place unwanted healthy, adoptable pets in good family environments and to make the public aware of such animal issues as care, welfare, and the hazards of overpopulation.
Santa's First Responders
Santa’s First Responders, is made up of a group of police officers, firefighters, and educators who raise funds and provide for kids during the holiday season.
Small Talk Children’s Advocacy Center
Small Talk is the place where children receive coordinated services during child sexual abuse investigations in Mid-Michigan.
T.W.I.G.S. - To Work In Grateful Service
T.W.I.G.S. serves cancer patients in the Greater Lansing area, by helping with everyday tasks like yard work, rides to appointments, house cleaning and errands.
Women’s Center of Greater Lansing
The Women’s Center of Greater Lansing is a private non-profit organization that provides services to women in the Lansing area.
The Women’s Center of Greater Lansing is committed to providing valuable, innovative resources and services in an atmosphere that fosters mutual support, insight, and growth for women of all intersectionalities as they strive to realize their unique potential.
Website lansingwomen.org
Facebook facebook.com/womenscentergl
City of East Lansing
The City of East Lansing offers a number of volunteer opportunities throughout the organization. If you would like to contribute to your community by volunteering with one of these programs, please complete the Online Volunteer Registration form and select the area(s) that you are interested in.
Volunteer Lansing
Volunteer Lansing is a comprehensive directory of organizations needing volunteer assistance in the Greater Lansing area.
Giving back to our community looks different for everyone. Life is always busy—especially during the holidays—and one day, when the pace slows, there may be more time to give.
For now, small acts like donating a toy to Toys for Tots, preparing a meal through Lasagna Love, making calls to advocate for change with local or national nonprofits, or dropping off notes and cards to a nearby assisted living facility can make a meaningful impact. Every little effort helps!
Do you have ideas for giving back or organizations you support? Email us at [email protected]—we’d love to hear from you and learn more!
More from Greater Lansing Area Moms:
GLAMoms Guide to Women Owned Businesses
